location

profile

maps

photos

main route summary
West of Linn-of-Dee, heather clads the lower slopes of the hills between Glen Tilt and Geldie Burn. The two munros Carn an Fhidhleir (also known as Carn Ealar) and An Sgarsoch are summits on this vast area. Although not as high as the Cairngorms immediately to the north or Beinn a'Ghlo to the south, the are sufficiently high and well placed to look out onto fine vistas in all directions. The most straight-forward access is from Linn-ofDee, from where a good cyclable track leads to the old ruin of Geldie Lodge.


main route outline

Getting there
From Braemar, head west to Linn-of-Dee and park in the main hill-walkers car-park, where there are toilet facilities (of the compostable type) and a notice board. Parking costs £2.

Geldie Lodge
Leave the car-park, turn right and head back along the road towards the bridge over the Dee. Just before the bridge a barrier blocks a track heading off west. Preferably by bike, head along this track for 4.5km to White Bridge. Cross the bridge and keep on the main track heading south-west. After another 2km, the track turns west, passes Red Hut, then becomes quite rough as it continues to a nackered wooden bridge. Beyond the bridge the track becomes easier, but further on the Allt Dhaidh Mor needs crossing, which can be tricky in spate. The track then drops to Geldie Burn, where bikes should be left. Crossing Geldie Burn is a doddle in summer, but in spate, it will demand that you take your footwear off. The sad ruin of Geldie Lodge is 400m up the track.

Carn an Fhidhleir
Behind Geldie Lodge, a fine cyclable track used to run west below Sgarsoch Beag's heather clad slopes. The NTS decided in 'the spirit of the long walk in' to remove the track and replace it with a narrow path. You now have to walk in line rather than side-by-side. Why ? Anyway, enough of my moaning - a path is better than nothing ! Follow this track to its end, then on a wet path drop to the Allt a'Chaorainn. Cross this burn, then pick up and follow a faint path through the heather for around 1km. As the gradient starts to steepen, the path disappears, but sections of grass surround one of the burns and this can be followed uphill. Eventually the grass gives way to boulders, but this is a sign that the crest is nearly reached. Once up onto the crest, turn south and attain the summit with its small cairn.

An Sgarsoch
If the mist is down, navigational skills will be needed from Carn an Fhidhleir to An Sgarsoch. From the cairn on Carn an Fhidhleir, aim south-east following a faint path and drop to a bealach before the rise up to the top marked on the OS map with a spot height of 906m. Don't go up this - turn east-south-east and drop on wet grass and tussocky ground to the peaty bealach below An Sgarsoch. Cross the bealach and pick up a faint path through the heather climbing up the hill's western shoulder. The heather gives way to grass and stones higher up and eventually the large cairn is reached. This is a fine summit for views on clear days. On windy days, the cairn provides plenty shelter for a few hardy folk.

Return
Leave the summit and follow a barely distinguisable path for 1km east. Turn north and start losing height. At around c800m, the ground becomes steep and thick heather can now be bound down on. The ground levels out and becomes easier to progress following the grass covered banks of the Allt Coire an t-Seilich. Count how many times you cross this burn ! A path evolves and Geldie Lodge is approached. Cross Geldie Burn and return back to Linn-of-Dee.

alternatives

Via Glen Tilt
As with the approach from Linn-of-Dee, the route in along Glen Tilt is long but very accessible made possible by the track and path up its length. This route does however involve trudging over pathless ground and particularly higher up, if the mist is down, your navigation skills will be thoroughly tested.

Cycle up Glen Tilt and 2km before Bedford Memorial Bridge is reached, the track starts to climb - don't follow it, instead take the path heading back down towards the River Tilt. The path is fairly cyclable, but you might want to leave bikes at the junction and jog to the bridge. The bridge is at a wonderful spot ith a lovely waterfall. Cross the bridge, continue for a bit, then turn left and head uphill on a path initially aiming west. As the ground levels it turns north-west, then west and continues to the ruins below Cnapan nan Laogh. Climb directly uphill to Braigh Coire Caochan nan Laogh, then follow the crest of the hill north, then north-west to drop to a small lochan. Uphill to Carn Greannach, continue following the crest until you reach An Sgarsoch. Continue to Carn an Fhidhleir as described in the reverse of the main route, then return to the bealach between Carn an Fhidhleir and An Sgarsoch. Head south on pathless ground and follow the burn that becomes the Allt a'Chaorainn and joins Tarf Water. Return to the ruin below Cnapan nan Laogh, retrace your steps to Bedford Memorial Bridge and return back down Glen Tilt.

Total distance : 32km on bike, 30km on foot (20m/19m)
Total ascent : 1300m (4,250ft)