Munro · Central Highlands
Geal-charn
Geal-charn (917m) — the "Ben Alder Geal-charn" — is a remote rolling summit at the heart of the Loch Pattack / Ben Alder Forest, one of the highest of the four Loch Pattack Munros. The summit is a broad bouldery top with a small cairn set on a vast undulating plateau. Almost universally walked as one of the four Pattack Munros (with Beinn Eibhinn, Aonach Beag, Càrn Dearg) on a long round from Corrour or Loch Pattack.
Gaelic: “white, cairn-topped hill” · Pronunciation: gyal charn
Quick facts
- Height
- 917.1m/ 3009ft
- Prominence
- 178 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 807 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN596782
- Parking
- NN552785
- Nearest city
- Fort William· 49km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
Remote track / moorland 50% · Open moorland 35% · Summit 15%
The shortest approach is to take a permitted bicycle along the Ben Alder estate track from Dalwhinnie to Loch Pattack (12km), then walk west into Coire na Lap. Climb steep grass and broken rock onto the summit dome and traverse the long ridge across all four Munros if making a full day. Around 32km on bike + 18km on foot for the four Munros.
Terrain
The Ben Alder estate landrover track is firm gravel — perfect for cycling but a long approach on foot. Above the loch the ground becomes rough heather and tussock with bouldery sections higher. The summit area is broad short turf and granite gravel — featureless in cloud across kilometres of plateau.
In winter
A serious remote winter undertaking. The vast plateau accumulates substantial drifts under any sustained wind, with cornices common along the northern crags. SAIS Creag Meagaidh and SAIS Lochaber are the closest formal forecasts. Bike approaches become impossible in deep snow. Loch Ossian or Culra bothies provide overnight shelter; phone reception is non-existent.
This hill is in the Creag Meagaidh SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 24m
- Edinburgh3h 37m
OS maps: OS Landranger 42
Mobile signal: Signal gone above 700m. The Great Glen has occasional coverage. Download maps ahead of departing Invergarry or Fort Augustus.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:59
- Sunset
- 21:48
- Civil dawn
- 04:04
- Civil dusk
- 22:43
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Around Geal-charn on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Dalwhinnie station
Highest mainline station; Drumochter Munros; Ben Alder approach
9km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
39km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie — Scotland's highest distillery on the Drumochter pass
8km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Geal-charn — common questions
- How difficult is Geal-charn?
- Geal-charn carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 16km, 807m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Terrain: The Ben Alder estate landrover track is firm gravel — perfect for cycling but a long approach on foot.
- How prominent is Geal-charn?
- Geal-charn has 178m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Geal-charn?
- Standard parking is at NN552785. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Geal-charn?
- The standard good-weather months for Geal-charn are May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Geal-charn?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Geal-charn?
- Signal gone above 700m. The Great Glen has occasional coverage. Download maps ahead of departing Invergarry or Fort Augustus.
- Is Geal-charn safe in winter?
- A serious remote winter undertaking. The vast plateau accumulates substantial drifts under any sustained wind, with cornices common along the northern crags. SAIS Creag Meagaidh and SAIS Lochaber are the closest formal forecasts. Bike approaches become impossible in deep snow. Loch Ossian or Culra bothies provide overnight shelter; phone reception is non-existent.
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