| Track length: | 32.56 km |
| Moving time: | 8:05 |
| Average speed: | 4.03 km/h |
| Total ascent: | 1362 m |
| Total descent: | 1357 m |
| Difficulty Level: | 3/5 - Medium |
- Geal Charn Latitude: 56.837861 Longitude: -4.509694
- Elevation 1.132 m or 3,714 ft
Geal Charn is the western most of the Monadh Liath and so far from the other three Munros that it is usually ascended on its own. Its eastern corrie is attractive, it is the nearest of the Monadhliath summits to Aviemore, it offers a straightforward ascent in good conditions with superb views across Strathspey.
Gael Charn and A'Mharconaich are the two most northerly Munros on the west side of the road, and lie between the A9 itself and the long arm of Loch Ericht, stretching back into the wilds of the Ben Alder Forest.
The walk starts at the car park at a height of 425m, just off the access road to Balsporran Cottages, then crossing the railway line you follow the obvious track that leads up to the bealach, Gael Charn's stony summit has a fine viewpoint, especially into the interior, away from the A9.
The onward path leads generally south west then south to the bealach reached by your starting track: and then you make your way up the flank of A'Mharconaich.
When you reach the summit of A'Mharconaich the path then steeply but easily follows downhill, along the north east ridge, this can get pretty boggy at certain times of the year, when you reach the ridge itself, it branches off to the main track and takes a fairly direct route up to and along the east ridge of Gael Charn, while this provides a viable route up, a reasonably defined path then takes you backdown to Balsporran Cottages and to the car park.
