Leathad an Taobhain from Glen Feshie

The B970 travels along the southern bank of the River Spey, linking Kingussie to Aviemore. Roughly half way between these towns is the village of Kincraig, south of which an unclassified road travels southwards through Glen Feshie.

The road passes through Inshriach Forest where the Uath Lochans hide in this forest with some lovely low-level walks which are well worth a visit.

The road travels alongside the western bank of the River Feshie for 4km to its end by the bridge over the Allt Fhearnasdail, where there is roadside parking by the entrances to forestry tracks.

The route from Glen Feshie to Meall an Uillt Chreagaich is best done by bike !

Heading south initially on an estate track, which not long after crossing the Allt Fhearnasdail becomes a tarred road, to the end of forestry beyond which the lovely scenery of Glen Feshie is cycled through. The road travels for around 7km passing the buildings of Carnachuin to a junction just before Glenfeshie Lodge.

At this junction, keep left and now on a rough estate track, continue cycling southwards. Just under 2km south of Glenfeshie Lodge, the track comes to a junction by a group of old tall trees - stag ponies are often found grazing here !

Turn right (west) at the junction and cycle past some forestry, then begin the push uphill. Some steep ascents require some effort (or dismounting) to reach Loch an t-Sluic , above which a bealach is met where there is yet another junction in the track. This time, take the left (south) fork.

The track takes a gradually rising route around a heather-clad slope, then crosses the burns of the Meur Shuas and Meur Meahonach to begin its final climb up Meall an Uillt Chreagaich . A small cairn marks the summit of this rounded lump.

On a personal note, due to snow cover I couldn't get my bike to this summit and had to give up cycling at around the 780m contour !

From Meall an Uillt Chreagaich's summit a the track (not marked on OS maps beyond the summit) heads due south-west along the crest of the hill, then descends a bit before turning south-east towards the Mini-gaig and ending in deep heather.

Instead of taking this, a better option is to look for a small cairn by the track and due east of Meall an Uillt Chreagaich's summit - this marks a more direct path which leads down to a small ruin below the Mini-gaig. From there a faint path cuts a route due south climbing up the northern shoulder of Leathad an Taobhain. With 150m ascent on a gentle gradient over a distance of just under 1km, it's not long before the trig point marking Leathad an Taobhain's summit is reached.

A return is simply a case of retracing your route up.

In the past, upon reaching the col above Lochan an t-Sluic, I would have taken the short detour up a fine estate track onto the Corbett of Càrn Dearg Mòr. Alas, this estate track ends by forestry with the remainer being removed and heather restored in its place. On my last visit here (March '22), by the side of the track up to Meall an Uillt Chreagaich there were piles of what looked like some kind of matting - I'm wondering if this track is also in line to be removed.