TR: Mayar and Driesh
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Mcploppy ©
WALK FACTS
Distance: 9.2 miles/14.8kms. Allow 5-6 hours
Map: OS Landranger 1:50,000 Sheet 44 or Explorer 1:25,000 Sheet 388.
Start/parking: To complete this walk, without having a lengthy road walk at
the start, it is best if two cars can be used. Leave one car in the new car
parking area at the Glen Clova Hotel and the second at the Glendoll Car Park
Grid Ref NO284760. There is a parking fee of £1.50 here (August 2004) and an
opportunity to complete a Route Card that can be left in the box outside the
Ranger's Office. Remember to complete a Return Card when safely back.
Grading: This is a reasonable straightforward, scenic hill walk in a popular
area, on a mix of tracks over sometimes rough, steep terrain, including two
Munros and two tops. It is recommended for reasonably fit and energetic hill
walkers and older children. A good summer route but in winter weather or low
cloud, a map and compass, and the ability to navigate with them effectively
may be required. Dogs should be kept on the lead where livestock are
grazing.
Glen Clova is, without doubt, the most popular and best known of the Angus
Glens with forests of larch, spruce and pine and open views along
fast-flowing rivers to the high corries and mountain tops. It extends some
18 miles north then north west from Kirriemuir before finishing at Glendoll.
The public road ends effectively at the Glen Clova Hotel but a narrow single
track road continues further north west into Glendoll. The Glendoll campsite
once operated by the Forestry Commission and the SYHA Glendoll hostel are
now closed. There is accommodation available at the Glen Clova Hotel with
its climbers' bar and bunkhouse.
Since the roads within Glen Clova are single track, an 'unofficial'
(clockwise) one-way system operates on both sides of the valley with traffic
heading north encouraged to use the western side, while that returning south
is encouraged to use the eastern side. There is no guarantee, however, that
there will be nothing coming the other way, but it does tend to make life
easier for everyone. At weekends Glen Clova and Glendoll in particular can
be very busy; and I'ts not unknown for the car park by the ranger station to
overspill into what used to be the camp site. But it's very easy to leave
the crowds behind, for spectacular mountain scenery lies in every direction.
The route described here heads north to ascend the spectacular Corrie Fee to
access the two Munros - individual mountains over 3000ft high - of Mayar to
the north west and Driesh to the east.
From the car park head north into the glen past Acharn Farm on the left and
the former SYHA hostel on the right to where the path divides right on a
narrow track to Jock's Road, an ancient hill route to Braemar, and left on a
wider road down to a bridge over White Water at Grid Ref NO267757.
Once over this bridge the route ascends steadily through the forest,
narrowing at Grid Ref NO258754, before opening into the Caenlochan National
Nature Reserve on the edge of the open bowl of Corrie Fee. Progress is easy
through the base of the corrie follows the Fee Burn. A considerable amount
of path repair work is in progress (August 2004) and much already
sympathetically completed. As the route progresses so does the gradient and
some easy scrambling is required to reach the edge of the high plateau. The
climb is a mix of wet grass and loose stone so care is required to avoid a
slip or fall. The route heads south westerly from the top of the climb up to
the wide bouldered summit of Mayar.
To continue, back-track northeast for a short distance and join the wide
path that follows the line of a former fence easterly towards Driesh. At
Grid Ref NO253738 the path crosses the Kilbo Path - a former hill pass
linking Glen Clova and Glen Prosen. Follow the line of the fence from here
for approximately 820 yards/750m before turning first southeast, dipping
then ascending to a lesser top, then east to reach the triangulation pillar
on the cairned summit of Driesh.
Descend gently east northeast at first from the summit following the now
broken line of fence towards the Sneck of Farchal where there is a fairly
steep drop followed by an equally steep ascent - but still following the
fence line - up to the flat summit of Hill of Strone. Take care on the
first, steep part of the ascent not to get too close to the edge. From Hill
of Strone the path continues to follow the line of the fence up to the
summit of Cairn Inks before dropping to the bealach below Cairn of Barns.
From this point on, the route is all downhill!
From the bealach descend north northeast, with the fence to the right, until
near the small stand of trees. Cross the fence and follow the 4x4 wheel
tracks through the boggy grass past the trees to join the wide gravel path
out through a gate onto the B955. Turn left and walk the short distance over
the bridge and past the church to the hotel car park.
SteveO
<gregMYSHOEScr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> http://www.chiadfhear.co.uk/main/walking/walks/Mayar_Driesh.htm
Looks canny, go back and take some more shots of that waterfall!! :-)
SteveO
NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php
NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk
Andy Crawford
> On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:17:25 +0100, "Mcploppy ©"
> <gregMYSHOEScr...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> http://www.chiadfhear.co.uk/main/walking/walks/Mayar_Driesh.htm
>
>
> Looks canny, go back and take some more shots of that waterfall!! :-)
>
>
>
>
> SteveO
>
> NE Climbers & walkers chat forum;
> http://www.thenmc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.php
>
> NMC website: http://www.thenmc.org.uk
Nae chance ... it's a fair pech up there for an auld man like me!
Did it last in May 1993 but had to go again last weekend to apease my
13-year-old Grandson's 'bagging' desires!
This was the first time up Corrie Fee and it's well worth the effort. The
area at the base of the waterfall is a grand place to stop for rest and a
cuppa.