This excellent circuit includes forestry, native pinewoods and an open hill ridge with superb views, all en route to the fascinating remains of a Pictish fort.
Clear paths and tracks throughout, though a couple of shortish sections have become overgrown and boggy.
None to start.
Druim an Aird car park off A86 west of Laggan.
Start from the Druim an Àrd car park on the south side of the A86 west of Laggan. Leave the car park at its entrance, then cross the A86 and turn left along the verge on the far side. Very soon turn right on an old track past a metal barrier, then bear left and then immediatley right to find the start of an unmarked but well-made path. The path descends and passes through a gap in a fence before becoming boggy and overgrown with broom. Push through or round this until the path soon emerges on a track. Turn right along this, passing the remains of a small quarry before reaching a junction near a small, reedy lochan. Take the left turn here (blue waymarker from here onwards, signed for Hilltop / Fort).
The track runs through dull forestry at first; ignore a branch path on the right signed for ruins. Continue along the track which climbs uphill; soon you'll see a transmitter ahead. Before reaching the transmitter, take the signed path turning off to the left (again, marked for Hilltop and Fort).
Continue up the path which now climbs more steeply, bearing left back above the forestry - with a brief slightly overgrown section - and then right across more open country to reach the ridge through a scattering of magnificent old Scots' Pine trees. There are excellent views back down through the trees.
The path now runs along the bare ridge top, through regenerating woodland. Soon the summit is reached, marked by a small cairn. The views are very extensive, both down into the head of the Spey valley to the north and eastwards over Badenoch towards the Cairngorms.
Further along, the ridge becomes clothed in pinewoods once more, with views towards the ruined fort on the lower, knoll-like summit ahead, and the path eventually begins to descend towards an open bealach below this peak.
There is a picnic table and path junction at the bealach. The walk continues by turning right downhill, but first you should make the detour left up to the Pictish fort of Dùn-da-Lamh. This path leads through the woodland before climbing the side of Black Craig and the outer wall of the fort on a diagonally rising path. The remains of the fort are impressive for its great age (it dates from the earliest Pictish period), and its position is almost impregnable atop its crag. The outer wall is up to twenty feet thick, and there are also remains of an inner wall. The stones did not originate in this area, and have a total weight of over 5,000 tons. Once atop the wall, bear right to the highest point, where there is a stone howff or shelter commanding a magnificent view all around.
Return to the picnic table junction and take the left turning signed for Achduchil. This becomes a track which slopes downhill to reach another junction with another picnic table. This time keep straight on (signed for Pattack).
A short distance further on this track, turn left onto a smaller path (blue waymarker). This passes a bench at the bottom edge of the trees before joining a further track through a felled area. Keep straight on, passing the bottom end of the ruins path mentioned earlier, before bearing right at yet another junction. This soon leads back to the pond near the start of the walk; turn left here to return to the car park.
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