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Three Glens Explorer ~ Blair Atholl to Aviemore, via Glen Tilt, Glen Dee and the Lairig Ghru *Three Days*
~ Monday 24th May 10 from 7pm to Thursday 27th May 10, PM ~
~ Friday 11th June 10 from 7pm to Monday 14th June 10, PM ~
~ Friday 15th October 10 from 7pm to Monday 18th October 10, PM ~
Three Glens Explorer ~ Blair Atholl to Aviemore, via Glen Tilt, Glen Dee and the Lairig Ghru
Monday 24th May 10 from 7pm to Thursday 27th May 10, PM
Monday 24th May 10 from 7pm to Thursday 27th May 10, PM
£
160.00
INCLUDED IN COST : PLACES AVAILABLE
One night Bed & Breakfast in the magniciant Atholl Arms in Blair Atholl.
Full days guiding on three days.
Packed lunch on first day (Tues).
NOT INCLUDED -
Accommodation (tents) for the Tues, Wed evenings.
Packed lunches on Wed & Thurs.
Meals in the mornings and evenings. You must bring your own camping food!
Travel insurance
Guide Booked : Shaun Hibbard
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above, under 'How to Book'.
To pay by PayPal, click on the 'Buy Now' to the right. Cheque and Bank Transfer are also accepted.
One night Bed & Breakfast in the magniciant Atholl Arms in Blair Atholl.
Full days guiding on three days.
Packed lunch on first day (Tues).
NOT INCLUDED -
Accommodation (tents) for the Tues, Wed evenings.
Packed lunches on Wed & Thurs.
Meals in the mornings and evenings. You must bring your own camping food!
Travel insurance
Guide Booked : Shaun Hibbard
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above, under 'How to Book'.
To pay by PayPal, click on the 'Buy Now' to the right. Cheque and Bank Transfer are also accepted.
Three Glens Explorer ~ Blair Atholl to Aviemore, via Glen Tilt, Glen Dee and the Lairig Ghru
Friday 11th June 10 from 7pm to Monday 14th June 10, PM
Friday 11th June 10 from 7pm to Monday 14th June 10, PM
£
160.00
INCLUDED IN COST : PLACES AVAILABLE
One night Bed & Breakfast in the magnificent Atholl Arms in Blair Atholl.
Full days guiding on three days.
Packed lunch on first day (Sat).
NOT INCLUDED -
Accommodation (tents) for the Sat, Sun evenings.
Packed lunches on Sun & Mon.
Meals in the mornings and evenings. You must bring your own camping food!
Travel insurance
Guide Booked : Shaun Hibbard
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above, under 'How to Book'.
To pay by PayPal, click on the 'Buy Now' to the right. Cheque and Bank Transfer are also accepted.
One night Bed & Breakfast in the magnificent Atholl Arms in Blair Atholl.
Full days guiding on three days.
Packed lunch on first day (Sat).
NOT INCLUDED -
Accommodation (tents) for the Sat, Sun evenings.
Packed lunches on Sun & Mon.
Meals in the mornings and evenings. You must bring your own camping food!
Travel insurance
Guide Booked : Shaun Hibbard
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above, under 'How to Book'.
To pay by PayPal, click on the 'Buy Now' to the right. Cheque and Bank Transfer are also accepted.
Three Glens Explorer ~ Blair Atholl to Aviemore, via Glen Tilt, Glen Dee and the Lairig Ghru
Friday 15th October 10 from 7pm to Monday 18th October 10, PM
Friday 15th October 10 from 7pm to Monday 18th October 10, PM
£
160.00
INCLUDED IN COST : PLACES AVAILABLE
One night Bed & Breakfast in the magnificent Atholl Arms in Blair Atholl.
Full days guiding on three days.
Packed lunch on first day (Sat).
NOT INCLUDED -
Accommodation (tents) for the Sat, Sun evenings.
Packed lunches on Sun & Mon.
Meals in the mornings and evenings. You must bring your own camping food!
Travel insurance.
Guide Booked : Shaun Hibbard
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above, under 'How to Book'.
To pay by PayPal, click on the 'Buy Now' to the right. Cheque and Bank Transfer are also accepted.
One night Bed & Breakfast in the magnificent Atholl Arms in Blair Atholl.
Full days guiding on three days.
Packed lunch on first day (Sat).
NOT INCLUDED -
Accommodation (tents) for the Sat, Sun evenings.
Packed lunches on Sun & Mon.
Meals in the mornings and evenings. You must bring your own camping food!
Travel insurance.
Guide Booked : Shaun Hibbard
For Payment: Please read the Booking Terms & Conditions on the tab above, under 'How to Book'.
