Walkhighlands

Gael Charn was one of those hills I thought I'd keep for the winter. With relatively easy access and relatively easy walk I thought it would be ideal to do in the snow. However this was my third attempt to come up to scotland this winter to get some snow action, but wasnt to be! With better weather forecast for the sunday I decided to do this hill anyway on the Saturday. With strong gales forecast up top I didnt fancy hanging around a ridge walk ! So this was the choice.
I found it quite a boring hill with not a lot going for it apart from a big cairn up top. The views are somewhat spoilt by the windfarms in every direction. To make it a bit more interesting we decided to climb up Beinn Sgiath next to it along the route, although this route also involves fighting some peat bogs.

We started from Garva Bridge (522948) where there is quite a large space for cars. It even had enough space for someone's last Munro party as we observed on our descent.

From there cross over the bridge and immediately turn right along the track.

After 200m or so it comes to a rather industrial looking metal bridge. Cross over this and then turn left


Now here a choice can be made. If you want to just walk up the munro and down the same way, then you can climb over the fence on your left and follow a track that leads up the majority of the mountain. However we continued along the track in front of us which started heading east towards the small forest and the hill Meall an Domhnaich. I would like to have said this was by choice, but you know how it is....to much gabbing and not enough map reading.....and follow any track in front of you because its there... Anyway after 10 mins it quicky became obvious this lovely track we were on was not heading in the direction we wanted! So we countoured around Meall an Domhnaich round the edge of the wood on the northern side and were back on track again (so to speak!)


We had a quick chat whether to pick up the track at the river or to take this alternative route up Beinn Sgiath. The latter option seemed a more interesting circuit than simply plodding up and down. so we carried up through the heather and peat bog towards Beinn Sgiath.

At the top of Beinn Sgiath, it became more flat, and mossy. The wind had picked up as forecast so was a bit blowey. A small cairn marked its spot and from there we could see the coire on the eastern flank of Geal Charn. So it was worth this extra peak.


From here it was a quick walk heading westish to avoid the small gully and then north to Geal Charn.



We reached the top after 2.5 hrs from the car park using this route. With the wind still picking up and menacing clouds in the distance we headed SW down the broad shoulder of Geal Charn, where we passed a party for a chap's last munro! Well done him!
We did notice the track was probably alot easier than the heathery off-piste route we took. However Im still glad we made some sort of circuit out of this bland hill.



We continued along following the track which led to the river and back down to the metal bridge. At that point we realised how we easily missed this track as there was no gap in the fence or no stile, so it wasnt blatantly obvious.


But, anway, a nice 'wee' hill to do for 1/2 a day. I didnt get the snow, but did get a bit of exercise and one more munro. Im not sure I would have made it my last one, as I did find it uninspiring.

I did this one a year previously almost to the very day and the conditions could not have been more different to what you got. Who says our weather is all screwed up????!!!!!