Leathad an Taobhain and Càrn Dearg Mòr

Summary

These two Corbetts can be combined into this long walk from Glen Feshie. Leathad an Tobhair is a rounded dome of heather surrounded by miles and miles of empty moors - one of the remotest places in Britain but scarred by a landrover track makes for an easy approach. Càrn Dearg Mòr has excellent views, especially on the descent, of beautiful Glen Feshie and Badenoch beyond.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Mostly landrover tracks with some sections across untracked heather moorland; section from track up to ridge is very hard going. The route is exposed and remote.

Deer Stalking information

South of Leathad an Taobhain: Atholl Estates. Stag stalking from beginning of Aug to 20 Oct with no stalking on Sundays. Hind stalking from 21 Oct to 15 Feb with no stalking at weekends. If further information is needed, please e-mail [email protected] at least a couple of days in advance or phone 01796 481355 (office hours only).

Getting there

Start

Glen Feshie car park 1km from Achlean.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NN850985

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 33.5km / 20.75 miles
Time: 9 - 10 hours
Ascent: 989m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Leathad an Taobhain
Corbett: Càrn Dearg Mòr

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Walk Description

User reports (10)

Stage 1

The walk begins from the car park on the east side of Glen Feshie around a kilometre short of Achlean. Begin the walk along the tarmac road to Achlean Farm, then taking the path that passes above the farm to the left. Continue on the main path, ignoring the smaller one that curves behind the farmhouse; a short distance further a path branches off to the left; again keep on the main route. Pass through a gate to reach a stream. This must be crossed, which can be a problem in spate. Beyond, the path runs along the edge of a heather bank elevated above the flood plain of the river. Soon you'll see a bridge over by the River Feshie to the right; fork right to head across to reach and cross it. On the far side, take the track uphill to reach a tarmac road, and turn left along this. This private road now leads up the beautiful glen, passing an estate cottage after a couple of kilometres.

Stage 2

Continue on the road past the farm and cottages at Carnachuin, ignoring the track down to the place where the rickety bridge over the Feshie stood until it was washed away in September 2009. There are fine Scots pine woods, particularly on the other side of the glen. Continue on the tarmac until a fork just short of Glen Feshie Lodge; here the tarmac road leads up to the lodge so instead take the left fork onto a track giving good views of the very fine lodge above. After almost another couple of kilometres another junction is reached; this time take the right hand track, heading up into the Slochd Mòr .

Stage 3

The Slochd Mòr is a deep, trench-like pass climbing southwest out from Glen Feshie, with craggy slopes to the left and heather to the right. Follow the track through this unusual feature, passing attractive Lochan an t-Sluic and continuing up to another fork. Take the left hand track this time. It curves round the hillside to the left, taking a rising line around the moors. The track passes close to the summit cairn of Meall an Uilt Chreagaich. There is a turning area here at the end of the main track, though vehicle tracks continue through the heather. Instead a small cairn marks the start of an old path which descends across the slope to the southwest, heading for the west side of a bealach.

Stage 4

The path has fallen into disuse and isn't completely clear; it avoids the main bealach which is a morass and instead reaches a stone ruin just to its west. Cross a small boggy area and continue up the heather slopes of Leathad an Taobhain opposite; again there is a rough path. The path peters out a short distance east of the summit, which is marked by a trig point (the summit to the west, labelled Leathad an Taobhain on OS maps, is lower). The views have little depth but are very extensive; the best is towards the main Cairngorms, with Cairn Toul looking like a volcano. Return back down to the bealach and up to the track, following it all the way back to the last fork above the Slochd Mòr .

Stage 5

This time go left at the junction. Further on leave the track to head up the hillside, keeping to the right of the plantations. The tracks shown here have been removed and the going is extremely hard for a time through deep, tussocky heather and young native trees. Aim up towards the col, thankfully eventually gaining traces of a faint route up onto to the heathery ridge. Fork right again to follow the ridge northeast to the summit of Càrn Dearg Mòr , the second Corbett of the day.

Stage 6

This is a better viewpoint than Leathad an Taobhain, with glimpses of Glen Feshie down to the east (best seen by a short wander from the cairn) and Badenoch and Strathspey spread out to the north. Continue on the faint vehicle tracks to descend via the ridge, northeast at first and then north, with the views improving along the way.

Stage 7

Continue down the wide ridge, eventually climbing slightly to pass just left of the trig point of Càrn Dearg Beag. Further on the track finally peters out, the ridge bends NNE and the going becomes rougher until a track is met just short of a plantation. Turn right along the track which eventually descends through beautiful pinewoods to reach the floor of Glen Feshie just north of Carnachuin.

Stage 8

From here turn left and head back to the start by reversing the outward route, remembering to cross the bridge back over the Feshie to return via Achlean to the car park.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Kingussie & Newtonmore Hotels

Kingussie & Newtonmore B&B

Kingussie & Newtonmore cottages

Cairngorms hostels

Glamping and Camping

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