To pay by PayPal, click on the 'Buy Now' to the right. Cheque and Bank Transfer are also accepted.
Overview
Appropriately named the ‘Three Glens Explorer’, this walk takes us from the Perthshire village of Blair Atholl, 39 miles to the Highland village of Aviemore, through some of the remotest and wildest areas in Scotland. We use natural cuts in the mountains (what we now call glens) carved out by the last ice age, to walk on a journey to discover what lies in these unfrequented places. We will walk on estate tracks and paths through forests, farmland, wild areas with cascading waterfalls and up into high mountain passes and moorland:
Glen Tilt (Gleann Teilt) is a glenin the extreme north of Perthshire, it basically follows a North-easterly direction from Blair Atholl. It is watered throughout by the Tilt, which enters the Garry after a course of 14 miles, and receives on its right the Tarf, which forms some beautiful falls just above the confluence, and on the left the Fender, which has some fine falls also. The attempt of the 6th Duke of Atholl (1814 - 1864) to close the glen to the public was successfully contested by the Scottish Rights of Way Society. The massive mountain of Beinn a' Ghlòwith it’s three Munros, Carn nan Gabhar, Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain and Càrn Liath dominate the glen's eastern lower half.
Marble of good quality is still occasionally quarried in the glen, and the rock formation has long attracted the attention of geologists.
The Lairig Ghru is the best known hill-pass in Scotland, it was once used up until the 1870’s by cattle drovers taking their herds from Aviemore and Speyside, through the mountains to Braemar and Aberdeenshire. It climbs to an altitude of 838 metres and cuts through the Cairngorm Plateau, allowing you to bask in the peaks towering on both sides, it’s one of the wildest areas in the country.
It is however a long walk through very remote and exposed terrain where help is a long way off and is often snow-bound in winter. However, it provides magnificent views of Scotland's second highest peak, Ben Macdui, to the west, and Scotland's third, fourth and fifth highest peaks to the east.
For details about the walk please see below :
Marble of good quality is still occasionally quarried in the glen, and the rock formation has long attracted the attention of geologists.
The Lairig Ghru is the best known hill-pass in Scotland, it was once used up until the 1870’s by cattle drovers taking their herds from Aviemore and Speyside, through the mountains to Braemar and Aberdeenshire. It climbs to an altitude of 838 metres and cuts through the Cairngorm Plateau, allowing you to bask in the peaks towering on both sides, it’s one of the wildest areas in the country.
It is however a long walk through very remote and exposed terrain where help is a long way off and is often snow-bound in winter. However, it provides magnificent views of Scotland's second highest peak, Ben Macdui, to the west, and Scotland's third, fourth and fifth highest peaks to the east.
For details about the walk please see below :
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Day 1 ~ 15miles ~ Glen Tilt
Falls of Tarf Footbridge
From Blair Atholl we begin our adventure through the Eastern grounds of Blair Castle using minor roads and tracks, then soon after we join an estate track through thick forests which follows the tumbling waters of the River Tilt.
After approx an hour and a half we emerge into the open space of Glen Tilt with tall mountains bordering the narrow strip of agricultural land on the valley floor. These mountains are popular with walkers such as Munro and Corbett baggers. On the North side of the glen lies the Corbett of Beinn Mheadhonach at 901m (2956ft) and the Munro Carn a’ Chlamain (Hill of the kite) at 963m (3159ft). On the Southeast side stands the massif Beinn a’ Ghlo range containing the three Munros of Carn Liath (Hill of the Mist) at 975m (3199ft), Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain (Upland of the corrie of round blisters) at 1070m (3510ft) and the mighty massif of Carn nan Gabhar (Hill of the goats) at 1129m (3704ft).
About halfway up the glen (about 8 miles from Blair Atholl) sits Forest Lodge, an impressive Victorian era hunting lodge that is cared for by Atholl Estates and rented out to family or groups for holidays, www.athollestateslodges.co.uk as such the track through the glen is well maintained and fairly easy walking.
The second half of the glen, i.e. the section after Forest Lodge, is much the same as the first with the exception that the hills slowly become more rugged and rockier. Then about a mile before the top of the glen and the Falls of Tarf, the wide path splits and the trail suddenly becomes narrower and strewn with bigger rocks. Continuing on we soon reach the Falls of Tarf, enticingly remote, the falls take their name from the Scottish Gaelic `tarbh` meaning `bull stream or bull place` - evoking the mythological significance of the bull in the Celtic world. A typical highland burn, the Tarf Water rises in the foothills of the Cairngorms before dividing into a number of tributaries at the Falls of Tarf, eventually joining forces with other streams to become the more powerful River Tilt. A beautiful old Victorian suspension bridge spans the falls.
