Reproduced from www.viewranger.com. Map data: Ordnance Survey ©Crown Copyright and/or database right 2016. License number 100043379.

Follow E track and follow to road at Linn of Dee. Continue East through claybokie, take SE track at NO 088 900 through Mar Lodge. Turn S at lodge and cross Victoria Bridge. Follow E to car park at NO 118 896, then take forest track to small lochan then leave forest continue to viewpoint above Tomintoul. Follow track down past club house to meet road then turn N to cross bridge in town, then S on A93 to Braemar Youth Hostel.

OS Landranger series maps: 43, 44

Length: 15.02 km

Total Ascent:  198m

Total Descent: 250m

Max Elevation: 452m

Min Elevation: 336m

Route Profile:

The scenery here is quite spectacular. Ever changing. Today I begin walking firmly into Royal Deeside, my route continues along the River Dee to the Linn of Dee, a wonderful gorge carved by millenia of flowing water. At times the water rages through like a torrent, and others it’s calm and serene, depending on which side of the bridge you are on!

Soon after Linn of Dee, you come to a place called Claybokie. above Claybokie lies the slopes of Creag Bhalg, the site of the not so successful Mar Lodge Ski Centre. Pioneering snow making equipment required water to be piped up, tows and lifts took participants up the hill, and they skied down through the forest. Given the steepness of the slopes here, this must have been a hard task on 1960’s kit. After the venture was abandoned, much of the kit was transported to Glenshee, which still operates today.

Soon I will come to Mar Lodge, which was originally built as a shooting lodge for the Duke and Duchess of Fife, the younger sister of George V.

This was the third lodge on the site, and this incarnation commenced in 1895, with Queen Victoria laying the foundation stone. 4 miles west of Braemar, the access road to the south of the lodge is a typical lattice work. on one side of the arch is the name Queen Victoria, and on the other, Edward VII. I will cross this bridge and follow the road for a short while, then take a path to the northern flanks of Morrone or Morven, through the Morrone Birkwood with views over Braemar. From here I drop down into Braemar itself, and make my way to Braemar Youth Hostel where I will collect my second ration pack, and spend the night. Completely by accident, this bed for the night coincides with Eurovision night. hahaha!

Corrie Feragie, 21 Glenshee Road, Braemar,
AB35 5YQ
Get Directions
+44 (0) 1339 741 659
braemar@hostellingscotland.org.uk

See you tomorrow.