Geo-Trips :: The Steplar Road
Banffshire
A walk from Aldivalloch, Wed, 25 Aug 2021 by Anne Burgess
We had walked the Steplar way from west to east in 2020 - see Link - and decided to do it east to west this time.
We left a car in the parking space at Achdregnie in Glen Livet and drove round to the other end of the walk at Cabrach.
The weather wasn't nearly so kind to us as it had been the year before, but on the other hand it wasn't so hot, and we found it easier because we got the shorter climb out of the way at the start, and the longer climb was only about 175 metres over 3.5 kilometres rather than 240 metres over a similar distance, so all the climbing was when we were fairly fresh instead of at the end of the walk.
This time, when we reached the watershed between the Black Water and Glen Suie, we still had enough time and energy to make the detour to the top of Cook's Cairn, from which we should have had a magnificent view if it had not been in and out of swirling clouds.
We met just one other walker in the whole day, at Knochkan in the Braes of Glenlivet.
The Steplar Way, according to the signposts, is 9½ miles (15.2 kilometres). The detour to Cook's Cairn added another two miles, making the total 11½ miles (21.5 kilometres). The total amount of ascent was just under 600 metres or 2000 feet.
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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Steplar Way Trailhead
The information boards at the car park at the Cabrach (east) end of the Steplar Way.
Cattle at Aldivalloch
The Steplar Way passes through a field currently occupied by a herd of cattle. The... more
Cabrach 'Panorama'
It's not a proper panorama, of course, because it isn't a 360º view, but a... more
Hillhead of Largue
A few scraps of foundations and a rowan tree are all that survive of the farm at... more
White Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
This is the genuine and original lucky white heather. I think it's only the second... more
Steplar Way
The view from the track down beside the Little Steplar Burn across the Black Water... more
Stag's Horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum)
This is the first time I've seen this with the fruiting bodies that give the plant... more
Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
Both flowers and berries together at the side of the track.
Dorenell Wind Farm
Turbines west of the Black Water, with cloud swirling around them and obscuring... more
Interesting Cobble
The patterns in the face of this cobble are a record of the deformation it has... more
Portable Building
This portable building has arrived here since we last walked this route a year... more
Steplar Way
The route of the Steplar Way has been preserved and upgraded where it passes... more
Cloud over the Steplar Burn
Banks of cloud were constantly swirling and dispersing around the wind turbines on... more
Burn in Black Corrie
Not much water in the burn that drains the south slope of Cook's Cairn.
Common Frog (Rana temporaria)
This is one of two frogs we saw hopping about in the short vegetation 2000 feet... more
Fir Clubmoss (Huperzia selago)
A plant of exposed hills and mountains.
Track to Cook's Cairn
The track is a series of stony scars in the short heather, but easy enough to follow.
Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)
Cloudberry occurs only at fairly high altitude, in this case over about 700 metres... more
Approaching the Summit of Cook's Cairn
This is one of those rounded hills where it is difficult to determine exactly... more
Peat Haggs
I assume that these peat haggs have been formed by the action of wind, as there's... more
Cook's Cairn Summit Cairn
Compare with [[[4843607]]] and note how little the cairn has changed in 30 years.... more
Dorenell Wind Farm from Cook's Cairn
The view towards the valley of the Steplar Burn, where the cloud was rolling... more
Dorenell Wind Farm
The cloud has temporarily rolled away, revealing many of the turbines that make up... more
The Track on Cook's Cairn
The track is fairly obvious thanks to the boulders being bleached from lying... more
The Track on Cook's Cairn
Looking down to the watershed between the Black Water and the Back Burn. The cloud... more
The Track on Cook's Cairn
Looking down into Glen Suie through a temporary gap in the clouds.
Cook's Cairn
Now, when we are almost back down at the highest point of the Steplar Way, the... more
Caterpillar
This caterpillar was moving briskly along the edge of the path. I do not know what... more
Nameless Ruin
Though the maps show a small building and an enclosure with a dyke here, none of... more
River Livet
The River Livet from the track on Convene Muir. According to the Ordnance Survey... more
River Livet
Looking upstream to the great bowl of the Braes of Glenlivet from which the River... more
Unnamed Cottage
It must surely have a name, but although it is shown on all the maps, none of them... more
Tomnavoulin Galloway Footbridge
The bridge allows pedestrians to bypass the ford here. See also [[[6949392]]]
Plaque on Tomnavoulin Galloway Footbridge
The plaque is almost hidden under the steps up to the [[[6949389]]], and tells... more
River Livet
Looking upstream from the [[[6949389]]].
River Livet
Looking downstream from the [[[6949389]]].
Tomnavoulin Galloway Footbridge
Looking down to the footbridge from the track to Achdregnie, with the... more
River Livet near Achdregnie
The river meanders across a flat flood plain below Achdregnie.
River Livet
The river skirts a conifer plantation on the opposite bank from Achdregnie. The... more
Fungi
This is one of many clumps of assorted fungi beside the Livet Path in woodland... more
Achdregnie and Cairn Dregnie
The farm buildings at Achdregnie are partly hidden among the trees. Behind them is... more
River Livet
An old stile still stands uselessly on the river bank beside the Livet Path. The... more
River Livet near Glack
Glack is the house partly hidden by the trees on the far side of the river. The... more
Caterpillar
Again, I do not know what species this is.
Sheep-proof Parking Space
We assume that this and another car parked nearby belong to the occupants of... more
All images © Anne Burgess and available under a Creative Commons licence .