This very beautiful circuit loops right around the prominent little hill of Craig Leek, on the Invercauld Estate, crossing a low pass behind it. The route leads through beautiful woodland and gives excellent views both up and down the Dee.
Bog Factor
Tarmac lane, waymarked tracks and paths.
Car park at Keiloch (charge).
Bus to Invercauld Bridge on A93 near start.
NO188912
There is a walkers car park at Keiloch on the Invercauld Estate just off the A93; a charge is payable. This walk is the longer of the two waymarked walks from here; it begins along the tarmac continuation of the lane into the car park, and is signed 'Craig Leek path network'. Continue along the road, passing the attractive estate houses. If the weather is clear, there are fine views of the great bulk of Beinn a' Bhùird ahead.
Continue along the private road which soon passes into the pinewoods. The huge and castellated Invercauld House can be glimpsed through the trees ahead, together with a sculpture, down to the left of the track. When a wooden footpath sign reading 'Around Craig Leek / Keiloch Crag' is reached turn sharp right onto a track leading up into the forest. After a short distance there is a waymarked junction; turn left here. This track is part of the ancient drove route to Tomintoul; in the 1700s thousands of cattle were driven this way en route to the markets in the south - and the drovers were subject to attack from the hills around. Today the pinewoods are very peaceful.
Higher up the pines are replaced by scattered birches, with just a few huge old 'granny pines'; the woodland has begun regenerating over recent years. Fabulous views open up back over to the left, looking towards Braemar and the upper reaches of the Dee, backed by mountains. Eventually a fork is reached; turn right here onto a smaller track climbing more steeply upwards. It passes through a gap in a drystone wall - go through this and then turn right alongside the wall. The track eventually leaves the wall and climbs over the lowest point on the heathery ridge that joins Craig Leek (off right) from the higher hills to the left.
Once over the pass, the great mass of Lochnagar comes into view, towering above its satellites. The track passes some regenerating pines, then an older group of trees before reaching a drystone wall beyond. The route bends right and then left to follow the fine grassy track downhill, eventually reaching the ruins of an old settlement.
You are now in hidden glen of the Felagie burn, separated from the more verdant Dee by Meall Alvie. When a track is reached turned right (waymarker). Soon the route fords a small burn - which can usually be done dryshod. The track heads through an area of birch trees and eventually meets a main track at a t-junction. Turn right here to head back towards Keiloch. There are good views over to the right of the craggy eastern side of Craig Leek.
Continue on the track, passing the isolated little cottage of Felagie with its white-washed walls and red tin roof. Keep straight on at the next junction to return to the start at the car park at Keiloch.
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