A' Mharconaich

Infobox Mountain
Name = A' Mharconaich
Photo = A_Mharconaich_from_the_south.jpg
Caption = A' Mharconaich from the south, the track up Coire Dhomhain is clearly in view.
Elevation = 975 m (3199 ft)
Location = Badenoch and Strathspey Highland SCO
Range = Grampian Mountains
Prominence = 114 m
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 42, OS "Explorer" 394
First ascent =
Easiest route =
Grid_ref_UK = NN604763
Listing = Munro
Translation = The Horse Place
Language =Gaelic
Pronunciation = A Varkaneech"The Munro Almanac", Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1 897784 01 5 Page 62 Gives pronunciation.]

A' Mharconaich is a Scottish mountain that is located 29 km WNW of Blair Atholl in the Highland council area. It is in a group of mountains that lie west of the A9 road near the summit of the Pass of Drumochter and are known accordingly the Drumochter Hills. The hill is just within the Cairngorms National Park although it is not part of the Cairngorms mountains.

Overview

A' Mharconaich reaches a height of 975 metres (3199 feet) and is the 182nd highest Munro, [http://www.scottishsport.co.uk/walking/munrolist3.htm www.scottishsport.co.uk.] Gives list of Munros in height order.] it is well seen by travellers on the A9 to which it shows it more steeper and rugged eastern flanks with a high corrie located just beneath the summit. The mountains names translates from the Gaelic as "the horse place" and dates from a time when horses were a valuable element of the economy of the region: places where horses gathered would be noted and named accordingly."The Magic of the Munros", Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0 7153 2168 4 Page 76 Gives meaning of Gaelic translation of name and meaning.] The hill is crossed by the border between Perth and Kinross and Highland areas or in the old day Perthshire and Inverness-shire and is marked by old rusting fence posts which can be used as an aid to navigation when traversing the hill."OS Landranger 42" ISBN 0 319 22042 7 Shows county boundary on hill .]

Geography

A' Mharconaich has a SW-NE orientated summit ridge, just over a kilometre long with high points at each end. The NE summit is regarded as the highest point although there is very little difference in height with both having a 970 metre ring contour. In 1974 the SE top, named Bruach nan Iomairean, was deemed to be the summit of the mountain when the Munro tables were revised by the SMC, however the decision was reversed in 1981. [http://www.biber.fsnet.co.uk/downloads.html Database of British Hills.] Gives details of temporary summit re-location in 1974.] A' Mharconaich throws out two fine steep ridges on either side of the eastern corrie. The NE ridge descends initially as a steep buttress before easing and continuing for three km to reach the A9 at Balsporran Cottages.

The less well defined eastern ridge descends steeply from Bruach nan Iomairean to a col with a height of approximately 655 metres which links to the hill the Boar of Badenoch also known as An Torc. The line of old fence posts can be followed the whole way. The Boar reaches a height of 739 metres and though it is usually regarded as a separate hill from A' Mharconaich it does not qualify for any hill lists and could be regarded as its eastern outlier. It is a fine viewpoint down into the Pass of Drumochter."The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Vol 1", Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0 906371 30 9 Page 114 Gives mountain topography and some route information.]

To the SW A' Mharconaich links to the adjacent Munro of Beinn Udlamain, again following the fence posts for four km across undulating ground with little loss of height. This area is often teeming with deer being part of the Dalnaspidal deer forest."Hamish’s Mountain Walk", Hamish Brown, ISBN 1 898573 08 5 Page 155 Says the col to Beinn Udlamain is often full of deer.] 2.5 km to the north is another Munro, Geal-charn which is reached by descending to a height of 739 metres and traversing around the head of Coire Fhar. Drainage from A' Mharconaich reaches the east coast of Scotland but is divided by the Pass of Drumochter, either going north to join the River Spey or south to meet the River Tay."The Munros, Scotland’s Highest Mountains", Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1 84204 082 0 Page 94 Gives general mountain description and topography.]

Ascents and view

There are two starting points for the direct ascent of A' Mharconaich and several permutations if it is being climbed in conjunction with other hills as it usually is. One route starts on the A9 at the top of the Pass of Drumochter at grid reference gbm4ibx|NN632755 and goes up Coire Dhomhain for just over a kilometre and then ascending NW to the col between A' Mharconaich and the Boar of Badenoch from where the line of fence posts is followed steeply to the summit ridge. This starting point can be used for a complete circuit of Coire Dhomhain taking in the other two Munros of Sgairneach Mhòr and Beinn Udlamain.

An alternative start is at Balsporran cottages (gbm4ibx|NN627791), and offers a direct ascent up the NE ridge or a longer walk which takes in the adjoining Munro of Geal-chàrn. The summit is marked by a substantial collection of stones which has been shaped in to a wind shelter rather than the usual cairn. The view includes Loch Ericht and Loch Pattack to the NW and the Ben Alder massif."The Munros (SMC Guide)", Donald Bennett (editor) et al, ISBN 0 907521 13 4 Page 90 Gives mountain description and routes.]

References