Walk 2: Scalan Heritage Trail.

Distance: 2.8 miles (4.5km) circuit.

Start: GR 245204. Eskemulloch car park, Braes of Glenlivet.

Route: Level track to Scalan. Rougher beyond and may be muddy. Optional extension to top of Tom Trumper (not waymarked) which affords excellent views of the Braes of Glenlivet and the Cairngorms.

Access information: A guide to the Heritage Trail is available from the Estate Information Centre. Grouse shooting activities may affect the upper section of this walk during August and September. The circular route is not affected by grouse shooting activities. Livestock may be present for most of the route at any time of the year.

One of the best ways to savour the Braes of Glenlivet is to follow this walk to the top of Tom Trumper (570m), which affords fine views of the Ladder Hills and the steep corrie of the Slochdburn (from the Gaelic sloc, sluic, meaning pit or hollow). The walk can also be linked up with the old right-of-way over Carn Dulack to the Well of the Lecht, (once a `whisky road' used by smugglers) but this is only recommended in fine weather as the path is indistinct and it can be difficult to navigate over the featureless moorland if visibility is poor. A further booklet describing this enjoyable walk- ‘Water of Life and a Breath of Fresh Air’- is available at the Estate Office and Information Centre and the Tomintoul Tourist Information Centre. The text of the booklet is based on information gathered from long standing residents of the Braes of Glenlivet and describes the landscape through the eyes of the people who have lived there.

Follow the rough track from Eskemulloch car park for about 1km to the old College of Scalan (from the Gaelic sgalan, meaning turf roof) . This secluded building, was once a Seminary and was one of the few places in Scotland where the Catholic faith was kept alive during the troubled times of the Eighteenth Century. The Scalan is open all year for visitors to savour how with courage and dogged perseverance the Catholic faith survived and a detour to explore the building is thoroughly recommended. Established in 1717, the College withstood repeated attacks from Hanovarian soldiers and was completely destroyed in 1746 after Culloden. Relocated across the Crombie water on its present site, the College survived as the seat of Catholic teaching in Scotland, until the pressure of persecution was relaxed during the Napoleonic wars and it was transferred to a new and more commodious house at Aquorties near Inverourie in 1799. The foundations of the original building can still be seen near the bridge, and just below, the Bishops well is tucked into the bank beside the burn - a welcome source of clear spring water on a hot day.

Leaving the Scalan take the track at the bridge which heads southwards towards the hills. This hill track continues up the Crombie water to the remote ruins of the Clash of Scalan (from the Gaelic - - clais, meaning furrow, narrow, shallow valley). From this point, the right-of-way, continues straight on up the narrowing glen along a now indistinct path to cross the shoulder of Carn Dulack before descending to the Lecht mine, a fine extension to the walk if time and weather permits.

To continue to Tom Trumper (this section is NOT waymarked) turn westwards at the Clash of Scalan and follow the path across a narrow stone bridge over the Crombie water. The route then follows an old stone dyke which peters out just below a fence. Cross the fence at the stile, then continue south westwards up the hill through a line of grouse butts to the rounded summit of Tom Trumper. A cairn lies just below the actual top and it is worth continuing a little further on the track to enjoy the views westwards to the Cairngorms. The view from the top is well worth the climb and on a clear day Ben Avon and Ben a'Bhuird dominate the horizon in the southwest. To the north beyond the distillery is the rounded shape of the Bochel an isolated hill at the head of the Braes of Glenlivet, while eastwards the Ladder hills stretch into the distance towards the expansive bowl of the Suie, completing what is a truly memorable panorama. (The section of the path from the stile to the top of Tom Trumper, may be affected by shooting activities during the Grouse season. Any shooting should be easily seen or heard on the start of the ascent up Tom Trumper from the stile. If shooting is in progress, please wait until it is safe to continue or find an alternative route to the summit)

To return to the car park from the summit, drop back down to the stile then head north eastwards downhill alongside the fence, to rejoin the Scalan road near the corner of the Eskemulloch plantation.

Glenlivet welcomes you to explore its tracks and byways.