Photographs and map of ski ascents of Meall Chuaich and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag above Drumochter the Cairngorm Plateau

Map of Geal Charn

and A'Mharconaic

above Drumochter

Loch Ericht

from Geal Charn

above Drumochter

On Geal Charn

above Drumochter

Map of Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag

in the Cairngorms Massif

Route Description for Carn na Caim and A'Bhuidheanach Bheag:

Location: Drumochter Pass
Map: OS Landranger 42 ( GR677821 )
Distance: 12.5 miles ( 20km )
Time: 6 hours
Terrain: tracks and hillpaths

Snow and ice can be a lethal combination, but it’s not one you’re likely to be troubled by on Carn na Cairn and A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag,
two Munros above the Drumochter Pass on the south-western boundary of the Cairngorm National Park.
They can be a bit dull in summer but on a crisp winter day they are just the ticket for anyone weary of the white stuff.
Much of the route follows tracks almost to the summits and there are no avalanche black-spots or icy sections guarded by steep cliffs.
Care is needed, however, especially with ﬁnal navigation to the summits, as summer paths may be covered with snow and yours may
be the only bootprints.
Park at Layby 87 on the west side of the A9 north of Drumochter Lodge.
Cross over to a gated track and follow it over a cattle grid and straight ahead at a junction to a works compound for the new Beauly-Denny pylons.
Continue ahead to gain an old track and ascend the hillside to where it levels out ( there’s a shallow quarry hereabouts, but it may be invisible under the snow ),
to arrive at a junction.
Cam na Caim is to the left and A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag to the right.
Turn right and follow the track round the hump of Point 902m ( 2959ft ). Drop to a col, then go over the next hump and down to a second col.
On ascent from here towards A’Bhuidheanach ( 879m; 2884ft ), keep an eye out for a prominent quartz cairn on the right with a ﬁnger rock.
Turn sharp left here off the main track, which continues ahead, on to a subsidiary track ( it may not be obvious in the snow ), and descend the eastern
ﬂanks of A’ Bhuidheanach to a burn. Cross the water and ascend directly to reach a line of old fence posts; follow these in a southerly direction to the trig point
on the otherwise featureless summit of A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag ( 936m; 3071ft ).
Retrace the outward route to the quarry junction and continue on the track towards Carn na Cairn. The route follows the fenceline
along the crest until the track and fence part company beyond the head of Coire Uilleim.
Leave the track for the fence at this point and follow it north then east to where it makes a right-angled turn.
The summit ( 94lm; 3087ft ) is about 185 metres to the north-east.
Some books suggest descending the western ﬂanks of Carn na Caim to the starting point, and while it does save a little bit of distance, there are
no paths and the terrain is rough and tiring in places. The easiest return is probably via the tracks used in ascent.

The Pass of Drumochter separates the rounded hills of Carn na Caim and A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag from the more distinctive mountains of the Druim Uachdair, the ridge of the upper ground. Gathered nicely together in one corner of this area, the four Munros of Geal-charn, A’ Mharconaich, Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor make a good expedition and give some of the best views possible of the Ben Alder hills across the long trench of Loch Ericht, particularly from Geal-charn.
In the short days of winter a curtailed round of Geal-charn and A’ Mharconaich offers a satisfying day out and has the advantage of starting at just over 400 metres at Balsporran Cottages, just off the A9. From here a comparatively new track crosses the railway line and gouges its way through the heather slopes and on to the north-east ridge.
Be careful you don't take the wrong track, though. Not far beyond the railway line, the ﬁrst track on the right follows the line of the Allt Beul an Sporain. The route to Geal-charn takes the second track on the right.
This whole area has suffered a surfeit of bulldozed tracks in recent times, as estates make full use of woolly planning legislation to create access tracks for grouse shooters under the guise of “agricultural use”. At the moment representation has been made to the Scottish Government to tighten up the planning laws for the creation of such tracks.
There has always been a footpath running up the eastern ridge of Geal-charn and higher up the ridge there used to be a series of high, slender cairns which looked like a row of marching men when seen from below. Over the years they seem to have vanished — whether they were deliberately knocked down or just victims of the strong winds that blow here, we'll never know, but they seem to be growing again.
It seems that few hillwalkers can resist putting stones on cairns - any cairns!
From the summit of Geal-charn ( there are two summit caims; the higher is the western one), with its long and wonderful views down the length of Loch Ericht, drop down the very stony slopes to a high bealach at the head of Coire Fhar. From here, where small crags offer shelter from the south-westerly winds, continue in a roughly southeast direction up grassy slopes to reach A’Mharconaich's long, broad ridge. The summit cairn is at the north-east end, perched high above a big corrie.
Descend in a northerly direction down stony slopes and follow the footpath as the ridge veers to the east.
A bulldozed track runs alongside the Allt Coire Fhar on your left, so once the slopes become less steep drop down to cross the stream and reach this track, which is then followed all the way back to the railway crossing and Balsporran Cottages.