Glenlivet, Tomintoul and Upper Strathdon

To the east of the main Cairngorms are the upper reaches of Glenlivet and Strathdon – still part of the National Park but an area with a completely different character. The landscape here is one of hills rather than mountains – great rounded domes of heather, their sides made into patchwork patterns by heather burning and plantations.

Glenlivet is best known for its many whisky distilleries, this being the heart of the Speyside distilling region, but the estate, owned by the Crown, has waymarked a good number of routes for walkers, varied from wild moors to serene valleys. For walks further down the glens, see the separate Moray section for lower Glenlivet, or Alford for lower Strathdon.