Upper Glen Feshie and Ruigh Aiteachain

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Summary

Glen Feshie is a beautiful, wild glen, its upper reaches clothed with some magnificent Scots pinewoods. The route passes Ruigh Aiteachain, a fabulously situated bothy. The landslide at An Cagàin is the turning point described here, but you can choose to turn back earlier or go further up the glen for whatever distance best suits you.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Mostly good path but with two burn crossings which can be impassable in spate.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Glen Feshie car park 1km from Achlean. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 19km / 11.75 miles
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 320m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NN850985

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Walk Description

User reports (6)

Stage 1

Take the road up the east side of Glen Feshie (signed Achlean); just after the road leaves the forest there is a car park on the left, about a kilometre short of Achlean itself, where parking is not permitted. Begin the walk along the tarmac road, turning left on a track before reaching Achlean. Ignore the track that heads left to a mast, and keep right at the fork a short distance further on (marked 'Upper Glen Feshie' on the boulder).

Stage 2

Soon the path goes through a gate; just beyond a fast-flowing burn is reached. This must be forded, which is usually fairly straightforward but it could be tricky or even impassable after heavy rain. Beyond, the path runs along the edge of a heather bank elevated above the flood plain of the river. Ignore a path that forks off right towards a bridge over the river, and continue ahead. Continue on the path until a fork marked with a tiny cairn; bear left here onto a smaller path (the main path where the Allt Garbhlach meets the Feshie has been washed out). Keep left when a path joins from the right, soon reaching and crossing the Allt Garbhlach (often a ford, though logs sometimes placed in summer).

Stage 3

On the far side the path soon forks - keep left to continue into the the trees. At a grassy track turn right, then keep straight ahead (ignoring paths off right and left); the well surfaced main path joins the grassy track. A short distance beyond take the left path at a clear fork. The path rises through the pines and heather before descending to join a track - turn right along this.

Stage 4

After 400m ignore the path off right, which again has been destroyed further on by flooding. Soon the denser trees are left behind for more open ground; go straight across at a crossroads of tracks. Continue ahead, crossing another small burn with a makeshift footbridge to the right, to reach a small stone building. This is Ruigh Aiteachain. The bothy is provided and maintained by the estate and is open as a free shelter for walkers to stay - always follow the bothy code. From the bothy, you can either turn back or continue the walk up the glen.

Stage 5

The pinewoods in the glen were slowly dying due to overgrazing by too many dear, until Anders Povlsen's Wildland Ltd bought the estate in 2006. He had deer numbers reduced to more natural levels that the land can support, and a spectacular transformation began as the native pinewoods began to recover. Today Glen Feshie's status as of the most beautiful places in Scotland is secure, and the estate is one of the most welcoming in Scotland for responsible hikers. Continuing the walk, there's a more open section before the path reenters the trees and keeps much closer to the river; this section is a sheer delight.

Stage 6

Near the end of this stretch, a landslide at An Cagàin destroyed the path around a decade ago, but the passage of many feet have worn a new route across the slip. Just beyond the path descends to meet a track which fords the river to reach this point.

Stage 7

Our walk stops here for the walk back. but if time and energy permits you can continue through the more open upper reaches of the Feshie, eventually crossing to Deeside. Otherwise, simply retrace your steps - no hardship in such stunning surroundings.

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