Geo-Trips :: Corgarff to Tomintoul via Inchrory

Strath Don and Strath Avon

A walk from Corgarff, Thu, 17 Sep 2020 by Anne Burgess

We left my car in Tomintoul, and drove over the Lecht Road to Corgarff. From there we took the estate road west to Delnadamph, and then followed the old drove road to the watershed and down to Inchrory. From there we followed the estate road back to Tomintoul, a total of just over 14 miles if we leave out a couple of short detours.

Regrettably, the heather was past its best, looking more brown than purple, and the sun, although shining at both ends of the walk, was obscured by cloud in the middle part, making the photographs duller and less impressive than they might have been.

It was very easy walking all the way, with few ascents, none of them more than a few tens of metres and none of them steep. The first and last few miles were tarmac; the section immediately north of Inchrory was unsurfaced but in excellent repair, and the part between Delnadamph and Inchrory was a very clear and easy to follow track.

The scenery was splendid, with rolling rounded hills and wide open views in the first part, and the steep sided Strath Avon later on. This is a walk I would like to do again, preferably on a sunny day. But next time I'll leave the first car in the little walkers' car park off the Delnabo road, and save myself the final mile of trudge into the village.

Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )

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NJ2508 : Corgarff Castle Car Park by Anne Burgess
Corgarff Castle Car Park
This is the small car park serving Corgarff Castle.

NJ2508 : Approach to Corgarff Castle by Anne Burgess
Approach to Corgarff Castle
From the car park it's about 350 yards uphill to Corgarff Castle. It was... more

NJ2509 : Strathdon from Corgarff Castle car park by Anne Burgess
Strathdon from Corgarff Castle car park
The River Don is hidden from view among the rushy pasture. The prominent hill is... more

NJ2509 : Strathdon from Corgarff Castle car park by Anne Burgess
Strathdon from Corgarff Castle car park
The River Don flows among the rushy grazing land on the floor of the strath, with... more

NJ2509 : Strathdon by Anne Burgess
Strathdon
What used to be the Allargue Arms Hotel is among the trees at extreme right. It is... more

NJ2509 : Juniper and Bog by Anne Burgess
Juniper and Bog
The bush in the foreground is Juniper. A year or three ago there was a suggestion... more

NJ2409 : Strathdon by Anne Burgess
Strathdon
The paper map I had with me shows forest on the slopes of Cairn Vaich, but it has... more

NJ2409 : Plastic Sacks by Anne Burgess
Plastic Sacks
We were a bit mystified by these woven plastic sacks, tied together with blue... more

NJ2408 : Beehives near Badochurn by Anne Burgess
Beehives near Badochurn
Although they look like piles of cardboard boxes, we think these are beehives,... more

NJ2408 : Badochurn by Anne Burgess
Badochurn
From this angle the cottage at Badochurn is partly hidden by trees.

NJ2409 : Looking towards Badnabein by Anne Burgess
Looking towards Badnabein
In the foreground is a glimpse of a channel of the meandering River Don among the... more

NJ2409 : Loinherry by Anne Burgess
Loinherry
The house at Loinherry stands above the glen containing the burn of the same name,... more

NJ2409 : Meandering River Don by Anne Burgess
Meandering River Don
Although this is close to the source of the River Don, this section of it is... more

NJ2309 : Badnabein and Cairn Vaich by Anne Burgess
Badnabein and Cairn Vaich
Cairn Vaich slopes steeply up above the two houses at Badnabein, which are... more

NJ2409 : Meander by Anne Burgess
Meander
This is a really classic example of a meander. One day the river will cut right... more

NJ2309 : Another Meander by Anne Burgess
Another Meander
The course of the River Don here is very convoluted, with many meanders. The... more

NJ2309 : Badnabein and River Don by Anne Burgess
Badnabein and River Don
Badnabein is one of just three farms to survive on the slope of Cairn Vaich,... more

NJ2309 : Dunanfiew by Anne Burgess
Dunanfiew
A zoom view of the buildings at Dunanfiew from the south side of the strath.

