This delightful walk on the Glen Tanar estate combines forestry and farmland with a long, pretty riverside section. The walk is waymarked (combining the Fairy Lochan and Riverside paths), the visitor centre has information on the wildlife to be found on the estate. Toilets near the start and parking charge.
Waymarked tracks and paths, no real uphill.
No public transport.
Braeloine car park, Glen Tanar estate.
Take the minor road up Glen Tanar, parking in the Braeloine car park on the right hand side part way up the glen; there is a charge. Begin the walk by crossing the very beautiful old steeply-arched Bridge of Tanar. On the far side, the building over to the left is an information centre giving details of the estate and the wildlife to be found here; there are also toilets. The walk described here mainly follows white waymarkers although it combines the Fairy Lochan and Riverside paths to make a longer circuit. Start by following the track upstream waymarked in white and green.
After a short while the attractive stone-built Chapel of St Lesmo - built in 1872 - is passed on the right and then a junction reached. Turn left here to follow the clear track.
Keep on the main track when another track joins from the right and soon the fairy lochan is reached. Marginal plants have been encouraged at the edges of the water and the lochan has become a popular habitat for dragonflies. Continue past the water on the track which rises slightly uphill and passes pine and birch trees.
This section is a good area to spot fungi especially in late summer and autumn. After a short while ignore the Fairy Lochan path which leaves to the left (a possible shortcut) - instead continuing for around 500m to the next junction and then turning left here. The narrow path follows a ridge which was formed by terminal moraine, the wall of boulders and gravel left behind by a glacier and where a loch would have formed behind it. Follow the ridge down past a bench and towards the riverside.
The path turns to the left and heads back upstream following the river. The path is narrow as it plunges through silver birches and then emerges into more open ground. A number of slow moving pools are past and a bench and some faster sections of river.
Cross a wooden bridge and then a smaller bridge and follow the path as it leads away from the river bank for a short section before returning and continuing upsteam. Eventually the back of the visitor centre can be seen on the left and the path emerges next to the stone bridge at the start of the walk. Cross the bridge and the road to return to the car park.
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