From here the walking is fairly easy going, then it rises and drops along a steep hillside and at various points the hillside falls away into gorges, but the trail is in good condition and is easy to walk on. Eventually the hills begin to become a little gentler and more rolling and the narrow glen opens out.
Our first day exploring the delights of Glen Tilt is nearly over, time now to set up our tents for our first night under the stars, boots off and get some hot food and drink down us as we joyfully look back at our day.
After approx an hour and a half we emerge into the open space of Glen Tilt with tall mountains bordering the narrow strip of agricultural land on the valley floor. These mountains are popular with walkers such as Munro and Corbett baggers. On the North side of the glen lies the Corbett of Beinn Mheadhonach at 901m (2956ft) and the Munro Carn a’ Chlamain (Hill of the kite) at 963m (3159ft). On the Southeast side stands the massif Beinn a’ Ghlo range containing the three Munros of Carn Liath (Hill of the Mist) at 975m (3199ft), Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain (Upland of the corrie of round blisters) at 1070m (3510ft) and the mighty massif of Carn nan Gabhar (Hill of the goats) at 1129m (3704ft).
About halfway up the glen (about 8 miles from Blair Atholl) sits Forest Lodge, an impressive Victorian era hunting lodge that is cared for by Atholl Estates and rented out to family or groups for holidays, www.athollestateslodges.co.uk as such the track through the glen is well maintained and fairly easy walking.
The second half of the glen, i.e. the section after Forest Lodge, is much the same as the first with the exception that the hills slowly become more rugged and rockier. Then about a mile before the top of the glen and the Falls of Tarf, the wide path splits and the trail suddenly becomes narrower and strewn with bigger rocks. Continuing on we soon reach the Falls of Tarf, enticingly remote, the falls take their name from the Scottish Gaelic `tarbh` meaning `bull stream or bull place` - evoking the mythological significance of the bull in the Celtic world. A typical highland burn, the Tarf Water rises in the foothills of the Cairngorms before dividing into a number of tributaries at the Falls of Tarf, eventually joining forces with other streams to become the more powerful River Tilt. A beautiful old Victorian suspension bridge spans the falls.
From here the walking is fairly easy going, then it rises and drops along a steep hillside and at various points the hillside falls away into gorges, but the trail is in good condition and is easy to walk on. Eventually the hills begin to become a little gentler and more rolling and the narrow glen opens out.
Our first day exploring the delights of Glen Tilt is nearly over, time now to set up our tents for our first night under the stars, boots off and get some hot food and drink down us as we joyfully look back at our day.
Day 2 ~ 10miles, excluding any mountain ascents ~ Glen Dee
Glen Dee
After waking and a decent breakfast it’s time to get off again to explore these glens.
This next stretch can be difficult in wet conditions as the path can deteriate to the point where it is more like walking along a river tributary. But in under an hour we soon join a four-wheel-drive track and walking becomes far easier again. However, this easy going should not be taken for granted, for the trail holds a number of surprises along the way before we reach White Bridge. These surprises are three Burns (rivers) which need to be crossed, two of these are reasonably easy to cross in dry or wet conditions but the third river, the Geldie burn is 20 metres wide and therefore requires more respect and careful hopping from one boulder to the next.
Once across and back onto an estate track, hopefully with dry feet, it’s just a short easy walk to White Bridge; this bridge to some is a little beacon of civilization in the midst of a lot of wilderness. Many walkers bike in from the Linn of Dee near Braemar and leave their bikes around here to cut down the miles of walking needed to reach this far into the mountains.
From this point we make our way into the southern end of Glen Dee along a rocky path which runs along the floor of the glen, quite close to the river, and is surrounded on both sides by long ferns which can obscure any views. However, the familiar sight of the Munro, Devils Point at 1004m (3294ft) soon comes into view and with that signals the beginning of the Lairig Ghru. The Gaelic name for this mountain is Bod an Deamhain, which translates as the Devil’s penis. However the story goes that on one of Queen Victoria’s outings into the mountains when seeing this hill, she asked her ghillie, John Brown, to translate the name for her. Of course Mr Brown obliged but gave an anglicised translation fit for a queens ears. Thus, to this day it’s marked on maps as the Devils Point.
At the Northern foot of this mountain, Corrour bothy is located, this being our last night’s accommodation and hopefully will not be occupied by many others (if the bothy is full we will use our tents). Our route ahead leads straight to the bothy, with the only catch being a small boggy moor section in which to negotiate.
*Note* Depending on how the group feels there should be time before getting our heads down, to walk up one of the Munros close by such as Devil's Point or Cairn Toul.
