Inchrory and Strath Avon circuit, near Tomintoul

Summary

This long circuit visits the lonely upper reaches of Strath Avon, far into the mountains, before returning via the extensive grouse moors. The route passes through very remote country, far from help, though most of it follows good tracks. The pathless section can be avoided if necessary which makes this also a good route for mountain bikers.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Mostly on good tracks, with pathless moorland section between Drum Loin and Cnap Chaochan Aitinn. Burn of Loin is unbridged and could be impassable in spate.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Getting there

Start

Parking off minor road south west of Tomintoul.

Public Transport

None to start, bus to Tomintoul.

Start Grid Ref

NJ164176

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 29.75km / 18.5 miles
Time (summer conditions): 7.5 - 8.5 hours
Ascent: 644m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Fiona: Cnap Chaochan Aitinn

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Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

Start the walk from the parking area just off the minor road that heads south west from Tomintoul towards Delnabo bridge. Follow the track at the end of the parking area and after a short while, and having passed a gate, take the signed detour up steps to the left to reach the Queen's viewpoint. Here Queen Victoria stopped to admire the view on one of her expeditions from Balmoral in 1860. The expedition, which would have been on horseback, went from Balmoral to Grantown via Glen Feshie and then the next day back to Balmoral via Tomintoul and Glen Avon. After admiring the viewpoint return to the main track and turn left. Keep left when the track forks at a cottage. There are great distant views up the strath to the tors on Ben Avon.

Stage 2

Eventually the track slopes down to join the private tarred road up the strath; bear left along this. The road now leads on through the glen, which is beautifully wooded in parts. Pass through a gate at Birchfield, and ignore the bridge below Auchnahyle - which is used on the return. Beyond Torbain the glen gets wilder. Eventually cross the bridge over the Burn of Little Fergie and climb past the derelict house at Dalestie.

Stage 3

The road runs passed a newly-planted area at Dail na Sac and continues up the lonely glen, now barer and with boggier ground. On the approach to Inchrory, it forks, keep left to pass above the massive shooting lodge.

Stage 4

Beyond the lodge the track descends to cross a bridge over the Builg Burn. Keep ahead - ignoring the track off up this side-glen to the left - to come closer to the river, with views over the rapids of the Linn of Avon, where the river loses several metres of height as it comes down from the upper glen to the west.

Stage 5

After a brief climb the track descends into the upper section of the glen. Cross the bridge over the main river Avon and follow the track as it swings left and then sharply back right. At the next junction - with a turning area on the left - turn right to follow a track down to a ford over the Burn of Loin - which may be impassable in spate. On the far side turn right onto a track which climbs up the slopes of Drum Loin (if using a mountain bike you can instead go left to follow the track up Glen Loin and rejoin our route just below Cnap Chaochan Aitinn).

Stage 6

The track zig-zags up the moorland, giving views up the Avon towards the main Cairngorms, whilst Ben Avon and its many tors tower behind. Further on, there are views down into the bare and treeless Glen Loin. Eventually the track ends and a huge turning area. Continue along the now pathless ridge - mostly short-cropped heather, with some wetter, grassier sections.

Stage 7

Pass two large prominent rocks and over several bumps to reach the summit of Cnap Chaochan Aitinn. The summit has a small cairn but also small masts and a wind monitoring station - as well as good views out from the hills over Moray and to Ben Rinnes. From here a track leads northwest down the hill to reach a t-junction; turn right.

Stage 8

The track leads on to a further t-junction (with a grouse shooting hut off to the right). Turn left here to follow a track over Carn an t-Sleibhe and down to the Allt Bheithachan. Keep right at the junction here to head down this attractively wooded side-glen. The track leads out past Bailechnoic and dog-legs left at Wester Gaulrig before continuing down to the iron bridge below Auchnahyle. On the far side turn left to begin retracing your steps back down Strath Avon to the start.

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