Upper Glen Feshie & Ruigh Aitchean
Kingussie and Newtonmore
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1. Take the road up the east side of Glen Feshie (signed Achlean); just after the road leaves the forest there is a good size car park on the left, about a kilometre short of Achlean itself, where parking is not permitted. Begin the walk along the tarmac road, taking the path that passes above the house at Achlean to the left. Continue on the main surfaced path, ignoring the small path that curves behind the farmhouse; a short distance further a path branches off to the left; again keep on the main route.
2. Soon the path goes through a gate; just beyond a stream is reached. This must be crossed – usually fairly straightforward but it could be tricky after heavy rains. Beyond, the path runs along the edge of a heather bank elevated above the flood plain of the river. Soon you'll see a bridge over by the river to the right – this is used on the return route. Continue along the heather bank until the path descends steeply to reach the Allt Garbhlach. Again the stream here could be tricky to cross unless the water level is low.
3. On the far side, keep right and follow the grassy path across the floodplains fairly close by the river; this gives easier going that the bank top below the plantation. The view up the glen is becoming increasingly beautiful as scattered mature Scots pines spill down to the wide River Feshie. When the main forest ends and a boggy plain stretches ahead, it is best to keep amongst the trees to the left rather than head straight ahead through the squelching tussocks. Soon you will meet a track coming down from the left; follow it to the right to come close to the river once more. Soon the track forks; follow the left branch.
4. A short distance further on a cross-roads of tracks is reached; ignore the fainter track across the route and continue ahead. As the pine forest begins to thicken, another stream flows across the route; again this can be forded in dry conditions but it is crossed by plank bridges to the left. Continue ahead into the trees; if you diverted left be sure to return to the main track as a fainter one heads off uphill to the left here. Carry on through the forest to reach a small stone building. This is Ruigh Aitchean, an open bothy maintained by MBA volunteers; please do your bit to help by keeping the place tidy and carrying out any rubbish you find here. From the bothy, you can either return to the cross roads mentioned at the start of this paragraph, or continue ahead for a short distance before turning sharp right down a track which runs back down the glen closer to the river.
5. If you returned to the cross-roads, turn left to reach the rickety wooden Carnachuin bridge; the other route heads close by it. At the time of our visit (Feb 08) the bridge was crossable but in a state of disrepair; if it is still like this, crossing it may be dangerous and you must accept the risk; however the estate is planning to repair the bridge. Over the far side the track winds uphill to join a private tarmac road; turn right along this.
6. Just before reaching the attractive white-washed estate cottages, it is worth making a slight detour to the left to visit a memorial cairn. It commemorates the troops who trained here during World War Two, and commands a fine view up towards the head of the glen. Return to the tarmac road and continue back down the Feshie.
7. Continue along the tarmac for around two kilometres, until, just after crossing the small Chrion Alltain, a green track goes off to the right. Follow this through the grassy flats; soon it swings right and fades, becoming boggy; continue downstream to reach the bridge over the Feshie seen ahead. Cross this bridge and take the left fork on the far side. When the track forks again, take the right fork to regain the outward route a short distance further on. Now you can just retrace your steps, fording the stream to return to Achlean and eventually the car park.
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