Carrbridge and Docharn circuit

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There are several circular walks through the pinewoods that almost surround Carrbridge. This walk combines two of the waymarked walks with a rougher extension to make a longer circuit.

Terrain

Mostly good forest paths; some unclear and muddy sections; gate to climb.

Public Transport

Buses and train to Carrbridge.

Start

Carrbridge car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is a large car park with toilets and information boards in the centre of Carrbridge. The walk begins by turning left along the main street, but first it is worth detouring to the right to see the famous old packhorse bridge. Return to the car park and continue briefly past it before turning left onto Carr Road. Continue along this minor road until it leaves the last houses of Carrbridge; a short distance beyond, turn right onto a track signed 'Boat of Garten via Carr Plantation Trail'. The track soon passes through a gate into the plantation.

Stage 2

The trees are native Scots pines. Ignore a couple of turnings off to the right. At a footpath sign ('Ellan Wood Road' off to the right), again keep straight ahead - still signed for Boat of Garten. Continue it reaches the edge of the woods and turns sharp right to a carved bench. A shorter and easier loop that avoids any rougher going is to follow the track to the right and rejoin the route we describe near the minor road later on.

Stage 3

Our longer walk, however, leaves the track here, going straight ahead through the small gate into the field, crossing a tiny burn on a plank. Keep on a faint path ahead, soon passing a sharp corner in a fence. Bear left beyond here, keeping the fence to your left. The going beside the fence soon becomes very boggy - but the worst of this can be avoided by sticking to the higher ground just to the right. After this a rough, wet track coming from a gate in the fence to the left joins the route - follow this track, soon swinging uphill to the right into the pinewoods.

Stage 4

For a time the old track leads through birch woodland. Eventually on a gate is reached; this is usually locked and so may have to be climbed. Ignore the forestry track coming in from the right, continuing until a clearing where you take the right fork. This eventually reaches a pedestrian gate.

Stage 5

Pass through the gate and head downhill towards reach the attractive but uninhabited Docharn farmhouse. Take a track to the right, between the farm buildings. There are superb open views across to Cairngorm and its neighbours. After half a kilometre pass through a gate into the forest once more - this time a dense plantation. Continue along the track to reach a junction beside the road; turn right here onto a track (this is where you will rejoin the route if you took the shorter option earlier) and then immediately turn left onto a small path, signposted 'Carrbridge via Carr Plantation'. This runs parallel to the minor road, then later crosses it and then continues beside it on the far side until it reaches a track which turns left into the woods.

Stage 6

The track soon comes alongside the railway line; continue until a junction is reached with a large track veering off to the right, signed 'Carrbridge via the Railway walk'. Turn along this track which soon comes alongside a fence and passes the tall wooden tower of the Landmark Forest Park. Go straight ahead across the access track for an overfill car park, and then keep on the main track ignoring branches left and right. Follow a sign for 'Main St', going through a gate to reach a lane between houses; this comes out in Carrbridge opposite the Carr Road turning took earlier. Turn left to return to the car park.

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