Brown Cow Hill circuit, Cock Bridge

Summary

Brown Cow Hill is the highest summit of a sprawling area of rounded heather moorland. This route forms a horseshoe of the higher summits, with boggy ground and peat hags breaking up sections of easier going across short-cropped heather. Though unspectacular, the route gives good views and a chance to experience solitude.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Landrover tracks, faint moorland paths and some pathless heather. There are several boggy sections of peat-hagged ground.

Deer Stalking information

South of ridge: Corndavon (Invercauld). No stalking issues. If further information is needed, please e-mail [email protected] or phone 01339 741224.

Getting there

Start

Car park for Corgarff Castle.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NJ254089

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 18km / 11.25 miles
Time: 5.5 - 6.5 hours
Ascent: 575m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Brown Cow Hill

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Walk Description

User reports (11)

Stage 1

There is a dedicated car park for Corgarff Castle which is signed from the main road by Cock Bridge. The castle was built in the sixteenth century and abandoned at the end of the seventeenth. Later it was used as a barracks by soldiers until 1831; it was during this period that the star-shaped perimeter wall was added. The castle is now open to the public and run by Historic Scotland. Begin the walk by following the track that leads up from the parking area towards the castle. The track bends left and then back right; before reaching the small gate for the castle go through a farm gate into the field on the right, and continue up by the fence on your left soon passing the side of the castle. At the fence corner just beyond the castle, bear diagonally left to cross the corner of the field and go through another gate, with a boggy area in front of it. Follow the grassy track ahead which soon descends to join the track from Cockbridge Farm.

Stage 2

Turn right along the track and follow this up the glen passing through a gate. As the track nears a plantation keep left on the main track, ignoring a fork off to the right. Ignore another track that heads into the trees. The track then climbs up towards the bealach between Càrn Oighreag and the main bulk of Brown Cow Hill. When the track forks keep left and at the turning area at the end of the track follow a faint path (marked by a tiny cairn) up towards the 823m east top of Brown Cow Hill. The path soon becomes lost in boggy ground before better going is reached, but is soon lost once more amid a mass of peat hags. Further up the going improves, eventually go through a gate in the fence to reach a small cairn marking the 823m top. The views lack depth but are extensive, with Morven prominent to the east, and Mount Keen and Lochnagar further right.

Stage 3

The most distinctive hill in view, however, is Ben Avon to the west, topped by its dramatic granite tors. Head in this direction, keeping on the left side of the fence - after another area of peat hags a decent path is picked up. Watch out for dotterel which can be plentiful in this area. The cairn marking the true 829m summit of Brown Cow Hill - a Corbett - is just off the path. From here the quickest return is to retrace your steps, but if time permits it is worth continuing the moorland walk to make a circuit.

Stage 4

Continue towards the west top and go through the gate in the fence (or if taking in the top continue ahead and cross the fence near the summit) and follow a rough path just to the right of the fence to descend to a soggy bealach and then start to climb up to Meikle Geal Charn. Soon cross the fence again at the next gate on the right and continue up next to the fence before leaving the fence for a final path to the summit. Alone on this round, this hill has a crown of stones to break up the heather - a perfect quarry for the cairn. There are views towards lonely Loch Builg and the upper reaches of the River Avon. Descend and at a junction of fences, go staight ahead through a farm gate and continue ahead to Little Geal Charn keeping the fence on your left and then head northwards to point 709m.

Stage 5

Head northeast for the final summit - Càrn Cuchulvie, you can either stay on this side of the double fence (part electric) or use the stile to cross here and back again after the summit. From Càrn Cuchulvie head east at first along a broad ridge, and then leaving the fence behind, descend northeast on faint ATV tracks aiming towards a reservoir on the Allt Veannaich. The forestry shown blocking the descent on some Ordnance Survey maps does not exist. Eventually the track in the glen is reached, turn left.

Stage 6

Pass the reservoir and then - at a cross tracks just short of a locked estate bothy - turn right over a cattle grid. The track soon crosses a bridge over the river and approaches a more substantial estate building. Take the track on the right that becomes a tarred road here; it leads past several more buildings and continues down the glen to emerge at the car park for Corgarff Castle.

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