The Colonel's Bed, Inverey

Braemar and Ballater


Summary :	This short walk heads into the lower reaches of lonely Glen Ey. Its objective is the Colonel's Bed, where the river flows through a narrow rocky chasm.
Terrain :	Landrover tracks until the final short path to the gorge; care needed around the unprotected and slippery edges of the gorge.
Grade :		Distance :	5km/3 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	1 – 1.5 hours
Start :	Car park in Inverey	Grid ref :	NO089892
Map :	View an OS map of the route Buy Explorer 387 – Glen Shee online	Ascent :	140m
GPS Route/ Waypoints :	Open this walk in QUO 2 Tell me more Open this walk in GPX format (compatible with Memory map etc)	Open in Virtual Highlands Tell me more Open this walk in Google Earth Tell me more
Public Transport :	No public transport[Click for timetables]

1. There is a car park in Meikle Inverey, which is the part of Inverey on the east side of the River Ey; the part on the other side is known as Little Inverey. Begin the walk by following the track which slants uphill and is marked with a wooden signpost for Glen Ey. There are great views over to the right to Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm. Continue up the track through the grounds of Inverey House.

2. The track leaves the grounds of the house through a gate and heads into the glen. Further on it crosses a wooden bridge over the River Ey; note that the bridge shown on some maps heading across to the track on the west side of the Ey no longer exists. Beyond the bridge the track climbs fairly steeply; shortly after it bends to the right you can short cut the zig-zag by following a path up on the left, rejoin the track a short distance uphill.

3. Continue on the bull-dozed track up the glen for almost a kilometre. Just after it bends to the right, a small wooden sign close to the ground marks the point to leave the track; the sign is marked 'Col Bed'. Turn left here on a narrow path that almost doubles back on the track; this is the line of the original stalkers path which was the main route up the glen before the current track was bulldozed. When back round the corner, another similar wooden sign indicates the path off to the right that slopes down to the Colonel's Bed.

4. The path down to the 'Bed' is a little rough, and as you approach the river take great care. The river here flows through a vertically-sided rocky gorge, and great care is needed if approaching close to the edge; the ground is slippery and some of the rocks are loose – clearly any slip would be fatal. In the 17th Century a colonel, outlawed for the murder of a Laird, made this his refuge, and was brought food each day by his lover. Today part of the wall of the Bed has collapsed and the Colonel's shelter under an overhang no longer exists – do not attempt to descend the path into the gorge as it is very dangerous and doesn't lead anywhere. After enjoying the gorge, return to Inverey the same way.

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