Broadcairn from Glen Doll, and a wee missed top!
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 9:51 pmWith no walking partners and the forcast good, just got up and went for it. Arrived at Glen Doll parking area oooops £2.00 for parking, dear dear Angus Council I thought you were trying to encourage people to get off their backsides, is fuel not expensive enough without car parking charges. Left car park at 0830hrs and headed off through the picnic area and went West towards the River South Esk
- The ranger's centre with toilets at the Glen Doll Car Park
- Walking through the picnic area, no one using too early and too cold and frosty
- A fine wee pathway, covered in pine needles takes you alonside the River bank which is on your right
- Soon you come to a bridge which crosses the River South Esk, at the far side of the bridge there is a seat on your right. After passing the seat you follow the path which leads between trees on both sides and at the end of the path it meets up with a landrover track, turn left here with woods on your left hand side. The trees on the right hand side of the track have been felled.
- As you come out of the trees you see a farm cottage and prior to that there is another bridge crossing. At the cottage you pass on the North side outwith the boundary fence
- Not far on after the cottage there is a track running towards the river on your left, disregard this and proceed straight on as if heading for another tree plantation
- Before you come to the trees a boardwalk has been constructed on your left, proceed along boardwalk keeping the plantation to your right.
- This off road cyclist past me at this point but not far on I was to overtake him well before the Bachnagairn bridge
- Another bridge crossing viewed looking Eastwards. Some muddy sections of track but nothing difficult
- The track at this stage can get very icy in winter, today although some ice patches there was no difficulty
- Bachnagairn Bridge, no the climb starts!. This bridge is referred to as the Roy Tait Bridge, after the Dundee Climber and Mountain rescue leader who died in a fall on Lochnagar on the 16th August 1981. The bridge was officially opened by his widow in 1984
- After a short steep section of well constructed path, the path on continues to be in good condition and assists walking pace. The first sighting of Broadcairn
- The path comes to a Y junction to proceed up Broadcairn take the left fork, the right fork heads towards Loch Muick
- The boulderfield higher up, care is needed over the slippy rock
- The summit of Broadcairn looking towards Loch Muick
- Looking towards Cairn Bannoch, left and the outlying top I was about to visit as I had missed it the last time, right overlooking the Dubh Loch
- Looking East towards Glen Clova
- Looking down the glen from just above Roy Taits bridge
- Brew time, out of the cold and have not stopped until now for a wee bite and a cuppa. One hour to get to the car park from here if all goes to plan. On my way back I met a bus load of 'Brechin Ramblers' out for a bit of fresh air. It's great to see more people taking to the hills!
- The Ramblers were telling me to look out for a couple of Golden Eagles they had seen at the rocks, unfortunately although keeping an eye out on the distant hills, I never saw any. Never mind I say Grouse, hares and a single deer drinking at the River South Esk when I was walking through the woods. In all a great morning up the hills.
and pretty rubbish for Sunday. Anyhow me being from Carnoustie this was the obvious way, travelling time ,fuel costs etc. It's a nice wee walk up the glen made even better now since they have formed a wee path alongside the River South Esk 
( the previous start was from the carpark walk East over the road bridge and through a wide gate up the track to Moulzie) Yes your probably right I should have taken a few photographs of the cliffs and the Dubh Loch 
, but anyway, a great walk and can be used to access many munros depending on your fitness 
, as quite often it can be in the winter.