NJ2308 : River Don by Anne Burgess
River Don
Actually, the river itself is almost hidden by the vegetation along its meandering... more

NJ2308 : Meanders by Anne Burgess
Meanders
The 'panoramic' function is quite handy to show how the River Don meanders across... more

NJ2308 : A Tight Meander by Anne Burgess
A Tight Meander
At this point the course of the River Don turns through 180º. The house in... more

NJ2308 : Strath Don by Anne Burgess
Strath Don
A strath is a wide flat-bottomed valley, and this is a classic example. The hill... more

NJ2309 : Dunanfiew by Anne Burgess
Dunanfiew
A zoom view of the isolated house and buildings at Dunanfiew.

NJ2208 : Delnadamph by Anne Burgess
Delnadamph
I was rather surprised that this was all that there was at Delnadamph, as I had... more

NJ2208 : Converted Steading? by Anne Burgess
Converted Steading?
This looks as if it has been converted from being an outbuilding to being... more

NJ2208 : Glen Road by Anne Burgess
Glen Road
The track beyond Delnadamph is unsurfaced, and follows Allt Veannaich, which is... more

NJ2208 : Sand Quarry by Anne Burgess
Sand Quarry
In the back of what I take to be a quarry are layers that look like lake bed... more

NJ2208 : Livestock Pens by Anne Burgess
Livestock Pens
Presumably the pens are used for managing sheep, of which there is no shortage on... more

NJ2208 : Strathdon near Delnadamph by Anne Burgess
Strathdon near Delnadamph
Allt Veannaich flows between me and the closest hummock, and Allt Tuileach between... more

NJ2208 : Bridge over Allt Veannaich by Anne Burgess
Bridge over Allt Veannaich
The track to the cottage at Inchmore crosses Allt Veannaich on the bridge in the... more

NJ2208 : Bridge over Allt Veannaich by Anne Burgess
Bridge over Allt Veannaich
On the far side of the bridge is what I speculate may be the remains of sediments... more

NJ2208 : Allt Veannaich by Anne Burgess
Allt Veannaich
Allt is the Gaelic for a burn or small river, and I suspect that Veannaich is an... more

NJ2208 : Allt Veannaich by Anne Burgess
Allt Veannaich
Looking downstream from the bridge to where Allt Veannaich joins Allt Tuileach to... more

NJ2108 : Dam at Inchmore by Anne Burgess
Dam at Inchmore
The dam doesn't appear on the 19th century maps.

NJ2108 : Reservoir at Inchmore by Anne Burgess
Reservoir at Inchmore
The dam contains the waters of Allt Veannaich in this small reservoir.

NJ2108 : Allt Veannaich by Anne Burgess
Allt Veannaich
The burn below the dam, with the cottage at Inchmore on the left. The small hill... more

NJ2108 : Three Trees by Anne Burgess
Three Trees
These have a look of the trees that grew beside cottage doors, and the old maps do... more

NJ2108 : Inchmore Cottage by Anne Burgess
Inchmore Cottage
The cottage is said to be a bothy, but it is also said to be kept locked, which... more

NJ2108 : Allt Veannaich by Anne Burgess
Allt Veannaich
Looking downstream to its confluence with Allt Tulieach to form the River Don.

NJ2108 : Moorland by Anne Burgess
Moorland
West of Inchmore, the track crosses great areas of heather moor. The obvious track... more

NJ2108 : Open Moorland by Anne Burgess
Open Moorland
The track here, an old drove road between Strathdon and Strathavon, skirts the... more

NJ2108 : Old Drove Road by Anne Burgess
Old Drove Road
The road heads for the watershed between Don and Avon. The highest hill is Preas... more

NJ2008 : Beehives at Culchavie by Anne Burgess
Beehives at Culchavie
The beehives are well placed for the bees to collect nectar from the vast swathes... more

NJ2008 : Moorland by Anne Burgess
Moorland
The moorland in this grid square is fairly featureless, so the eye is drawn to the... more

NJ2008 : Old Drove Road by Anne Burgess
Old Drove Road
The old drove road, now a track passable with a 4x4 vehicle, climbs gently along... more

NJ2008 : Toadstool by Anne Burgess
Toadstool
A dry rough road isn't the sort of place you'd expect to find a tiny delicate... more

NJ2008 : Féith Bháit by Anne Burgess
Féith Bháit
There's just a glimpse of Féith Bháit in the middle of the view down... more

NJ2112 : Tolm Bùirich by Anne Burgess
Tolm Bùirich
Tolm Bùirich is the hill right of centre. To the left is Craig Veann. The... more

NJ1810 : Craig Veann by Anne Burgess
Craig Veann
It looks as if the burned heather in the foreground passes seamlessly into the... more

