Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/09/2013All Day
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: Yes O/S Map Sheet No.: 36 and 37 Grid Ref. Start: 242210 Grid Ref. Finish 353131 Walk (Miles): 10 Walk Hours: 5 Bus Time to Walk:2.5 Bus Time from Walk: 2 Departure time from walk: 15:30Walk Notes
Our walk today traverses the hills and moors from the Braes of Glenlivet, over the Ladder Hills to Bellabeg in the Donside Valley. This walk is one of many trails used by whisky smugglers in the latter half of the 18th century, when a series of Government imposed whisky taxes led to a high level of illicit distilling. The remote nature of the Glenlivet area was perfect for this purpose and up to 200 illegal stills were thought to be operating at the peak of production. In order to move this cargo, a number of renowned smugglers created secret paths through the forests and glens. Today’s walk follows one of these historic routes.
Because this walk is a through-route, any member(s) who require(s) a shorter walk would have to travel to the finishing point with the bus and do their own thing in the Strathdon area. This is possible, so if any member(s) should require a shorter walk, please advise your committee member in charge of the bus so that early discussions can take place with the driver.
The walk commences in Chapeltown of Glenlivet, (NGR 242 210), where an unclassified road heads SE’wards towards East Auchavich and then E’wards towards Ladderfoot, passing Corry and Corrunich. At about NGR 265 206, cross the Ladder Burn and follow it SE’wards ascending steadily into the Ladder Hills. At a col, (NGR 281 192), on the NE side of Dun Muir (754m) continue SE’wards, ignoring a path on your left heading NE’wards towards Little Geal Charn (742m). Your path descends steadily into the Strathdon side of the Ladder Hills. Ignore tracks to your left and right and continue SE’wards towards Duffdefiance, passing the east side of Finlate Hill (617m). Pick up a track entering the forest heading firstly SE’wards and then E’wards towards Aldachuie and Firs Cott, but before reaching Torrancroy, cross the Water of Nochty bridge and head S’wards. Follow this path southwards on the west side of the Water of Nochty, passing the ruin of Corriebreck, Ledmacay farm and Lost farm before joining a tarmac unclassified road and eventually reaching the village of Bellabeg, on the A944, where our bus will be parked at a convenient place near NGR 353 131.