Glen Feshie to Kingussie

Summary

The third part of the Scottish National Trail's 3 stage crossing of the wild lands between Blair Atholl and Kingussie heads down through the beautiful lower reaches of Glen Feshie. A more populated landscape is then reached as the route reveals the fine views from Farleitter Crag before continuing to the impressive wetland nature reserve of the Insh Marshes.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Good paths throughout, some waymarked. The crossing of the Allt Coire Garbhlach may be a problem if in high spate.

Getting there

Start

Ruigh Aiteachain bothy / camping in the pinewoods. No road access.

Public Transport

There is no road access of any kind to the start of this stage, which requires wild-camping. Kingussie has both rail and bus services.

Start Grid Ref

NN846928

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Services

The start of the walk is from the pinewoods of upper Glen Feshie - there are no facilities here (except for a bothy providing the most basic shelter). Kingussie at the end of the stage is a small country town with all facilities.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 23.25km / 14.5 miles
Time: 6 - 7 hours
Ascent: 102m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

This stage of the route presumes that the previous night was spent wild-camping amidst the pinewoods or in Ruigh Aiteachain bothy - a simple shelter provided and maintained by the estate (Wildland Ltd) - always follow the bothy code when visiting. A track passes a short distance to the west of the bothy - follow this northwards.

Stage 2

When a small burn is reached there is usually a plank bridge to the right if needed. Otherwise continue ahead to a cross-tracks and go straight ahead. Ignore a path off left that keeps closer to the river (part of it has been destroyed by floods) and stay on the main track, which the left path rejoins after about 400m. After another 400m or so the track becomes grassy - leave it and take the clear path left which has a few rock steps. At a grassy track turn right, then ignore paths off both right and left to continue through the trees. Before the track climbs, to avoid a washed out section, turn right on a narrow path that leads to the crossing of the Allt Garbhlach - often a ford, though logs sometimes placed in summer. On the far side keep right at a fork and continue up the glen, soon rejoining the main path. Fork left to reach a footbridge at NN850964. From here head up to join a tarmac road and follow this to the right.

Stage 3

Continue northwards along the tarmac road - which becomes a public road after Tolvah though traffic is very light. After 5km a signed path goes off towards Feshiebridge on the right; ignore this and instead take the next forestry track on the left. Follow this into the trees; at the next junction follow the main track as it swings right. Ignore a white waymarked path off to the right; the track soon leads to a bench overlooking the largest of the Uath Lochans. Continue around a couple of corners until the track swings left and a second path (white waymarkers) heads off to the right. Turn along this.

Stage 4

After 500m the path climbs to a track, signed as part of the Speyside Way. Turn left uphill on this - making a switchbank ascent - until a red waymarker indicates a smaller path off to the right. The route now crosses the top of Farleitter Crag with good views in a number of places down to the three lochans and across to the far side of Glen Feshie. Keep following the clear path as it turns to face Strathspey and Loch Insh, passing a seat, before beginning to descend.

Stage 5

The route rejoins the Speyside Way which comes in from your left - go straight ahead here, then take the next left, following the green Speyside Way markers. The path meanders through the conifers before emerging at a track with a bench and an open view to the hills in front. Keep straight ahead and follow the track downhill. At a track junction turn right, soon heading past a gate and then a house on the left. Just before the road is reached turn sharp left to follow a path towards Inveruglas.

Stage 6

The path goes through a gate and there are some good views to the Monadhliath mountains to the right. Ignore a path down to Insh on the right and continue up through a gate and onto a track, ignoring another path to the right and later one on the left. Eventually a farm gate leads to Inveruglas. Continue ahead past the houses and keep straight ahead when the road splits. Continue ahead past the remaining houses and head through a gate and onto a wide path with open views. After going through an area of pine trees the path widens to a track and passes a gate and bench and then the houses at Drumguish.

Stage 7

Keep straight ahead at the road junction and follow the track as it bends left downhill with tall pines on the right. At the track at the bottom turn sharp right to reach the road at Tromie Bridge. Turn left at the road, crossing the stone bridge over the cascading River Tromie. The final section follows the Insh Marshes Invertromie Trail through the RSPB nature reserve overlooking the marshes - go through a gate on the right into a meadow (ignoring the Speyside Way path that keeps parallel to the road).

Stage 8

Keep right to follow the river passing a gauging station and reaching a path in the far corner. Follow this, going through a gate and then heading uphill following the small white arrows for the Invertromie Trail as well as the Badenoch Way signs. Ignore a path heading back on the left and follow a raised ridge with silver birch trees, go through a gate and pass a bench. Keep following the white arrows and cross a track before reaching a small detour to the right to a viewpoint. Follow the grassy path to reach more trees with glimpses of the marshes to the right. Go through a gate and soon there is a detour to a bird hide on the right. Straight ahead the path soon crosses a bridge and another gate to descend steps leading to the car park at Invertromie Reserve. Follow the B970 the final 2.5 km past Ruthven Barracks to reach Kingussie; there is a path alongside the road for some of the route.

Next stage: Kingussie to Laggan

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