Glen Feshie is a beautiful, wild glen, its upper reaches clothed with some magnificent Scots pinewoods. This circuit extends as far as Ruigh Aiteachain, a fabulously situated bothy.
Summary
Rough path up east side of glen with stream crossings; tarmac on west side. Please note: Carnachuin Bridge was swept away on 3 September 2009. A new bridge is planned for summer 2010 - until then you can only walk up the east side as an out and back route. Do not attempt to cross the Feshie at the bridge site.
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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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 Aiteachain, an open bothy maintained by Mountain Bothy Association volunteers; please do your bit to help by keeping the place tidy and carrying out any rubbish you find here; it is also appreciated if you can leave a report on the state of the bothy at its webpage on the MBA website. 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.
4. If you returned to the cross-roads, turn left to reach the spot where the rare and rickety wooden Carnachuin bridge once stood; the other route heads close by it. The bridge was swept away by the river in spate in September 2009 and is unlikely to be replaced until Summer 2010 at the earliest. Return from here by the same outward route. It is not safe to attempt to cross the Feshie.
5. Over the far side the track winds uphill to join a private tarmac road; turn right along this. 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.
6. 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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