This short waymarked walk begins with a visit to the beautiful Linn of Dee, where the river cascades through a narrow chasm, topped by an old stone bridge. It then heads up the lower reaches of Glen Luibeg, passing more waterfalls and through beautiful old pinewoods.
Clear, waymarked paths and tracks.
None to start.
Linn of Dee car park (charge).
Park at the large National Trust car park at the Linn of Dee; there is a charge. Return to the road and take the footpath - waymarked in blue and yellow - off the opposite side. This soon descends gently down steps towards the River Dee. Our blue route turns left at this path junction, but first turn right with the yellow markers to take a closer look at the Linn of Dee. Here the river thunders through a rocky chasm, spanned by the old stone road bridge.
It's worth heading up to the road bridge and crossing the road to a path on the far side to view the river just above the falls. After viewing, return to the path junction and now take the blue waymarked path that continues downriver.
The path continues downstream by the river, through the stately pinewoods. After around 350m follow the main path as it bears left and ascends a series of steps to climb up to the road. Go straight across this onto the path on the far side, which then bears right parallel to the road.
The path emerges on a track beside the River Luibeg. Turn left up the track; after 250m a blue marker indicates where to fork right onto a path that keeps the river in close view. The natural pinewoods here are simply stunning, and regenerating strongly since the National Trust for Scotland has tried to bring deer numbers down towards natural levels. The River Luibeg has some attractive cascades, and the remains of an old salmon ladder are visible at one point.
Eventually the path swings left, and there are distant views up the glen towards the cone-shaped summit of Derry Cairngorm. When the path meets a large track, turn left along it. After another 450m a signpost indicates where to turn right onto a path through the woods back to the car park. This crosses a boardwalk in an open area and climbs a few steps before reaching a fork. The left option is the shortest route back to the start.
Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands.
