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Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
926 m (3038 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NH56159879
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
260 of 282 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
1
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
White peak
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  35   Kingussie and Monadhliath Mountains
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Geal Charn is a compact mountain with steep and at times craggy E slopes but moderate to easy W slopes.

Geal Charn is separated from its nearest neighbour Beinn Sgiath by a high col (850m) at the head of Coire nan Dearcag. The moderate to easy slopes of the SW ridge lead to a path from Garva Bridge and the gentle slopes of the broad NW ridge leads to the high moorland of the Monadhliath plateau.

To the NE, a ridge (Bruach nam Biodag) leads SE from the plateau offering an alternative ascent route from Glen Markie.

Hazards you may encounter on Geal Charn [Monadh Liath] include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]

Geal Charn from the south side of the Spey dam loch in evening light

© Roger Coppock
Image by Roger Coppock

Geal Charn (Monadh Liath) Feb 26 2005

© Michael Will
Image by Michael Will

summit of Geal Charn taken from the carpark at Garva Bridge 6-5-16 still a few patches of snow around

© robin scott
Image by robin scott

Beware the cornices that form above the east face of Geal Charn, April 2006.

© Alex Bryce
Image by Alex Bryce
View All 10 Images for Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
Cairngorms * Monadhliath
by MWIS (PDF format) 		East Highlands
by Met Office 		Carn Dearg
by Metcheck
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath] Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Geal Charn [Monadh Liath].

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 952 m 22.90 km 6.5 hrs Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]  Easy route to the summit of the most western of the Monadh Liath hills.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]

  Baggers Gallery for Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]

A "selfie" taken at the summit cairn of Geal Charn 6-5-16 almost had the mountain to my self

© robin scott
Image by robin scott

Jorja at the top of (the Monadhliath) Geal Charn. February 2013.

© Scott Blair
Image by Scott Blair

Me, Kenny & Leanne on a sunny & windless summit of Geal Charn on Saturday 28th January 2012

© Ged Rhynd
Image by Ged Rhynd

2001 Oct 13th Liz. Robinson summit Geal Charn

© Liz Robinson
Image by Liz Robinson
View All 18 Baggers Images for Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
The logging section stores any entries for Geal Charn [Monadh Liath] in your own log. From here you can
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  Logging
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Recently Climbed By
Graham Smyth on 10 Mar 2024
Hazel Taylor on 22 Feb 2024
Kathleen Ritchie on 26 Nov 2023
Peter Webb on 16 Aug 2023
Andy Munro on 19 Jul 2023
Andrew Stewart on 23 Jun 2023

If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

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 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
by Doug Tulloch
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
by Philip McLoone
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
by Douglas Mason
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
by William McGilvray
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
by Kenny Mcneill
Geal Charn [Monadh Liath]
by David McSporran

Post a few words about Geal Charn [Monadh Liath] or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 11 comments. Would you like to view all 11?
Philip Cheshire
wrote on
November 12, 2012
Crossing the Markie Burn where the Piper Burn joins is possible but potentially challenging even when water levels are modest. Another option is footbridge 450 metres upstream. (November 2012)
Richard Goodman
wrote on
May 2, 2011
It's possible to cycle up Glen Markie as far as the Pipers Burn if doing this mountain from the Glen Markie side. If the Markie is in spate there is a bridge at NN588983 crossing it, but otherwise it is easy to cross just above the mouth of the Pipers Burn as the routes suggest - at about NN585976 - head up the hill to a gate at NN581981 and follow a well-worn path through the heather and up into the corrie and onto the ridge.
Colin Fridge
wrote on
April 6, 2009
If you can cross the Markie Burn with relative ease at the end of the landrover track then maybe after you summit, you descend via Beinn Sgiath going almost directly south from the summit cairn till you meet the east end of a small rivine (An Dirc Mhor)on the 25000/1 maps. Then go south east to the firebreak in the forest, continue past the small hut till you meet the burn again then follow downstream to the Girder Dam at the loch and cross with care ! back to the starting path ? This should save a good couple of hours on the book routes via Garva Bridge.
Rob Graham
wrote on
January 3, 2008
One thing that seems to be missing from all the reviews and reports on this hill is that the Markie Burn is anything but a burn and does present quite a barrier from the Land Rover track in Glen Markie. However we discovered on the 02/01/08 that there is a good foot bridge about 400 or 500m up from where the Piper's Burn comes in. A poor day weatherwise for the 17k/820m round trip (we did find stepping stones on the way back), but a good day for refreshing our compass skills (party of 4 - 2 compasses failed, a fall broke one and a large bubble in another), and tolerance to 40 mph winds.
David Nichols
wrote on
October 29, 2007
Climbed this hill on 27th October in poor and windy weather from Garva Bridge, lost path on lower slopes after crossing a small burn. No problem finding path further up leading to the cairn. Decended north then east into Glen Markie and back to the dam and our lift. There is little or no path from approx. 800m to 400m of decent and the ground is very rough. Time taken 4 hours.
 
 

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  Route Write-Ups
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