This next stretch can be difficult in wet conditions as the path can deteriate to the point where it is more like walking along a river tributary. But in under an hour we soon join a four-wheel-drive track and walking becomes far easier again. However, this easy going should not be taken for granted, for the trail holds a number of surprises along the way before we reach White Bridge. These surprises are three Burns (rivers) which need to be crossed, two of these are reasonably easy to cross in dry or wet conditions but the third river, the Geldie burn is 20 metres wide and therefore requires more respect and careful hopping from one boulder to the next.
Once across and back onto an estate track, hopefully with dry feet, it’s just a short easy walk to White Bridge; this bridge to some is a little beacon of civilization in the midst of a lot of wilderness. Many walkers bike in from the Linn of Dee near Braemar and leave their bikes around here to cut down the miles of walking needed to reach this far into the mountains.
From this point we make our way into the southern end of Glen Dee along a rocky path which runs along the floor of the glen, quite close to the river, and is surrounded on both sides by long ferns which can obscure any views. However, the familiar sight of the Munro, Devils Point at 1004m (3294ft) soon comes into view and with that signals the beginning of the Lairig Ghru. The Gaelic name for this mountain is Bod an Deamhain, which translates as the Devil’s penis. However the story goes that on one of Queen Victoria’s outings into the mountains when seeing this hill, she asked her ghillie, John Brown, to translate the name for her. Of course Mr Brown obliged but gave an anglicised translation fit for a queens ears. Thus, to this day it’s marked on maps as the Devils Point.
At the Northern foot of this mountain, Corrour bothy is located, this being our last night’s accommodation and hopefully will not be occupied by many others (if the bothy is full we will use our tents). Our route ahead leads straight to the bothy, with the only catch being a small boggy moor section in which to negotiate.
*Note* Depending on how the group feels there should be time before getting our heads down, to walk up one of the Munros close by such as Devil's Point or Cairn Toul.
Day 3 (Last Walking Day) ~ 14miles ~ Lairig Ghru
Hopefully waking under the comfort of Corrour bothy we begin our final day walking up the Lairig Ghru on an easy going path. Directly to our right (East) is the Munro of Carn a’ Mhaim (Cairn of the large round hill) at 1037m (3402ft). As we continue on this good path through the pass, towering above us are four more Munros all over 4000ft, on the east is Ben Macdui (Hill of the black pig) at 1309m (4295ft) which is Scotland's second highest peak, while on the west are Braeriach (Brindled upland) at 1296m (4252ft), Cairn Toul (Hill of the barn) at 1291m (4236ft) and Angel's Peak (in Gaelic - Sgor an Lochan Uaine - Peak of the Green Lochan) 1258m (4127ft), Scotland's third, fourth and fifth highest peaks respectively.
As you continue on the trail you notice the contrast between the bright, green and inviting hills of Glen Tilt compared with the rocky, moody and ominous looking peaks either side of the Lairig Ghru. Gradually the path climbs higher and we pass the Pools of Dee and the start of the boulder field which covers the summit of the Lairig Ghru, the highest point being at 838m (2749ft), higher than many UK hills. The Lairig Ghru was used up until the 1870’s by cattle drovers taking their herds from Aviemore and Speyside, through the mountains to Braemar and Aberdeenshire. In the boulder field, it’s difficult to try and imagine dozens of cows crossing this section of the trail as some of the boulders are huge and perched very precariously.
As you pass Braeriach on your left and Lurcher's Crag on your right, the steep-sided pass gives way to open heather and grass moorland before dropping down to the pine forest of Rothiemurchus. Very good paths in the Rothiemurchus Estate make easy walking to the end of this adventure in Aviemore.
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As you continue on the trail you notice the contrast between the bright, green and inviting hills of Glen Tilt compared with the rocky, moody and ominous looking peaks either side of the Lairig Ghru. Gradually the path climbs higher and we pass the Pools of Dee and the start of the boulder field which covers the summit of the Lairig Ghru, the highest point being at 838m (2749ft), higher than many UK hills. The Lairig Ghru was used up until the 1870’s by cattle drovers taking their herds from Aviemore and Speyside, through the mountains to Braemar and Aberdeenshire. In the boulder field, it’s difficult to try and imagine dozens of cows crossing this section of the trail as some of the boulders are huge and perched very precariously.
As you pass Braeriach on your left and Lurcher's Crag on your right, the steep-sided pass gives way to open heather and grass moorland before dropping down to the pine forest of Rothiemurchus. Very good paths in the Rothiemurchus Estate make easy walking to the end of this adventure in Aviemore.
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