Corrie Fee, Glen Clova

Summary

Corrie Fee is a truly dramatic location to visit, a massive bowl scooped out from the rugged mountainsides by a glacier during the Ice Age. It is also a National Nature Reserve for its rare plants and wildlife. An excellent path climbs gently to a viewpoint at the foot of the corrie; if you have the energy you can extend the route through the corrie and up the back towards the waterfall for a great view back.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Forest track and well made path into Corrie Fee with steady climb. Optional steep extension on rocky path to climb up towards waterfall.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Glen Doll car park (charge), Glen Clova. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 7.5km / 4.75 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 203m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NO284760

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Walk Description

User reports (13)

Stage 1

Start from the Glen Doll car park at the head of Glen Clova where there is a ranger information post and toilets (parking charge). From the car park follow the sign for Forest Walks and take the track past the farm at Acharn, keeping left when the track forks (waymarked). At the next junction keep straight ahead following the signs for Corrie Fee, ignoring a track off left.

Stage 2

Soon Jock's Road, the ancient route to Braemar leaves to the right. Jock's Road has a key place in the history of Scottish Access. When Duncan MacPherson bought the Glen Doll estate in the late nineteenth century he tried to ban all access to the estate. John Winter ('Jock') fought for the right to walk this old drove route; legal action went as far as the House of Lord's and by the time it was finished, both MacPherson and the Scottish Rights of Way Society were bankrupt. It led to the passing of the Scottish Rights of Way Act, the most important piece of legislation for walkers until the more recent Land Reform Act of 2003 granted increased rights to walkers. At the junction with Jock's Road stay on the main track running alongside, and soon crossing, the White Water.

Stage 3

Follow the track to the right; when it forks take the left branch to continue towards Corrie Fee. Soon the track narrows to a footpath, winding uphill, crossing a small stream, and then reaching the deer fence at the entrance to Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve. From this viewpoint you can see the magnificent bowl shape of the corrie, with the waterfall at the back.

Stage 4

Here you can choose to return from here following the outward route after exploring the area, or you can extend the walk to climb to the waterfall at the rear of the corrie. This is excluded from the distances given for the walk; it is steep and has a couple of rocky sections but the path is mainly good. It soon climbs to run along the top of mounds of glacial debris left by the retreating glacier that carved out the corrie. The area has a large number of rare plants and it is also a good place to spot golden eagles and other birds of prey.

Stage 5

When the back of the corrie is reached the well-made path starts to climb steeply, eventually climbing high to the left of the waterfall and giving great views back over the floor of the corrie. The path climbs to the plateau and eventually to the Munro of Mayar, however this much longer walk requires good navigation skills and hillwalking experience and equipment even in good weather.

Stage 6

Instead retrace your steps through the corrie and back into the forest. You can either return the same way - or, when the bridge over the main river is reached once more, stick to a path downstream on the south side of the White Water.

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