Ben Tirran by Loch Brandy and Wharral, Glen Clova

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Ben Tirran has a flat and rather featureless summit but is redeemed by its fine corries above Glen Clova. This walk visits both to make a circular route up Clova's only Corbett summit.

Terrain

Superb path up to Loch Brandy but pathless and some peat bog sections on the plateau. Improving path on descent.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Milltown of Clova. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins beside the Glen Clova Hotel but the car park is for patrons only; there is a public car park just over the bridge in the direction of Glen Doll. Start by heading up through the hotel car park and past the bunkhouse; following the footpath sign for Glen Esk. The path climbs past some new log cabins and then crosses a footbridge before leaving the woodland at a gate to reach the open hillside. The route has been superbly constructed in recent years and enables height to be gained quickly, soon giving good views back down to the hotel and Glen Clova. Seen from here the glen is split into two contrasting halves, with woodland and a softer landscape down the glen and barer, rockier slopes above its upper end. The steep prow over to the left from the path is known as the Laird's Chamber.

Stage 2

The path continues to climb with the Snub now promiment ahead. At the foot of the snub is a cross-roads of paths and Loch Brandy is revealed ahead. A popular objective in its own right, Loch Brandy is a suprisingly spacious hill-loch cradled in a steep-sided mountain corrie. Turn right and follow the path, still well constructed; it descends a little to cross the outflow of Loch Brandy.

Stage 3

The improved path ends but the route up the Broom Shank gives a fairly gentle ascent compared to the alternative of climbing the Snub. Another reason for going this way is the views across Loch Brandy, rendered all the more dramatic by having the broken cliffs of the Craigs of Loch Brandy as its backdrop. Whilst the path curves left to make a circuit around the rim, head for the two cairns on the plateau of Green Hill. There are good views looking back towards Driesh and Mayar.

Stage 4

From here to Ben Tirran the route crosses a wide plateau which can be tricky for navigation in poor visibility - and crosses several areas of peat bog. Head east southeast across the plateau, following a faint grassy path. Although the plateau is wide the distant views are quite extensive, with Mount Keen prominent and the erosion scar of its path obvious. Pass through a gate in a fence, then leave the path and turn left. Keep the fence on your left and cross some very peaty ground, before climbing up towards a loch (not shown on OS maps). Detouring to the right of this, then return to the fence line. Climb southeast, parallel to the fence, and pass left of Stony Loch. In clear visibility you'll see the broken stone-windshelter and trig point on the Goet over to the right - head across to this, the Corbett summit of Ben Tirran.

Stage 5

The start of the descent is equally pathless; aim southwest at first, crossing a very slight bealach and reaching a cairn before heading west southwest. There is a path once the descent begins in earnest which you should pick up on the way down Soon there are excellent views of Loch Wharral - an only slightly inferior twin to Loch Brandy. The path soon joins another older route at a fork; continue the descent ahead, enjoying the prospect down Glen Clova to Strathmore. Further down the path runs parallel to a new track coming down from a hydro building on the loch. Join the track and follow it downhill.

Stage 6

Follow the track downhill until a junction with another large track. Leave both, aiming SW and crossing the Burn of Loch Wharral using stones. A short distance beyond you should be able to pick up a clear path that descends a hundred metres or so west of the (now largely felled) Adielinn Plantation. Lower down, pass through a gate in a fence and continue down to reach the road at another gate. Turn right here and follow the minor road back up Glen Clova to the hotel and the start of the walk.

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