Carn Na Drochaide
DAY 3
10
NO122949 From this lovely little dell, rejoin the path and, where the head of the glen narrows, before crossing a significant little stream, break off uphill along its southern verge. This is a relentless heather-bashing and pathless ascent alongside a tree-filled little ravine but it avoids some of the wetter ground and the gradient soon eases. Keep your direction ahead and after 1km and 215m height gain, attain the path along the ridge of Carn na Drochaide. From here, head east to the hill’s summit at 818m, marked by a cairn.
11
NO127937 On a clear day there are fantastic views from here across to Lochnagar to the south, the Mounth, and the northern Cairngorms behind. This is a great spot to trace some of your route from the preceding days. Ahead, these wonderful views will stay with you for much of the descent. Continue straight ahead off the nose of the hill, losing about 220m and then briefly reascending to Creag a’ Chleirich, a subsidiary top overlooking Braemar Castle and the River Dee.
12
NO141933 The path off the top here is faint to begin with. Retrace your steps for about 20m then turn south straight down the hill to pick it up. It veers south-east then south-west on a steady gradient, becoming clearer all the time. Follow it down, coming alongside the East Allt Coultain and then swerving east to contour across the bottom of the hill, meeting an array of Scots pine trees after which it dog legs right, then left, to join the main track through the glen of the Dee.
13
NO141919 From here, turn west along the track, past Allanmore house, with Braemar (and civilization) visible over the river. Continue along the track, which cuts through open hillside and then comes alongside trees, a couple of small buildings and the larger Allanaquoich house. Cross the River Quoich via a new good bridge to find your way back to the car a few metres on with plenty of time for food in Braemar before heading for home.