NJ1908 : Old Drove Road by Anne Burgess
Old Drove Road
From this point, the drove road descends into Strath Avon. On the left are some of... more

NJ1908 : Old Drove Road by Anne Burgess
Old Drove Road
The drove road goes along the slope of Stròn na Crois Araich, avoiding the... more

NJ1908 : Gate on the Drove Road by Anne Burgess
Gate on the Drove Road
It's good to see that the gate is walker-friendly. It is at the point where the... more

NJ1908 : Moorland Fence by Anne Burgess
Moorland Fence
The fence heads arrow-straight to Carn Bad a'Ghuail. Interestingly there is an... more

NJ1908 : Ford on the Drove Road by Anne Burgess
Ford on the Drove Road
This is the smaller of two fords where burns cross the drove road. The burn isn't... more

NJ1808 : Ford on Allt Chuil by Anne Burgess
Ford on Allt Chuil
This burn is named as Allt Mhicheil on some maps and Allt Chuill on others.... more

NJ1808 : Ford on Allt Mhicheil by Anne Burgess
Ford on Allt Mhicheil
This burn is named as Allt Chuil on some maps and Allt Mhicheil on others.... more

NJ1808 : Uisge na Meann by Anne Burgess
Uisge na Meann
Uisge is the Gaelic word for water, and it is the name applied to the rushy ground... more

NJ1808 : Breac Leitir by Anne Burgess
Breac Leitir
Breac Leitir is the ridge on the right. To its left there is a glimpse of the west... more

NJ1808 : Féith Bhàit by Anne Burgess
Féith Bhàit
The flat boggy ground is drained by Féith Bhàit, which eventually... more

NJ1807 : Descending to Lagganauld by Anne Burgess
Descending to Lagganauld
As usual I'm lagging behind taking photographs, in this case of the drove road as... more

NJ1807 : Lagganauld by Anne Burgess
Lagganauld
The abandoned houses at Lagganauld come into view as the track swings to the right... more

NJ1807 : Probably a Quarry by Anne Burgess
Probably a Quarry
Although very close to the contact with the Inchrory Limestone, I think that this,... more

NJ1807 : Lagganauld by Anne Burgess
Lagganauld
The farm house of Lagganauld, now abandoned but still appearing to be watertight.... more

NJ1808 : Enclosures by Anne Burgess
Enclosures
The old Ordnance Survey maps show a small building, perhaps a cottage, at the... more

NJ1808 : Allt Roderick by Anne Burgess
Allt Roderick
Allt Roderick is the name of the burn that runs some of the time through this... more

NJ1808 : Allt Roderick by Anne Burgess
Allt Roderick
Allt Roderick is the name of the burn that runs some of the time through this... more

NJ1808 : Reservoir by Anne Burgess
Reservoir
We noticed the ladder and were intrigued by it, until we had taken a closer look... more

NJ1807 : Mushrooms or Toadstools? by Anne Burgess
Mushrooms or Toadstools?
They do look like mushrooms, but as we don't know enough to know which species we... more

NJ1708 : Inchrory by Anne Burgess
Inchrory
This was the first view of the shooting lodge at Inchrory. I knew it was big but... more

NJ1807 : Inchrory Limestone by Anne Burgess
Inchrory Limestone
The grey rocks outcropping here are metalimestones of the Inchrory Limestone... more

NJ1807 : Felsite Intrusion by Anne Burgess
Felsite Intrusion
The pale pinkish shattered rock is part of a felsite dyke. Felsite is a fine- to... more

NJ1807 : Limestone Workings by Anne Burgess
Limestone Workings
The old maps show various lime kilns, and this is probably one of the sources of... more

NJ1807 : Allt Roderick  and Cait nan Gabhar by Anne Burgess
Allt Roderick and Cait nan Gabhar
The burn in the foreground is Allt Roderick, and above and behind it are the... more

NJ1708 : Inchrory Lodge by Anne Burgess
Inchrory Lodge
Compare this with [[[6362133]]], taken over 30 years ago from the exact same spot,... more

NJ1708 : Inchrory Lodge by Anne Burgess
Inchrory Lodge
A view of the south elevation of the lodge through the firmly padlocked main gate.

