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G L E N C L 0 V A
O.S.Map Sht.44: Ballater.
l2th.August 2007
BRAEDOWNIE to DYKEHEAD
The walk today traverses the ridge of hills on the South side of Glen Clova. Three alternative routes are described below — the longest is 14 miles (1), but shorter alternatives of 8.5 miles (2), and 10 miles (3) are possible.
The bus will proceed up the west side of the glen heading for Braedownie.
On the way up those selecting the shorter walks can be dropped at two places;—for the 8½ mile walk just before Wester Eggie at NGR.357.697, and for the 10 mile walk just before Milton of Clova at NGR.325.726.
(1)The main walk will commence at the quarry at Braedownie (NGR.288.757) where we take the farm track opposite the quarry leading down to the bank of the River South Esk and follow the bank downstream to the second footbridge over the river. Cross this bridge and skirting a plantation of trees start the climb up the hillside following a burn in a southwesterly direction. This leads into the corrie between Dreish and Bassies just to the west of a spur of rocks. After leaving the burn climb southeasterly to the summit of Hill of Strone (850m.,2788ft.), the highest point of the route today.
From this summit head more easterly over Cairn Inks (758m.,2486ft.), then over Cairn of Barns(651m.,2135ft.), and then Coremachy(543m., 1781ft.), before turning southwards to Drumwhern. Beyond this top a track coming up from Wester Eggie and heading down for Glen Prosen (known as the Minister’s Road) is crossed before climbing south eastwards again to Cairn Leith(439m.,1439ft.), and over Hill of Balbae to Hill of Couternach (512m.,1679ft.).
From there the ridge heads south east past Craigs of Lethnot and then turns southerly over an unnamed 459m. top just before reaching the trees surrounding the top known as The Goal.
A clearing in the trees leads southeastwards from there and a track is picked up at NGR.370.628 which traverses two minor unnamed tops Of 387m. before arriving at the prominent Airlie Memorial Tower on Tulloch Hill. From the tower a track winds down through the trees to join the Glen Prosen road. Turn left along this road to the road junction at Dykehead near the hotel where the bus will be waiting. (NGR.386.603).
Walking distance = 14 miles (+2800 feet of climbing).
(2)Those dropped before Wester Eggie climb up the track through the trees (known as the Minister’s Road) on to the open hillside and reach the ridge between Drumwhern and Cairn Leith where route (1) is joined and followed to Airlie Tower and then down to Dykehead.
Walking distance = 8½ miles (+l000feet of climbing).
(3)Those taking this route are dropped just before the bridge over the River South Esk, a short distance south of Milton of Clova. At the bend of the read climb over the fence and follow the course of a burn south/southwestwards uphill to eventually reach the summit of Cairn of Barns (651m.,2135ft.) where route (1) is joined and followed south eastwards as before to Airlie Tower and Dykehead..
Walking distance = 10 miles (+2000 feet of climbing). |
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