There are many possible circular walks through the beautiful pinewoods that almost surround Carrbridge. This route takes in some of the quieter, informal paths in Docharn Woods, revealing some great views towards the Cairngorms.
Forest paths, formal and informal. Section out through Docharn Wood can be muddy in places.
Buses and train to Carrbridge.
Carrbridge car park.
There is a large car park with toilets 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. Once past the car park turn left onto Carr Road. Continue along this minor road until just beyond where the road dips and bends left. Turn right onto a track along the righthand side of the modern houses, passing a sign for Carr Cottages; the nearby signpost 'Boat of Garten via Carr Plantation Trail' is baldly placed. The track soon passes through a gate into the plantation.
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, reaching a carved bench.
Continue across a bridge with metal railings. When the constructed path turns right through the trees, bear left onto a narrower, informal path that keeps near the edge of the woods, with an open grassy area out to your left. Eventually this narrow path begins to climb the slopes of Docharn Craig, keep straight uphill crossing a faint grassy track, before skirting just to the right of the top. The path now undulates, fter about 1km keep left at a fork and after the path curves left, turns sharp right and then immediately forks - keep left again.
At a t-junction turn left and continue through the trees. Further on a fence becomes visible over to the right, and there are superb views towards the Cairngorms. Continue by the fence until a gate on the right, go through this and down through the grazing land to reach a farm gate. Once through this turn right.
Take the track to the right, between the farm buildings at Docharn. Stay on the track through a couple of gateways eventually going through a gate into the forest. Continue along the track to reach a junction beside the road; turn right here onto a track 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 continues beside it on the far side until it reaches a track and gate. Turn left into the woods here.
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. Bear right at a sign for 'Main St', soon 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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