Geal-Chàrn via the Lancet Edge

Bridge under railway at Dalwhinnie

By car, Dalwhinnie is just off the A9, half way between Perth and Inverness. Alternatively arrive by train, all the way from Euston if you need !

In Dalwhinnie, head up the road to towards the railway station, turning left just before it and continue along 'Alder Road' past some houses to the railway crossing. There's a turning circle here and you can usually park just before it.

Unfortunately there is an ongoing access problem over the railway line at this point, and Network Rail are insisting access to Ben Alder Estate should be made via a tunnel 1km to the south. To get here, turn west down a road just south of the petrol station in Dalwhinnie and park before the tunnel avoiding causing any hassle to the houses nearby.

Carn Dearg above Loch Pattack

From Dalwhinnie, cycle from the crossing down the lochside on the fine estate track that hugs the western shore of Loch Ericht. Just before meeting the third gate-house, turn right uphill and continue to the highest point on the track and Culra Bothy can be seen ahead in the far distance. There are some wonderful spots to wild-camp by the Allt a'Chaoil-reidhe.

Camping at Culra, Lancet Edge on right

Camping at Culra, Lancet Edge on right

Heading up Càrn Dearg, Lancet Edge on right

From Culra Bothy, aim north-west, directly uphill. The ground is heather-clad, although patches of grass can be picked up to ease the slog. After around 300m of ascent the gradient easies and the north-eastern shoulder of Càrn Dearg comes into view.

Upon reaching Càrn Dearg's north-east shoulder, a path can be picked up and followed onto Càrn Dearg's grassy covered summit plateau meeting up with its large summit cairn shortly thereafter.

Geal-Chàrn from Càrn Dearg

Leaving Càrn Dearg's summit cairn behind, and continuing south-west along the summit plateau, you'll come to another cairn, from where bouldery terrain is encountered. No avoiding this unfortunately !

Below the boulderfield, terrain is much easier and a delightful hike leads over Diollaid a'Chairn (a Munro Top) to the ridge between Loch Coire Cheap and Loch an Sgòir. Ahead a steep climb up a narrow ridge leads towards Geal-Charn, there is a path zig-zagging all the way - beware, in winter this can cornice over !

A small cairn marks the top of the ridge and the edge of the vast plateau that is Geal-Chàrn. From the cairn, a bearing of appx 242^o and a distance of 1km will get you onto Geal-Chàrn's summit marked by a cairn perched above Coire na Coichille. Note that this last 1km in mist will require some good navigation skills !

Decision tìme ! Head over the remaining Munros of Aonach Beag and Beinn Eibhinn, or tackle the Lancet Edge ?

The Lancet Edge and Geal-Chàrn from near Culra

From Geal-Chàrn's summit, aim on a bearing of 94^o for just short of 1km, which will take you to the top of the drop that leads down to Sgòr Iutharn. Grassy ground initially as you begin descending leads to unavoidable boulderfield, but easily negotiated.

The bealach reached, a walk on flat terrain heads to the Munro Top of Sgòr Iutharn . The descent down the Lancet Edge is pretty straightforward with some sections of easy scrambling. There are traces of a faint path to follow on the way, with some excellent views.

At the bottom of the ridge, head down to the fine path following the northern bank of Allt a'Bhealaich Dhuibh, cross the burn coming out of Loch an Sgòir and return to Culra.

Looking back along to Geal-Chàrn from Aonach Beag

From Geal-Chàrn's summit, head south-west and follow a path along the crest above Coire na Coichille. The route drops to a bealach, from where it's a mere 100m to climb to reach the broad summit of Aonach Beag , the cairn being a slight dog-leg to the right (the path is a bit vague on the summit).

Beinn èibhinn from the east

Ahead is Beinn Eibhinn, a shapely mountain crest encircling a coire above the small dark lochan, Lochan a'Charra Mhòir. From Aonach Beag's summit aim due south-west and drop down just over 100m on a well-worn path to a bealach.

The path climbs up the dome ahead and then reaches a flat area with significant drops to Lochan a'Charra Mhòir on the right. The base of the final climb up Beinn èibhinn is reached , from where the path leads onto the summit . Superb views from this summit !

Aonach Beag above Coire a'Charra Bhig

Leave Beinn èibhinn's summit and return to where the start of the final climb began . Leave the crest and drop down loose grass covered steep ground south-east. As the gradient easies, turn east and pick up the eastern shoulder of Beinn èibhinn to follow downhill. It's grass covered and a pleasant jog.

Cross the burn coming down from Coire a'Charra Bhig, then the Uisge Labhair .

Briefly climb the hillside directly infront and meet up with a well-defined path that travels from Culra to Ben Alder Cottage on Loch Ericht. Follow this path north-east up to Bealach Dubh and back to Culra .