Rocks of Solitude (Glen Dye to Edzell)

Date/Time

Date(s) - 15/10/2017
8:00 am - 7:30 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: No
O/S Map Sheet No.: 44 & 45
Grid Ref. Start: 647844
Grid Ref. Finish 600689
Walk (Miles): 14
Walk Hours: 7
Bus Time to Walk:2 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 2 hrs
Departure time from walk: 5:30 p.m.

Walk Notes

Link to Full Album

O.S.Maps 44 and 45 (Ballater & Stonehaven).

N.B. 8.00am start from Aberdeen.

The walk today sees your Club south of Banchory in Glen Dye to soon cross over the hills into Glen Esk to finish at Edzell. Your Club last did this walk in October 2011. Kevin Williams suggested this outing and your committee included in the 2017 Programme. This walk is a through one, so members who require a shorter, or different walk – please indicate your intentions with your committee member in charge of the bus.

We commence our walk on the B974 road, on the north side of the Cairn o’ Mount, near the bridge over the Water of Dye, just beyond the ruin of Spital Cottage (NGR 647 844). From the bus, walk downhill and cross the footbridge over the Water of Dye. Turn left on to the estate road and follow it for about 3 miles to reach Charr Bothy (NGR 616 831). From this bothy, cross the bridge and head south up the east side of the Water of Charr to the head of the glen. Just beyond a ruined cottage, cross the Old Hangy Burn on stepping stones and climb the hillside to the Hill of Remora. Continue to our highest point of the walk – Sturdy Hill (544m). Head southerly, to pick up a wide estate track which descends SW’wards between Craigancash and Maolearn. This track drops down into Glen Esk to emerge on to the unclassified Glen Esk metalled road near Haughend (NGR 580 747). Turn left onto the road and walk (SE’wards) along it for about a mile to where you pass under overhead electricity powerlines. Look out for, and take a path on the right through the trees towards the River North Esk which winds its way for about 1.5miles along the rocky defile known as the “Rocks of Solitude”. This riverside path eventually leads to a door in a wall which exits on to the B966 road beside Gannochy Bridge. Cross the bridge and either (a) follow this road for about a mile into the village of Edzell OR (b) cross the road, just beyond the bridge and pick up a path on the west bank of the river which heads S’wards and eventually leads to a bend in the river where a lane heads upwards towards the outskirts of Edzell’s main street. Our bus will be parked at the carpark near to the public toilets (NGR 600 689).

Walking distance approx. 14 miles

Bus departs from Edzell at 5.30pm.

In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge of the outing should be contacted, if possible, before the police are contacted.

Relevant telephone number for Grampian police is 0845 600 5700 or 999.

Committee member in charge today is Tork Mackenzie

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