Invermark Circular – Mount Keen

Date/Time

Date(s) - 06/07/2025
8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: If Time Permits
O/S Map Sheet No.: 44
Grid Ref. Start: 448 804
Grid Ref. Finish 448 804
Walk (Miles): 13
Walk Hours: 7
Bus Time to Walk:2.5 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 2.5 hrs
Departure time from walk: 5:30 pm

Walk Notes

On this walk your club visits the nearest Munro to Aberdeen, Mount Keen. This is also the most Easterly Munro.

Walk 1 – Mount Keen

1. Leave the car park heading West, past the church on your right and take the right hand path that goes by the House of Mark
2. Head up Glen Mark following the river to the Queen’s Well (NGR 420 828).
3. Continue on past Glen Mark cottage and climb up the path alongside the Ladder Burn.
4. At about NGR 405 852 this path splits. Take the right hand path and follow it to the summit of Mount Keen.
5. From the top either retrace your steps or go east from the summit to wards Braid Cairn , Naked Hill and eventually Hill of Gairney (756m).
6. Descend SE’wards to reach a wide track which is followed southwards over Hill of Saughs, Hill of Kirny and the west shoulder of Badalair (536m).
7. This wide track leads back eventually S’wards to the carpark at Invermark.

Walking distance approx. 12 miles or 13.5 miles returning via Hill of Gairney

Download file: t313454520_invermark-circular-mount.gpx

Walk 2 – Balnamoons Cave

A there and back again walk to find Balnamoon’s Cave where the Earl of Balnamoon hid from the English for over a year after fleeing from the Battle of Culloden. There are some burn crossings with no bridge which may be an issue if there has been heavy rain overnight. Alternative walks should be discussed with the person in charge but one example could be along Loch Lee to the Falls of Damff.

1. Leave the car park heading West, past the church on your right and take the right hand path that goes by the House of Mark
2. Head up Glen Mark following the river to the Queen’s Well (NGR 420 828).
3. Don’t head North up the Mount Keen hill road with the walk 1 group but instead head NW up the glen.
4. Cross the Ladder Burn and then further on look for a point to safely ford the Water of Mark. Note: if it is not safe to cross you should just stay on the North side of the river but wont be able to enter the cave as it is on the South side.
5. Closely follow the Water of Mark along the glen
6. There will eventually be a grassy area with a large boulder sitting on its own which is where the cave is part way up the hill on the South side. The cave should be at NGR 396833 and is a thin slit entrance with a large boulder on top. You can see a photo of the cave entrance halfway down the page at this persons blog
7. Once you have found the cave you can head a few hundred metres further up the glen to see some waterfalls.
8. Return path is the same way walked in.

Download file: t315181426_balnamoons-cave.gpx

Note: Bus departs car park at Invermark at 5:30 pm.

The above notes are for guidance only and are intended as an aid to be used along with a map and compass and/or a GPS device. In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge today should be notified, if possible, before the emergency services are contacted on 999. The Committee Member in charge of today’s walk is Mo Ironside – 07845 293258.

Cancellations/Waiting List: It is important to contact Gilbert (Mobile number 07807240817) if you cannot attend & have to cancel your booking. The bus is often fully booked which means any cancelled seats can be re-allocated to those persons on a waiting list. Anyone unsuccessful in booking a seat should contact Gilbert who will put them on a waiting list.

Bookings