NJ1708 : Estate Road in Strath Avon by Anne Burgess
Estate Road in Strath Avon
The road from Inchrory to Tomintoul is wide and in excellent repair, but forms a... more

NJ1708 : Strath Avon by Anne Burgess
Strath Avon
Looking south from the road below Cait nan Gabhar. There's a glimpse of Inchrory... more

NJ1708 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
The 'panorama' function of the camera exaggerates the bend in the river here.

NJ1708 : Marl Burn by Anne Burgess
Marl Burn
The short burn has carved a winding course between Cait nan Gabhar and The... more

NJ1708 : Dail Neilead by Anne Burgess
Dail Neilead
Normally Dal indicates a hollow, but in this case it seems to be applied to the... more

NJ1708 : Brown Puffballs by Anne Burgess
Brown Puffballs
There were several groups of puffballs, some brown and some white, by the side of... more

NJ1708 : White Puffballs by Anne Burgess
White Puffballs
There were several groups of puffballs, some brown and some white, by the side of... more

NJ1709 : The Neilead by Anne Burgess
The Neilead
The name is applied to a long steeply sloping brae on the east side of Strath... more

NJ1609 : Estate Road in Strath Avon by Anne Burgess
Estate Road in Strath Avon
One of my companions thought that walking on the road here was a bit like a... more

NJ1709 : Gullies and Landslides by Anne Burgess
Gullies and Landslides
Foal's Craig is the rocky top part of An Neilead, which is cut here by a steep... more

NJ1609 : Abandoned River Channel by Anne Burgess
Abandoned River Channel
It looks as if the River Avon has shifted its course here, leaving some abandoned... more

NJ1709 : Scree Slope by Anne Burgess
Scree Slope
The scree is presumably frost-shattered rock that has fallen from Foal's Craig at... more

NJ1609 : Boggy Pools by Anne Burgess
Boggy Pools
The pools are at the downriver end of the [[[6611437]]].

NJ1609 : Abandoned River Channel by Anne Burgess
Abandoned River Channel
Looking upriver towards [[[6611437]]] from the Strath Avon road.

NJ1609 : Flood Plain Channels by Anne Burgess
Flood Plain Channels
The road rises slightly here, affording the best view of the abandoned channels of... more

NJ1609 : Rejoining the Main Channel by Anne Burgess
Rejoining the Main Channel
This is the last part of [[[6611452]]] before it rejoins the main channel of the... more

NJ1610 : Scree in Strath Avon by Anne Burgess
Scree in Strath Avon
The scree here is made up of grey schist of the Mortlach Graphitic Schist... more

NJ1610 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
The map shows some ruins on the flat land on the far bank, but they must have been... more

NJ1610 : Coire nan Sac by Anne Burgess
Coire nan Sac
A gully obviously carved by water, not ice, because it has a v-shaped profile and... more

NJ1610 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
Looking upstream from just south of Dail nan Sac.

NJ1610 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
Looking upstream from north of Dail nan Sac. The gully is that of Allt Ruarach, or... more

NJ1610 : Allt Nathrach by Anne Burgess
Allt Nathrach
The deep gully on the far side of the River Avon is that of Allt Nathrach. To its... more

NJ1611 : Clach Bhàn by Anne Burgess
Clach Bhàn
Clach Bhàn means 'pale rock' and the first edition six-inch map shows it as... more

NJ1610 : Dalestie by Anne Burgess
Dalestie
The slow disintegration of the cottage at Dalestie can be followed through... more

NJ1611 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
It's hard to see in this shot, but the deer fence is continued across the River... more

NJ1611 : Burn of Little Fergie by Anne Burgess
Burn of Little Fergie
I wondered if there was a difference in the geology on either side of the burn,... more

NJ1611 : Burn of Little Fergie by Anne Burgess
Burn of Little Fergie
These are the last few yards of the Burn of Little Fergie before it enters the River Avon.

NJ1611 : Fungus by Anne Burgess
Fungus
A toadstool with a rather delightful fluted cap. I have no idea what species it is.

NJ1611 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
Looking upstream from opposite Sròn a' Bhothain Mhóir.

NJ1611 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
Looking downstream from below Sròn Dà Cloich-aoil.

NJ1612 : Island in the River Avon by Anne Burgess
Island in the River Avon
A small stony island splits the River Avon into two channels here. The green bushy... more

NJ1512 : Birch Woods and River Avon by Anne Burgess
Birch Woods and River Avon
The birch woods are regenerating on both banks of the River Avon here, no doubt... more

NJ1612 : Birch Woods by Anne Burgess
Birch Woods
The woods contain some fairly mature Silver Birch.

