An easy ramble through leafy forest on both sides of the tumbling White Water. Cross on a bridge and return on the far side with occasional views of the surrounding mountains. Very little up and down.
Summary
Waymarked forest tracks and wide paths through woodland.
Terrain
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1. Start from the Glen Doll car park at the head of Glen Clova where there is a ranger information post and toilets (parking charge). The forest here is currently being re-developed by the Forestry Commission to increase biodiversity, with the spruce being gradually felled and replaced by native species. From the car park follow the sign for Forest Walks and take the track past the farm at Acharn, keeping left when the track forks. This walk is waymarked with white waymarkers.
2. Keep straight ahead following the signs for Corrie Fee. Soon Jock's Road, the ancient route to Loch Callater and ultimately Braemar leaves to the right. Jock's Road has a key place in the history of Scottish Access. When Duncan MacPherson bought the Glen Doll estate in the late nineteenth century he tried to ban all access to the estate. John Winter ('Jock') fought for the right to walk this old drove route; legal action went as far as the House of Lord's and by the time it was finished, both MacPherson and the Scottish Rights of Way Society were bankrupt. It led to the passing of the Scottish Rights of Way Act, the most important piece of legislation for walkers until the more recent Land Reform Act of 2005 granted increased rights to walkers.
3. The high pass of Jock's Road was also the scene of a tragedy when 5 members of a Glasgow hiking club perished in bad weather on new year's day 1959. Although they set off from Braemar in good weather, the conditions they would have met on the plateau included driving snow and a wind chill of minus 25 during one of the fiercest storms to hit the area. At the junction with Jock's Road stay on the main track which runs alongside a very pretty section of the White Water. Soon cross the river on a bridge, there are good views up the glen from here. Immediately after the bridge take the path on the left to leave the main track and follow the white marker posts.
4. The path is narrower but still clear as it heads down the far side of the White Water with glimpses through the mixed trees to the rushing water. When a path joins from the right continue straight ahead. Pass a stand of dense pine trees on the left to reach a junction. Turn left here to follow the track back up to Acharn Farm, and then right to return to the car park at the start.
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