Walk: Geal-charn & A’ Mharconaich – Balsporran horseshoe

📌 Pass of Drumochter, Highland
★★★

These two Munros west of the Pass of Drumochter offer excellent views of 14 mile-long Loch Ericht, with speedy access to the start point along the Highland’s A9 spine road. Geal-charn (White peak) is a heathery, rounded affair – perhaps a good option for winter – while A’ Mharconaich (Place of the horse) offers a little more scenic drama in the form of eastern crags and a briefly well-defined northeast ridge. Recent path improvements have made the reascent to the second Munro much easier going, while the first Munro has a good track for much of the way up. Only near the finish do surface conditions really deteriorate, with some boggy ground and a river to ford with the car park tantalisingly close by on the opposite bank.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Balsporran Cottages, by the A9 2 mi north of Pass of Drumochter summit

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 628791

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.883296,-4.253402

❌ Buses pass the start but there is no official stop – nearest stop is at A889 turnoff 3 mi to north, with cycle path link

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 750 m | ⌛ 4.5-5.5 hr

Features: △ Geal-charn (917 m, Munro); △ A’ Mharconaich (975 m, Munro)

⬤ Tough | Track for most of ascent, paths for remainder. Varied surfaces – often good but with some boggy sections especially near finish. River often requires wading at the very end, but can be avoided by veering north to rejoin ascent track,

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Geal-charn – 739m bealach – west end of A’ Mharconaich summit plateau – A’ Mharconaich – descend NE ridge – ford river immediately west of railway line / car park – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Red grouse, mountain hares & sheep on A’ Mharconaich.

Weather: Variable sun & cloud with a few showers around, finally catching us near the end of the walk. About 7°C on summits, moderate breeze.

September 2025