10km/6.5 miles Allow 3-4 hours

It is likely that both sheep and cattle will be encountered on this walk – please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.  Also check field before entering and detour to avoid cattle if necessary. Keep dogs on a lead or under close control and if threatened by cattle release your dog.

Start

Clash Woods Car Park nr Tomnavoulin NJ208265 - Follow Yellow Waymarkers with Thistle Logo

Follow the forest road from the car park for a short distance, then turn left and take the waymarked path which heads through the trees along the edge of Clash Wood to a stile. Cross this and another stile leaving the plantation and turn right on to the Westertown farm road, ignoring the far right track which leads to Easter Corrie farmhouse. Continue along the farm track which follows the Allt a’Choire burn past Westertown, then through a narrow belt of conifers where you will see the ruins of Craighead farmstead ahead. Keep right, leaving the burn and head uphill through the field. Curlew, lapwing and oystercatcher are common on the marshy farmland here in spring. Join the track which leads up to the plantation of Cairn Ellick ahead, following it into the trees.

In the woods the track turns a sharp right joining the Speyside Way (signed to Ballindalloch) and meanders through the trees, later emerging from the forest and continuing on up to the summit of Carn Daimh (pronounced Cairn Dye) at 569m, 1866 ft. Leaving the summit, follow the fence line northwards along the Speyside Way, initially descending sharply to the edge of the forest plantation. A little further along, a track (marked by a signpost) heads due east across the hillside to rejoin the route of ascent near Westertown farmhouse. This can be used as a quicker return route if time is short.

Continue along the forest edge, along what in places is rather boggy ground to the end of the plantation. Turn right at the corner and follow the fence eastwards through the heather. The Speyside Way continues northwards, but instead pass through the gate and continue alongside the fence following it over the flat shoulder of Carn Liath. The path gradually becomes more distinct and at the high point of the shoulder you will pass some solitary pine trees. Continue alongside the fence as it drops down the other side of the hill before crossing a stile and heading diagonally down the hill along the indistinct track which continues eastwards to the gap in the plantation encircling Lynebeg. From here follow the farm track which skirts the northern edge of the woods, before crossing an open field to join the forest road in Clash wood, which leads downhill to the car park and starting point.