The atmospheric ruins of Glenbuchat Castle provide the starting point for a walk along the ridge above the glen, right on the boundary of the Cairngorms National Park. There are good views across this quiet landscape.
Good hill tracks and paths; one awkward gate to cross.
None to start.
Glenbuchat Castle.
Park at Glenbuchat Castle. This fine ruin - built on a z-plan - dates back to 1590, when it was built for John Gordon and his wife Helen to celebrate their wedding. After exploring the castle, begin the walk by heading back along the access track to the road. Go left, crossing the Bridge of Buchat, and then turn left again onto the minor road leading up Glenbuchat. Continue along the road for just over a kilometre, passing Easter Buchat farmhouse, before turning right up a track to Blackhillock Farm. Problems have been caused here by walkers and dogs, please keep all dogs under control on leads.
At the farm pass to the right of the various larger barns, with only a smaller stone store on your right. Pass through two gates and follow the grassy track uphill beyond, bearing slightly right to stay on the main track at a fork. The next gate is a deer gate in a deer fence. Turn right here and follow the fence to reach a stile beyond the fence corner. Cross the stile and follow the fence uphill on a faint path. Eventually a track is reached; cross a broken gate and turn right along the track. There are good views back over the farm to Ben Newe as height is gained.
The track continues up the heathery slopes of Millhuie Hill, and then swings left and descends slightly to the bealach. Pass through a gate and follow the track as it heads uphill once more, keeping left of a fence and soon reaching the top of Little Firbriggs Hill via a zig-zag.
A small cairn here has a fine outlook over the glen before the track descends a little and then climbs up Meikle Firbriggs Hill. The track then descends again to a second bealach. As the track ascends Clachmaddy Hill ignore a branch off left.
Follow the main track which cuts across the flank of the almost imperceptible Creag an Eunan to head towards the tor seen on Creag an Sgòr. The main track forks to bypass the top of Creag an Sgòr to the right, but it's worth taking the fainter track which heads over the top. The tor looks much much impressive from the far side. Descending from Creag an Sgòr, the main track is reached again - turn left along it. Keep left at each of two forks to descend into Glen Buchat, and keep left again at a third fork. Pass through a gate to reach a farm track and keep ahead along this to reach the road.
Now turn left to begin the walk back to the castle; it's all on tarmac, but the roads are pretty quiet. Keep right at a junction, following the road which passes the Mill of Glenbuchat. At the next junction ignore the road off to the right, keeping slightly left, and keep left again about 800m further on at Milton. When a t-junction is reached, turn right. The road now continues down the glen, joining the outward route. Follow it back to the junction with the A97 at Bridge of Buchat, then turn right and right again to return to Glenbuchat Castle at the start.
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