YOUR GUIDE TO OUR  WINTER  AND SPRING WALKS

To book any of the walks below, please email stocketshost@gmail.com or phone the walk host.  Transport is by coach (unless specified otherwise). It will depart from and return to the former location of Mile End Primary School, on Gordondale Road.

HILL OF WIRREN

Main Walk: 20km (12miles): Walk duration approx 7 hours with stops

 We start at Tarfside in Glen Esk (492798) and head S passed Buskhead and climb to a gap between Cowie Hill and Garlet. The path continues S to the narrow dry valley of the Clash of Wirren. We cross the clash and head SE and then E up to the summit of West Wirren (513748). The route continues generally SE, following the broad ridge over Hill of Wirren to East Wirren, where we pick up the track heading E over Hill of Corathro (558723). The final descent follows a series of paths and tracks, via Little Tullo, eventually joining a minor road at 590715, before leaving it again at the next bend (592714) to follow a path which brings us out on the main road near Lochside. A short walk S brings us into the main street of Edzell, where the bus should be waiting outside the pub, around 690601 (just off the map).

Alternative Walk

 This is a fairly short winter walk, and there is no planned alternative. However, if conditions are bad, a low level option may be possible.

MORAY COASTAL WALK

Main Walk, 14 km (9 miles), walk duration 5 hrs with stops

For a change, this is a hill walk with a difference – no hills.

 We will start at Burghhead (117692) and follow the coast east, first along an old railway track to Hopetown and then on a path above the cliffs. At Clashach Quarry (162703) dinosaur footprints have been discovered and may still be displayed. After Covesea, the route descends onto the beach and we continue on to Lossiemouth harbour (239712).

Note that the walk may be done in the other direction if the wind and tide on the day are against us.

Alternative Walk

 This is a fairly short through route, so there is no planned alternative.

BEN BHREAC, BEN A'CHAORAINN

Main Walk, 2 Munros, 29 km  (17 miles), 800m ascent, walk duration around 8½ hours with stops

 This walk starts at Linn of Quoich (117908) and heads up Glen Quoich to 080936, where we head W up towards Clais Fhearnaig and then climb NW and N over Meall an Lundain to Beinn Bhreac (058071). The route continues N over the flat peat hags of Moine Bhealaidh to the summit of of Beinn a’Chaorainn (045014). The descent heads SW to join the track just S of the summit of the Lairig an Laoigh around 035000. We then continue S down Glen Derry to Derry Lodge and then follow the Derry Road along Glen Lui to the bus at the Linn of Dee car park (063898).

Alternative Walk: 1 Munro, 20 km (12 miles), 600m ascent, walk duration about 6 hours with stops

A shorter alternative is to just climb Beinn Bhreac, descending SW to pick up the track in Glen Derry around 045942.

An even shorter bad weather alternative is to carry on through Clais Fhearnaig to join the Derry Road at 058924 (11 km). 

MAYAR AND DRIESH

This will be a joint walk with the Cairngorm Club (hence the reduced price), but the bus may well be full, so please book early. There will be one joint main walk, but several other options are possible.

Main Walk: 2 Munros, 21 km (13 miles), walk duration around 8 hours with stops

 The main walk starts in Glen Prosen at the road end (292680) and follows the track NW up the glen to Kilbo and then climbs South Craig and continues round the head of the Mayar Burn to the summit of Mayar (241738). We then head E along a broad ridge, cross the head of the Kilbo pass and climb to the trig point on the top of Driesh (272737). We then continue E and SE along the ridge over Hill of Strone and Cairn Inks to the bealach before Cairn of Barns (315716). A quick descent NE then brings us out on to the road and over to the Clova Inn (326731).

Alternative Walk

The most obvious shorter walk is to avoid Mayar by taking the Kilbo path directly from the Kilbo ruin, turning right at the head of the Kilbo pass and heading directly for Driesh.

However, the bus will go to the Clova Inn immediately after dropping the main group in Glen Prosen, so a walk up to Loch Brandy would provide an easier option.