Geal Charn from Dorback

Hill: Geal Charn Cairngorms
Category: Corbett
Height: 821m

Side view of summit area

After yesterday's tourist hill I wanted isolation and I got it. A small stop in Nethy Bridge to check the map, yes I had overshot by a little bit and missed the turn. Back on the right road and 8 miles later at the parking area just before Dorback Lodge. There is a sign indicating no parking, a turning area, it is very big, but being a good boy I parked on a nearby dirt area, room for 1 car. As I got my boots on an estate jeep came flying up, zoomed round the turning area and sped back down the road. Was he checking if I had parked in the no go zone?
I followed the WH route, anti clockwise, so no route map posted.

No water hazard today

Through the gate on the right and get a good view of the hill and the open moorland terrain ahead, no German tourists here today I suspect.
I crossed the first water hazard, the Dorback burn, no danger today although the water course shows how high and wide it can get.
There is a faint track to the ruined farm, Upper Dell, on which I was bombed by black headed gulls whose nests must be close by.
Now heading out over the moor but there is a good track to follow, passing the small hut and the lochan before crossing another burn, again just a step over. You have lost any height gained but continue on the path for a short while.

Turn right here

A small stack of stones on your right is the point to go onto the moor proper. There is a faint track on and off to give some guidance. In fairness the going was a lot easier than I anticipated but it is a mixture of grass and heather with boggy areas. Plenty of grouse springing today, all at the last minute to get the heart rate even higher.

1st cairn

My final route up to the first cairn, not the top, was probably a dried water course but still easier to walk on than the moor.
The views are now opening up with Meall a’Bhuachaille the first to show. Then Cairngorm covered in cloud but Bynack More is clear. 

Looking to Cairngorms

Good going now as the posts of an old fence line are a guide to the top, the cairn appearing over the crest and then the summit is reached, 1 hour 40m. 

Ben Avon

I am really glad that I did this as the views are once again superb. A truly remote hill, a real feeling of isolation and not another person seen apart from the parking area. This is another stand alone hill so a full panorama, due south the tors of Ben Avon are impressive. Yesterdays hill, Ben Rinnes is cloud free. Such panoramic views are what it is all about.

Thunder clouds coming my way

I was enjoying the view as the silence and solitude which was rudely broken when claps of thunder, very loud indeed, came from that Cairngorm stuff. The clouds had spread and were heading my way so off the hill I went.

Scarred track can be seen via rough terrain

My descent headed initially along the ridge and then veered left heading down towards the huge scar of the estate track. There is no correct route, pathless moorland, steeper than the ascent and wetter, this side holding moisture from recent rain. Twisted an ankle in a deep hole so care taken. Still rough moorland. Some red deer hinds scarper, must have heard me curse.
Near the bottom an estate ATV marks takes you to the track past the grouse butts, a dead/shot hare lying here. 

Sandy past

Now the track back which did seem like a long trudge. Although interestingly geology at one land side the sandy terrain is so evident, a reminder of our islands attachment to Africa many moons ago. More sand than in the bunkers of my golf course.
Some of the buildings near the lodge are occupied although sadly the main lodge is still a ruin. 

Grouse beater

Finally, I did have a laugh at the ‘grouse beater’ outside the lodge.
For the views and solitude this was well worth it.
Wildlife: Grouse, pheasant, golden plover, raven, red deer, kestrel with young.

Time: 3.24
Ascent: 546m
Distance: 13.6km