Càrn Mòr is the highest of the Ladder Hills; it could be ascended from the Lecht summit but this circular route from Chapeltown in Glenlivet makes a much more enjoyable outing.
Bog Factor
Hill path for the ascent, good walking on the broad ridge in parts but also several areas of eroded peat hags to cross. The return route is pathless in parts.
Car park, Chapeltown of Glenlivet.
None to start.
NJ242209
To reach the parking area, take the minor road to Chapeltown and then turn left opposite the church onto a farm track with a car park. Begin the walk along the track - signed as part of the Malcolm Gillespie Smuggler's Trail. The large distillery over to the right is Braeval - owned by Chivas Brothers. Continue straight on through the farmyard; there are good views as the track runs alongside Tom a'Voan wood. Continue on the track towards the house at Corrunich, turning right (Malcolm Gillespie signpost) before reaching it.
Continue along a track and through a gate; this one leads towards Ladderfoot. Before reaching this, fork right and cross the burn using stones - it's signed as a public path to Strathdon via Glen Nochty. On the far side follow a track to the right, leading through a gate and leading up the narrow glen on the north side of the burn. The track becomes a path and after crossing the Caochan na Cuil it climbs across the slopes high above the Ladder Burn. The path contours left around the ravine of the Allt nan Clach before becoming faint on the final steep grassy ascent known as the Ladder - which gives this hill range its name.
A wide and flat bealach - the top of the old Ladder Pass - is reached between Dùn Muir and Meikle Geal Chàrn, with large cairns just to the left. The Pass route then descends towards the wild head of Glen Nochty, but our route turns right and ascends gently over short-cropped heather to Dùn Muir. The bealach between here and the next gentle rise on the ridge (point 772 metres) is riven into eroded peat hags - there is no way to avoid these completely but it may be possible to find a grough (gap between the hags) heading in the right direction - these give the best walking. Aim for a wooden marker post from where the going improves greatly.
Continue easily along the ridge to reach the trig point marking the Corbett summit of Càrn Mòr , highest of the Ladder Hills. The plateau means the view is robbed of great depth, but the panorama is certainly extensive; Ben Avon with its many summit tors is prominent, whilst in the opposite direction rises Ben Rinnes. Continue southwest, following a ridge path. It is possible to bypass the next 800m summit by keeping slightly right. Beyond it, the bealach before Càrn Liath is another area of peat hags. Cross this, following the fenceline which leads out along a ridge to the NNW.
After a brief rise the ridge changes direction to the west; soon two small cairns are passed on the right. OS maps show a path crossing the ridge at the Càrn Dulack bealach but this is no longer clear on the ground (and the route along the upper Crombie water is very overgrown); instead look for a good place to descend after the cairns - initially quite steeply and then down the open slopes, aiming towards the ruins at Clash of Scalan. Pass through a gate in a fence before continuing to the ruins, set amongst fine trees and with a wooden shed nearby.
From the ruins follow a track northeast, crossing a stile, and before reaching the College of Scalan a waymarker indicates a left turn over a footbridge to avoid a ford and boggy section on the track. Here there is an old mill and other ruins - most famously the College itself. This dates back to the eighteenth century when catholics were being persecuted across Scotland. In this hidden location the college was a seminary - the only one that managed to keep operating - and priests were trained here to keep the faith alive. Today the College houses a museum. Continue along the track, passing through a gate and towards a plantation. The track then swings right to reach the end of the public road. Turn left along the road to return to Chapeltown.
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