Circuit of Coire a’ Bhaile

I parked in the lay-by on the west side of the A93 Braemar to Blairgowrie Road just south of its junction with the B951 road to Kirriemuir and walked briefly north to immediately before the property at Lair, the start of a signposted path to Kirkmichael.This path initially passed through a couple of gates as well as along an old section of roadway then there was a short steep grassy area before the path, wet in places, headed west then south-west. Posts marked the route and would be advantageous in poor visibility.

Lamh Dearg
Lamh Dearg
Creag na Bruaich
Creag na Bruaich

On reaching the col between Creag an Lair and Lamh Dhearg I left the path, crossed some rough and boggy ground before commencing the ascent of Lamh Dhearg. Although pathless it was an easy enough climb to the highpoint of this Tump, an outcrop north-west of a junction of dykes.

Monamenach
Monamenach
Duchray Hill
Duchray Hill
Glen Isla
Glen Isla
Creag nam Brataichean
Creag nam Brataichean
Cnoc an Daimh
Cnoc an Daimh

After a coffee break here taking in the views and listening to the roaring of the stags, I descended north following a fence.

Roe deer
Roe Deer

At the col with Meall Easganan I traversed round its south and west sides crossing a quad vehicle track then some wet ground before ascending Cnoc Meadhon. The highpoint of this Tump was some heather near a fence.

Cnoc a' Charainn
Cnoc a’ Charainn
Ben Vrackie
Ben Vrackie
Carn Liath and Ben Vuirich
Carn Liath and Ben Vuirich

The fence was then followed south-west, the ground latterly being quite steep, to the boggy col with Cnoc a’ Chaorainn. It was then a fairly steep climb onto the summit of this Tump, the highest point again being ground near the fence.

Cnoc Meadhon and Meall Odhar
Cnoc Meadhon and Meall Odhar
Kindrogan Hill
Kindrogan Hill
Elrig
Elrig

I continued south-west along the side of the fence to the col with Cnoc an Daimh where I briefly spotted a fox. The fence was followed to the west side of Cnoc an Daimh where another fence led to the summit of this Hump, marked by a cairn. While there a quad vehicle arrived at a nearby knoll, the driver possibly a female, jumped out of the vehicle looked through binoculars, probably for a stag, then headed off. I’m not even sure she spotted me.

Ben Vrackie
Ben Vrackie
Ben Earb and Creag an Dubh Shluic
Ben Earb and Creag an Dubh Shluic

The descent south-east was still along the line of a fence and took me to a stock gate at the col with Creag nan Brataichean where a followed a vehicle track onto the east side of this Hump. I later left this track and climbed through well spaced trees then long heather to the summit of Creag nan Brataichean, the highpoint being beside the stone dyke.

Mount Blair
Mount Blair
Meall Mor
Meall Mor
Kirkmichael
Kirkmichael
Beinn a' Ghlo
Beinn a’ Ghlo

There was a cool breeze so I sheltered behind this dyke for lunch before descending, steeply in places, north-east along the side of the dyke. Hoof marks indicated there were cattle around but there was no sign of them. On reaching the Allt Coire a’ Bhaill I crossed it and a fence then walked north-east through rough ground and long heather before crossing the Allt a’ Choire Liathaich. From there I ascended Creag an Lair through mainly heather crossing a vehicle track en-route.

Monamenach and Duchray Hill
Monamenach and Duchray Hill
Glen Isla
Glen Isla

The cairn marking the summit of this Tump was reached then I descended north-east, across the heathery hillside to a stock gate just north of where I had left my car on the A93.

  • Time taken – 6.25 hours.
  • Distance – 13.5 kilometres.
  • Height climbed – 770 metres.