The Colonel's Bed, Inverey

Summary

This short walk heads into the lower reaches of lonely Glen Ey. Its objective is the Colonel's Bed, where the river flows through a narrow rocky chasm. The rockwalls of the gorge here are loose and have partially collapsed - do not attempt to descend into the gorge and view from above with great care.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Landrover tracks until the final short path to the gorge; care needed around the unprotected and slippery edges of the gorge.

Getting there

Start

Car park in Inverey.

Public Transport

No public transport.

Start Grid Ref

NO089892

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 4.9km / 3 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Ascent: 130m (Profile)

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OL52 Glen Shee

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Walk Description

User reports (1)

Stage 1

There is a car park in Meikle Inverey, which is the part of Inverey on the east side of the River Ey; the part on the other side is known as Little Inverey. Begin the walk by following the track which slants uphill and is marked with a wooden signpost for Glen Ey. There are great views over to the right to Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm. Continue up the track through the grounds of Inverey House.

Stage 2

The track leaves the grounds of the house through a gate and heads into the glen. Further on it crosses a wooden bridge over the River Ey; note that the bridge shown on some maps heading across to the track on the west side of the Ey no longer exists. Beyond the bridge the track climbs fairly steeply, with great views looking back over Inverey towards the high Cairngorms. Shortly after the track bends to the right you can short cut the zig-zag by following a path up on the left, rejoining the track a short distance uphill.

Stage 3

Continue on the landrover track up the glen for almost a kilometre. Just after it bends to the right, a small cairn marks the point to leave the track. Turn left here on a narrow path in the heather that almost doubles back on the track; this is the line of the original stalkers path which was the main route up the glen before the current track was bulldozed. When back round the corner, a small wooden sign indicates the path off to the right that slopes down to the Colonel's Bed.

Stage 4

The path is narrow and a little rough; as you near the river take great care. The river here flows through a vertically-sided rocky gorge, and great care is needed near the edge; the ground is slippery and some of the rocks are loose - clearly any slip would be fatal. In the 17th Century a colonel, outlawed for the murder of a Laird, made this his refuge, and was brought food each day by his lover. Today part of the wall of the gorge has collapsed and buried the bed itself - do not attempt to descend into the gorge as it is very dangerous and doesn't lead anywhere.

Stage 5

After enjoying the gorge from above, return to Inverey the same way.

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