18th October 2020 : Glen Cairn

Maps 37 & 36

Not so much a through walk as a circuit with a bit of a car shuttle at the start and finish. Cars to be left at NO256966, the start of the walk and NO235939 where the walk will end. 24 km, 810 m.

The walk starts just north of the Bush and proceeds up a track through a plantation before breaking out onto the open moorland, and past Blairglass before descending slightly into Glen Gairn. Here the track heading west is used to reach Daldownie before crossing the river by the “Sydney Harbour Bridge”. It’s worth a stop at Corndavon Lodge to peer into the window and admire the wall painting here. This was used by the Queen Mother as a hunting bothy. There also used to be an open bothy next door in the old farm buildings, but due to misuse it has been closed by Invercauld Estate. Continue west until the bridge over the Gairn at NJ212019.

Cross this and head up to the junction at NJ203990 where a decision must be made, to go for Culardoch or not and which is included in the initial calculation. If my memory serves me correctly, this is not a great section of track. Omitting Culardoch would save about 200 m of ascent and about 1.5 km. From Culardoch head south down the steep south east shoulder and eventually make for the junction at NJ191972. Here head south east and follow the rough track as far as Auchtavan where there is a small agricultural museum.

The old cottage has one of the last remaining “hanging lums” in Scotland but it is usually locked up. The track then continues east and south through pleasant woodland, past Balmore and Balnoe to reach Thistledae. From there is about 2 km of tarmac to reach the start of the day. It might be possible to leave at least one car at Thistledae if this option is preferred at the start and down the road.