Loading...
Name:Geal Charn
Hill number:598
Height:821m / 2694ft
RHB Section:08B: Cairngorms
County/UA:Highland
Catchment:Spey
Class:Marilyn, Hump, Simm, Corbett, Yeaman
(Ma,Hu,Tu,Sim,C,Y)
Grid ref:NJ 09052 12690
Summit feature:cairn
Drop:173m
Col:648m  NJ062100  
OS map sheet(s):(1:50k) 36
(1:25k) OL58N 404N
Observations:1-2m higher than rock 170m ESE
Survey:Abney level
Change log:show changes for this hill entry
GPS data:show GPS entries for this hill

Show Map

View on: Geograph  OS Maps  Streetmap  Magic  NLS  OTM

Full screen map

Show/hide GPS File for mountains/markers shown

Show/hide GPX File for mountains shown

Photos
Hill summit photo
(where available)
Hill portrait photo
(where available)

Click on a photo link to view photo on the hillsummits website

To contribute a summit or portrait photo for a hill
please contact the hillsummits website

N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way.  Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land(*).
*For information about access rights in Scotland see the ScotWays website.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass.  Please quote the hill number and hill name.

Logged Descriptions  (logged by 365 users, only the latest 50 shown - Show all)ByDate of Ascent
On day 8 of TGOC 2023, there and back from a camp by the Water of Caiplichalistairpooler19/05/2023
1 of 2: From Dorback Lodge. With Karen.ChrisR03/10/2022
Second corbett of the day - arrived at the turning point before the private road to Dorback Lodge, where a local estate person in his jeep confirmed I could park in the turning area as long as i kept to the edge. Decided to do the route as an anti-clockwise loop and headed across the fairly low river, to the abandoned buildings at Upper Dell, and then followed a good track around to the Allt na h-Eirghe. Not long after crossing the burn, left the track at a small cairn and shortly after that the path disappeared, (or I missed it), and it turned into a heather-bashing slog most of the way up to the summit ridge. Reached the summit with some relief and started heading over some peat bog down towards a large ugly track coming down from Carn Ruadh-bhreac, which I followed around to Dorback Lodge and the car. Mixed weather, but relatively calm - total time 2h 59min.mproudfoot26/06/2022
From Dorback Lodge road end. River crossing no problem after a couple of days of only isolated showers. Past Upper Dell to the end of the track, then heather bashing until a narrow path appeared up the north shoulder. Returned down the NW shoulder back to the track.Owen B26/05/2022
Solo. Up via Upper Dell and estate track. Care would be needed when crossing river in spate. Was dry today so no problem. Descended NE to large estate track and return. Parking in turning area at Dorbach Lodge considerately as specified by other users. Typical East Cairngorm round hill. Uneventful but the views north to the main Cairngorm massif are to die for on a sunny day.DampandDusty22/05/2022
Parked on verge just before turning circle near Dorback Lodge, along estate tracks past lodge and along Allt Mor, turning up hill on track at NJ093154, then right fork higher up, continuing on ATV tracks to N Top of Carn na Farraidh and across the bog and hags to the summit, descended S back to Allt Mor valley near the col, then up ATV tracks W of Allt Slugan na Cloiche, continuing to summit of Geal Charn, descending N on ridge between Allt nan Gamhuinn and Allt Mor, meeting estate track near Allt nan Gamhuinn, followed that down to Upper Dell, crossed river at the fords, followed river bank back to start (5h5m)kdbennett29/04/2022
club weekend, climbed with RegJamesSDonald08/11/2021
Numbing gale on summit, no shelter! But quite good views including of high Cairngorms with mist tearing over them.NorfolkPT2125/10/2021
From Dorbach Lodge, all the way up the track to Geal Charn Beag, then pathless along ridge to summit. After first 500 meters the going improves dramatically, followed an old fence line most of the way. Descent down ridge between Allt Mor and Allt nan Gamhuinn to end of track to Upper Dell and over River on track past new barn back to Dorbach. Can't believe I had lunch under Carn Ruadh-bhreac and didn't realise it was a tump.Flatfield05/09/2021
We parked at the entrance to Dorback Lodge and took the track above the Allt Mor, passing a spectacular sand martin colony and being passed by a Sea eagle, equally spectacular! A side track got us some way up Carn na Farraidh North Top, then it was animal tracks through the heather to the summit and on to its parent summit. Back down to the track and along to Carn Ruadh-bhreac before u-turning up a newer section of track to half way up Geal Charn Beag, then more relentless heather to Geal Charn itself. We continued NW to take in Carn na h-Ailig, descending to Upper Dell and back to the camper. A hot, heathery traipse of around six hours.summitter16/07/2021
Stuart, wetGav026803/10/2020
Followed the route described in the Walkhighlands website. Oddly warm NW wind, good views from the summit into the Cairngorm massifRockdoctor14/09/2020
Moira ColB14/09/2020
With Rob. followed SMC guiodebook route.alexmaclennan10/09/2020
Parked off the turning circle and followed the track out then bash through the heather to the top.Nicky C17/08/2020
