Dykehead to Clova Hotel

This walk takes us to one of the most popular of the Angus glens – Glen Clova.

The walk is a through-one, so members who require a shorter walk – please indicate your intentions with your committee member in charge of the bus.

The walk commences to the west of the village of Dykehead (NGR 371 607). The bus will not be able to enter the small car park , so please exit the bus quickly as we stop near a busy corner on the roadside. Ascend the path to gain the Airlie Memorial Tower built to commemorate the 9th Earl of Airlie who was killed in 1900 at the Battle of Diamond Hill during the Boer War. Continue N’wards towards The Goal and onwards, keeping to the high ground, past an unnamed top at 459m and to the Hill of Couternach (512m). Our route then continues to Hill of Balbae (494m), Cairn Leith (439m) and to the col near Downie Hillock. Do not descend the “Ministers Road” at this point. Head N’wards (NGR 345 691) towards Elf Hillock. Go through a new gate in a high fence and soon descend through the forest to arrive at a gate on the B955 roadside at approx. NGR 338 712. Go through another gate (with sign post), 50m northwest on the other side of this road, traverse a field (no path), keeping to the NE side of the fence and then cross the River South Esk by a new footbridge – NGR NO 340 719 (NB this bridge is not shown on Landranger O.S. maps), cross a fence by a style and soon arrive near Marchburn cottage (near Inchdowrie House). Continue NW’wards on the B955 road (this road is a “loop part” of the B955 on the other side of the river South Esk). Walk, with care, along this road for about 2km to the Glen Clova Hotel, where our bus will be parked (NGR 327 731).