Location:
Strathspey
Map: OS Landranger 35 (GH561988)
Distance: 11 miles (17.5km)
Time: 6 hours
Terrain: tracks and paths While the peaks of the Monadhliath mountains
give enjoyable ascents, the approaches mostly involve ploughing through
a moorland of peat hags and bog. It may offer solitude, nature in the
raw and big
skies, but it doesn’t give the Monadhliath a good name among
Munro-baggers.
At the very western end, Geal Charn manages to avoid the boggy excesses
of the main massif. There's at least one river crossing, but in most
conditions it's little more than a paddle requiring a spare pair of
socks.
Start at the Spey Dam Reservoir on the Corrieyairack Pass road, west of
Laggan.
If parking is a problem then continue beyond the bridge over the Spey
and park at the right-hand bend.
Return to the dam access track, keeping straight ahead on the old
gravel track where the new one swings left to a bridge over the Markie
Burn.
A pleasant ramble follows for three miles [5km] up Glen Markie, passing
below the craggy southern flanks of Beinn Sgiath to the Piper's Burn,
which drains the eastern corrie of Beinn Sgiath and Geal Charn.
Leave the main track for a grassy one leading down to a ford over the
Markie. Paddle across to reach a grassy track which leads up the right
side of the Piper's Burn to a gate, where it becomes a path. If the
Markie Burn
can't be crossed, there is a bridge about 875 yards (800m) further on,
from where the pathless north-east ridge can be gained.
The path veers off right away from Geal Charn's cliff-lined corrie and
ascends to the north-east ridge. A gentle ascent over rock and springy
moss leads through a line of fence posts to the summit cairn
(2240ft/683m) with its views of Binnein Shios and Binnein Shuas to the
west.
The best return in good visibility is via Beinn Sgiath, although it
doesn't avoid a paddle over the Markie. Head south then south-east over
mossy ground to a “window” between Geal Charn and Beinn Sgiath and
ascend the rounded mossy plateau to a small cairn at the summit.
Descend south then south-east, keeping to the crest of the broad
south-west ridge to clear the craggy ground on the southern flanks. At
about the 750m contour descend south towards Dirc Mhor, then east to
the forest
edge, which leads down to the Markie, which is wider than higher up,
making a drier crossing likelier. Follow sheep paths south beside the
burn to clear the steep bracken-covered slopes and gain the track back
to Spey Dam.