From Dornoch Lodge a straightforward round of Carn na h-Ailig, Geal Charn and over to Carn na Farraidh and back down track. Easy going all the way. Fourth consecutive walking day and this was first time I touched snow, a 3m wide band on descent from Geal Charn. Not what I expected on New Year's Day.dickscroop01/01/2020
With Sue from Dorback Lodge. Not sure about parking in quarry so parked off road near. Very wet and windy. Straight up and down.Frank04/09/2019
Ascended from Bile Buidhe.187lenny21/07/2019
From Dorback Lodge. Crossed river to Upper Dell and followed good track south, then reasonable path up ridge. Continued around Coire an Uillt Mhoir and back down valley track.davidpettit8402/06/2019
WBMC Cairngorms meet. With DH, PS and DB. Full winter condition.John Lee11/03/2019
From Dorback Lodge, Gael Charn, Carn na h-Ailig and back. Superb views.CJM24/02/2019
Parking for a car or two beside start of track 400m before public road ends. Anti clockwise circuit of Allt na h-Eirghe skyline (including Bile Buidhe).Smudge24/12/2018
Anti-clockwise route from Dorback Lodge. With Paul & Helen.MorecambeMonkey05/05/2018
Short walk with Richard after DMC trip staying at Carrbridge bunkhouse. On way up to Lochcarron via Achnasheen.amcculloch24/09/2017
63rd – With Allan. From Dorback Lodge as an out and back. Follow track across Dorback Burn, then heading S, cross Allt nan Gamhuinn and ascend SW to summit above Coire an Uillt Mhoir. Dry, cloudy day, but above tops, breezy but much less than the fierce winds of Saturday.RGibbs24/09/2017
low mist rain and very strange noses on the way downmikebeattie13/09/2017
KeithByTheC29/07/2017
On my own while Stevie n tay waited at the car. Went to Loch Garten on the way back tom the campsite.Yeltzbagger26/06/2017
With Mora. From Dorback Lodge road end (there is limited parking here).BLACKHILL20/04/2017
A stunning day after all the storms. Did the circuit from Dorbrack, crossing the river, up the track, over the top and back down the estate road. Great views of the Cairngorms, a bit of snow to spice the walk up a bit, and a glorious sunset at the end. The river crossing seemed very easy, despite the previous week's storms and snow melt.Gill28/12/2016
From Dorback Lodge turning area. Crossed river, missed path from Upper Dell and struggled through long heather up W ridge, lunched at cairn in warm sun with good views. Along plateau, dropping across to wide estate track, rain for last half hour. With Eivor (and Laura from Inverness) plus Skye and Tess. Dotterel, oystercatchers, curlew, grouse and chicks, deer, haresniallp26/06/2016
With Debs. Cycled in from Aviemore then out and back main ridge.Mountain Goat21/03/2016
With Will, Suz, Phil & CathyGrinner31/12/2015
Started a pile of fence posts and rusted wire next to the cairn. Perhaps others could pick up on way to the cairn. Over time we can clear the top of the debris of a bygone era.Bilbobagger18/10/2015
Cycled from Dorbeck Lodge up to 091143, track very rough. Thereafter easy ascent.Topographer5729/09/2015
Parked at Dorback Lodge. Despite notice estate worker said OK to park as long as left space for wagons to turn. Waded river in spate. Was tempted by Bile Bhuidhe (yellow vomit) but resisted and stuck with just adding the Sim and the Hump.Martin R17/11/2014
At the end of a New Year week at Glenelg during a short stay in Aviemore. Dropped J off for skiing in Coire Cas & then nipped round for Geal Charn. From Dorback Lodge where parking is limited if you are to avoid the various No Parking signs. Followed the path over the river to join up with the track past Upper Dell. Later straight up the frosted slope to the top. Back by the same route & back round to Coire Cas to pick up J. She ended up with someone else's boots from the ski centre & happily plodded around a few walks over the next couple of months before realising!!NotReallyABagger05/01/2014
Elma Jack Ewan Lynne Joycedonmeister29/12/2013
CK SheilaS01/01/2013
Parked at the turning point at the end of the road. Walked along the track in front of Dorback Lodge, and since the river couldn't be crossed to Upper Dell, continued along the track to past Allt na h'Eirghe, then south to the ridge and up to the top. Continued ESE along the ridge, then NW to re-join the track for a return to the car via Dorback Lodge.martin_hall14/10/2012
Solo. After ascending Carn na Farraidh and Carn Ruadh-bhreac. From summit of the latter went down to bothy where I had lunch - glad to be out of the wind. From bothy followed path shown on OS 1:50,000 map, which is actually a track. Tried to locate spot height 759m on Geal Charn Beag but this proved difficult as there is a large area of flat land hereabouts. I probably did not reach it. Continued to summit cairn of Geal Charn. I visited another point that could be the highest point. On to Carn na h-Ailig.pwbellarby29/09/2012
Second round ascent.pwbellarby 2nd29/09/2012
from dorback lodge.robertphillips11/08/2012
R with Chris Steve C Jo Richard Tait01/08/2012
Heathergarbo110328/01/2011
Veryhappybunny01/08/2010
JimT04/07/2010
A warm and muggy day for a long walk and a slow climb onto a flat ridgetorkm20/06/2010
Galltywenallt05/06/2010
Solo. Dorbank Lodge to Upper Dell then Geal Charn & return. Overcast & drizzly.Vin13/10/2009