Walk 6: Glenconglass to Carn Daimh.

Distance: 7.3 miles (12 km) circuit.

Start: GR 172 223. Glenconglass car park

Route: A more sheltered alternative to Walk 5, climbing steadily along forest roads to the summit of Carn Daimh (570m). Return route crosses more exposed moorland and may be wet underfoot. Can be extended using Walk 5 if time permits. (The circuit can be walked in either direction, but to enjoy the best of the views it is recommended to follow the route described here.. Allow 4 hours

Access information: During May, June and July, roe deer stalking activities may be taking place during the evenings and early mornings. Livestock may be present on some sections at any time of the year.

An interesting walk which provides good opportunities for seeing forest and moorland wildlife and includes some expansive views of the Estate and the Eastern Cairngorms. A steady ascent through sheltered plantations leads to the exposed summit of Carn Daimh (pronounced Cairn Dye , 570m, 1866 ft.) before returning across open heather moorland to the starting point at Glenconglass farm.

From Glenconglass car park, follow the road across the cattle grid, northwards keeping left along the forestry track where the road forks. Continue straight on through 2 metal gates following the road as it runs parallel with the Chabet water on the right. Beside this stretch of road there are several wetland areas which are rich with wild flowers during the summer. Ragged robin, heath spotted and early purple orchids, buttercups, monkey flower, celandines, forget me nots and cuckoo flower are in abundance and on a warm Summer day it is worth stopping a while to watch the butterflies flitting among the flower heads.

At the second gate the road enters the Cairn Daimh forest and continues past the ruined farmhouse of Inverchor which sits among several trees on the adjacent hillside. Continue straight along the forest road, past the recently cleared and replanted area near Cairn Meilich until you reach a junction where the road turns to the right. You may see some inquisitive pigs here in the field beside the road. These are wild boar which are kept by one of the tenants on the estate. Take care not to stray into the enclosure! Take the right turn at the junction and follow the road down a short brae to a bridge which crosses the Chabet. Cross the bridge, and follow the road as it winds its way steadily up through the Carn Daimh plantation. About 1.5 km from the Chabet bridge the road turns sharply to the left, before passing a quarry in Coire na Fuaraig. This is used to supply material for building forestry roads and the orange coloured, hard, quartzite rock a metamorphic rock formed over 500 million years ago from sedimentary sandstones forms much of the high ground in the area. Continue past the quarry taking the right fork and climb steadily upwards to the next junction, turning right again, along the much rougher track which heads north eastwards, then south eastwards, emerging from the trees just below the summit of Carn Daimh. Cross the boundary fence at the stile and complete the short distance to the summit cairn where a viewpoint indicator describes the panorama of hills that can be seen on a clear day, some of which are a good 60 - 70 miles away (see Walk 5).

From the summit the walk can be extended if time allows, by following the Speyside Way northwards for about 200m then turning right, taking the track which is signposted to Tomnavoulin which heads eastwards down across the hillside to the plantation above Westertown farmhouse. The path then turns southwards to join the route of Walk 5 near the ruins of Craighead, and can then be followed back uphill to rejoin Walk 6 at the junction in the Carn Ellick plantation. (This route is not shown on the above sketch map but is marked on the OS1:50,000 scale Landranger map, sheet 36 )

Avoiding the diversion, to continue Walk 6 from the top of Carn Daimh, follow the Speyside Way southeastwards from the summit, along the track which leads alongside the Carn Ellick plantation. Cross the stile where the track enters the woods and continue straight on until you reach a signpost at the junction of several paths. (This is the point where Walk 5 meets Walk 6 as described above). Turn right here, following the Speyside Way (signposted to Tomintoul). Head southwards, leaving the woods to follow the track which descends gradually across the open heather moorland, overlooking the Feith Musach.

This return route provides some excellent views onto the remote summits of Ben Avon, Beinn a Bhuird and the north eastern Cairngorms. The peat workings beside the B9008 Tomintoul - Tomnavoulin road are visible in the distance and it is not unusual to see short-eared owls or occasionally hen harriers patrolling the moors in search of prey. Where rough grassland is mixed with the heather, in Spring and Summer you will almost certainly hear or see meadow pipits, lapwings, skylarks, and curlews whose vocal calls often fill the air.

About 1 km after leaving the shelter of the Cairn Ellick woods, leave the Speyside Way and head almost due west along the waymarked track (indistinct in places), which descends through the heather, alongside the Allt Ellick burn. The path eventually joins a track in the plantation above Glenconglass farm. Near where the burn enters the trees, cross the stile, and continue along the track which leads down to the farm. Cross the Chabet at the footbridge near the farm, then head through the farmyard to return to the car park.

Glenlivet welcomes you to explore its tracks and byways.