NJ1513 : Dalbheithachan by Anne Burgess
Dalbheithachan
The strath has widened out and there are farms on the gentler slopes here.

NJ1613 : Toadstool by Anne Burgess
Toadstool
As usual I am unable to say what species this is.

NJ1513 : Dead Tree by Anne Burgess
Dead Tree
On the right bank of the River Avon.

NJ1513 : Allt Bheithachan by Anne Burgess
Allt Bheithachan
Allt Bheithachan enters the River Avon on the left bank here. It is very difficult... more

NJ1613 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
You have to seize the chance of a photograph when there is a gap in the trees on... more

NJ1613 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
Since leaving Strathdon earlier in the day, I had been tantalised by sunshine... more

NJ1613 : Mushroom by Anne Burgess
Mushroom
As usual I don't know what this is. My thanks to Penny Mayes for suggesting that... more

NJ1613 : Field near Torbain by Anne Burgess
Field near Torbain
The forest shown on the maps here has been more or less clear felled.

NJ1613 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
A peaceful reach of the river, shaded my mature trees.

NJ1614 : Muckle Fergie Burn by Anne Burgess
Muckle Fergie Burn
The pool in the foreground is the last metre or so of the Burn of Muckle Fergie as... more

NJ1614 : Auchnahyle by Anne Burgess
Auchnahyle
The house at Auchnahyle, perched well above the River Avon, is partly hidden by trees.

NJ1614 : Boggy Backwater by Anne Burgess
Boggy Backwater
This must surely be a small abandoned river channel. In the background are the... more

NJ1614 : Bridges to Gaulrig by Anne Burgess
Bridges to Gaulrig
The old bridge is nearer the camera, and the new and less picturesque bridge is behind it.

NJ1614 : Bridges Old and New by Anne Burgess
Bridges Old and New
Until very recently the bridge on the left was the only access to Gaulrig, but a... more

NJ1614 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
The River Avon is unusual among Highland rivers in that its waters are clear, not... more

NJ1614 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
In this view you can see that the water of the River Avon is clear, not peaty like... more

NJ1614 : Fungi on a Tree Stump by Anne Burgess
Fungi on a Tree Stump
Two clusters of fungi, and a small grey slug, on a tree stump near Birchfield. I... more

NJ1614 : Twisted Birch by Anne Burgess
Twisted Birch
The bark of this Birch has split into spirals up the trunk as the tree has grown.

NJ1614 : Birchfield by Anne Burgess
Birchfield
Interesting to see that all the stored equipment is in pairs - two snowploughs,... more

NJ1614 : Iron Gates by Anne Burgess
Iron Gates
As we approached the gates they opened automatically to let us and the cyclists... more

NJ1615 : River Avon by Anne Burgess
River Avon
This is another of the stretches where you get only brief views of the river when... more

NJ1616 : Road in Strath Avon by Anne Burgess
Road in Strath Avon
There are two roads north of Delavorar. The one on the left bank is tarmac, but... more

NJ1616 : Field and Gate by Anne Burgess
Field and Gate
The fields here are on the flood plain of the River Avon, which follows the far... more

NJ1616 : Hut and Field by Anne Burgess
Hut and Field
The purpse of this hut is not obvious. If it were close to the river, one would... more

NJ1617 : Old Red Sandstone Conglomerate by Anne Burgess
Old Red Sandstone Conglomerate
This is an outcrop of the Delnabo Conglomerate Formation which occurs widely in... more

NJ1617 : Car Park in Strath Avon by Anne Burgess
Car Park in Strath Avon
This small car park is provided for those wishing to walk or cycle in Strath Avon.

NJ1617 : Birch and Heather by Anne Burgess
Birch and Heather
Beside the Delnabo Road just outside Tomintoul.

NJ1617 : Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) by Anne Burgess
Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
This is just about the only species of fungus I can confidently identify.

NJ1618 : Tomintoul by Anne Burgess
Tomintoul
An unfamiliar view of the village. The tall building is the Square Hotel,... more

NJ1618 : St Michael's Chapel by Anne Burgess
St Michael's Chapel
Even while Catholicism was persecuted in the 17th and 18th centuries, many of the... more

All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence external link.

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