M155 | 991 m. | 3251 ft.
Translation: Big stony hillside
Pronuncation: skaarnyatch vore

The first day of the 2006 walking holiday had seen Alex, Frank and me stomp up and down Shiehallion in three hours. The second tour of three of the western Drumochter Hills was squeezed into the transfer day from Perthshire to Glen Strathfarrar where our chalet was. Starting the hike at the beginning of the landrover track into Coire Dhomhain we walked up this glen with the Sow of Atholl to the left and the Boar of Badenoch to the right. After two kilometres we left the track, crossed the Allt Coire Dhomhain and headed for the bealach between the Sow and Sgairneach Mhor. The going was easy over grassy and mossy terrain which was not too wet. Fine conditions. Soon we reached the bealach and continued due west along the rim of Corrie Creagach. The remains of massive cornices were still there and the arching corrie rim was a beautiful sight. Then we attained the summit of Sgairneach Mhor. Off we went over the grassy plateu to the very head of Coire Dhomhain and the foot of Carn ‘Ic Loumhaidh which we climbed to get onto the ridge leading to the highest hill of the tramp, Beinn Udlamain at 1011 m. At Beinn Udlamain’s summit we met another group of hill walkers and we all huddled close by the cairn searching shelter from the strong wind. From Beinn Udlamain we set out on the three kilometre stretch of ridge leading to A’ Mharconaich skirting around Fraoch-Choire. After 35 or 40 minutes we arrived at the summit cairn of the third munro of the day which I had visited in autumn 2002 already. From there we descended steep slopes of grass and snow in a south easterly direction back into Coire Dhomhain where we hit the landrover track and walked back to the A9 and our car. An easy circuit of three hills with great views of Loch Ericht and Ben Alder. Relaxed walking, quick progress and nice cornices above Coire Creagach. A good day for Alex, Frank and me. Even more so as we reached the car two minutes before the rain set in :-).


Description These two hills are due east of the summit of the Pass of Drumochter, Beinn Udlamain at the head of Coire Dhomhain and Sgairneach Mhor on its south side. Beinn Udlamain, the highest of the Drumochter hills, appears from the A9 road at the pass to be a rather flat-topped hill, but Sgairneach Mhor has a more impressive appearance with a big north-facing corrie ringed by crags.The ascent route goes up the track in Coire Dhomhain for about 3½ kilometres and then west-north-west up steep slopes leading to the north-east ridge of Beinn Udlamain. Continue up this to the flat summit. Descend the south ridge as far as the col leading to Sgairneach Mhor and climb the wide grassy western slopes of this hill to the summit. Descend north-east along the edge of Coire Creagach and before reaching the Sow of Atholl col turn left downhill and cross the stream to rejoin the track in Coire Dhomhain. It is easy to include A'Mharconaich in this traverse by leaving the track in Coire Dhomhain about 2 kilometres from the A9 road and climbing steeply north-west to its level summit ridge.