Geal Charn, from Dorback Lodge near Nethy Bridge

Like most hills which share the name, Geal Charn is an undistinguished and rounded hill with heathery slopes. Although pathless it can be climbed in a short half-day, and can usually be relied upon to provide solitude.

Terrain

Pathless hillsides; deep heather. There are some sections of peat bog, and near the start the burn needs to be crossed which may require a wade.

Public Transport

None to start

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Start

End of public road near Dorback Lodge. Map and directions.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 13.25km/8.25 miles
Time: 3.5 - 4 hours
Ascent: 524m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NJ077168

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Geal Charn (Dorback)

Maps / GPS

View / Print route map
Explorer 404 - Braemar
GPS Waypoints - QUO 2
GPS Waypoints - GPX
View in 3D
Download walk to Google Earth (KMZ file)

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

The road to Dorback Lodge is signed for Dorback from both the B970 at Nethy Bridge and the A939 Grantown-Tomintoul road. At the very end of the public road is a large turning area with a no parking sign, but it should be possible to park carefully without obstructing the turning circle in any way. The road continues as a track to Dorback Lodge; ignore this and instead take the fainter track which climbs to the right beside the fence to head through a gate. Follow the fence downhill until a gate at a sandy dip. Go through the gate and then head upstream - and finally cross - the Dorback burn. This can be a substantial river, particularly after rains when it may be impassable, but normally it may just need a wade. The footbridge shown on OS 1:25k maps just upstream does not exist.

Stage 2

A grass track leads up to Upper Dell, an old farmhouse now sadly falling into ruin. Head through the gate behind the farmhouse to join a clear grassy track which heads through a gate and climbs south up the moorland. It crosses a powerful burn at one point and continues above a tiny lochan to reach a fork. Keep to the main left branch here, passing above a small hut. The track then slopes down to cross the Allt na h-Eirghe.

Stage 3

The wooden building on the far side of the burn is a shooting hut. Continue for about 250m further along the track until it starts to slope down to the next burn. Leave it here and strike off southwest up the rough, tussocky and heathery slopes. These give hard going, slowly becoming better defined as a ridge. Eventually a tiny cairn is reached with view towards Bynack More and Cairngorm. From here the conditions underfoot become much easier; continue to join the main ridge at a line of fenceposts and follow these to the left.

Stage 4

After a short boggy section the posts soon lead up to the summit cairn, constructed of strikingly white quartzite. There are wonderful views of the Cairngorms, with Ben Avon prominent to the south with its many granite tors, and Beinn a' Bhuird alongside.

Stage 5

Begin the descent by continuing along the ridge at first, bearing left slightly and crossing an area of peat bog before continuing downhill to the northeast. The going underfoot is quite rough. Lower down there are some faint vehicle tracks off to either side from the Allt Slugan na Cloiche; alternatively you could follow the burn itself. Either way, aim for the very prominent bulldozed track in the glen below, reaching it near a high point at NJ110135. Turn left to begin the walk back to the start.

Stage 6

The track is an unsightly scar on the landscape, but the views along the burn are pleasant enough. Ignore a branch off to the left that leads to a barn, and another that heads off to the right, to reach an area of old Scots pines. Keep to the main track which passes below a cottage and then past the front of Dorback Lodge - once a grand shooting lodge, now derelict. The public road and the start of the walk are a short distance further on.

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.