Geal Charn Mor is the southeasternmost summit of the vast Monadh Liath plateaux. It gives a fairly straightforward hillwalk and offers superb views of the Cairngorms across Strathspey.
Summary
Good track as far as the pass, then rougher path over heather to summit. Return route follows rougher paths, boggy in places.
Terrain
NH882107
Grid ref
12.5km/7.75 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Start
Maps
Users'
rating
None to Lynwilg
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Lynwilg is just off the main A9; follow the minor road as it turns right and crosses a bridge; there is room to park a couple of cars here, and more parking slightly further along the walk. Begin by taking the tarmac road northwest from the far side of the bridge; it is signed as a public right of way to Carrbridge via the Burma Road. The name comes from its construction by prisoners of war in the 1940s. Follow the road through fine birch woodland until a track forks off to the right. Turn up this track - there is further car parking on the right here, heading through the gate or over the stile. The track now climbs through the trees, eventually passing through another gate.
2. Soon fine views open up behind across the woods to the main mass of the Cairngorms. The woodland becomes sparser, with eventually just a few birches and isolated Scots pines in An Ghleannan down on the left. Further on the track continues across the heather moor.
3. A large cairn (the first one reached) marks the high point of the Burma Road; from here it descends to the River Dulnain and can be walked to Carrbridge. For the ascent of Geal-charn Mor however, turn off the track to the left at the cairn. Two diverging paths leave the track at thhere; the left hand one contours downhill to Ballinluig and is used on the descent, whereas the other rough path heads directly up the heather towards Geal-charn Mor - take this route.
4. The path is a little eroded and boggy in places, and becomes instinct on the final approach across the flat top of the hill. The summit is marked by a whitewashed trig point with a windshelter cairn. It is as a viewpoint that this Corbett excels, with a fabulous view of the Cairngorms range, running from the Glen Feshie hills, over Braeriach and Cairn Gorm to Bynack More, all seen across the great carpet of Rothiemurchus Forest. In the opposite direction are the wild upper reaches of the Dulnain and the vast Monadh Liath plateaux.
5. Return back down to the large cairn at the summit of the Burma Road. The easiest way back from here is to retrace your steps back down the 'road', but an alternative is to take the path cutting back to the right. This is rough, and a little boggy where it crosses several streams as it heads SSE across the moor. Further down it descends more directly and a wonderful view opens up of the Cairngorms once more, now seen to great effect across the waters of Loch Alvie. The path is briefly indistinct in a boggy patch before continuing, swinging left above the Caochan Ruadh on the final part of the descent.
6. As the path reaches the fields above Ballinluig, keep on through a farm gate and pass round a sheep fank to the left side to reach another gate. Pass through this too to reach the main track slightly further on, and then turn left, passing below the farmhouse at Ballinluig. The track swings left into the farmyard and passes behind the steading before swinging back right to continue towards the A9. Please leave all gates as you found them. Before the track emerges on the A9 fork left through another gate and curve left around the hillock to reach a newly made track. Turn right to follow this back to Lynwilg.
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