SCO-155-White Bridge-Glen Brown-Glen Avon Circuit

Waypoints

(1). Start walk at White Bridge car-park(57.27072; -3.43911). https://w3w.co/free.rotations.forksThe walk starts and ends at the small White Bridge car-parking area, approximately 5.75 km from Tomintoul, on the left, off the A939 road to Grantown, just before it descends to Bridge of Brown. After checking out the Glenlivet Estate information board, with your back to the board, turn left and cross the busy road with care. Walk downhill on the road verge*.

Note: Do not follow the waymark sign for the Glen Brown Circuit which takes you uphill on a grassy track, with trees on your left side. We have reversed the direction of the route from that described by the Glenlivet Estate walks guide. Please be aware that the only small disadvantage of our anti-clockwise route is that the arrows on the way-marking posts are on the “wrong” side of the post, but this is readily allowed for.

(2). Cross road and right - down grassy path(57.26620; -3.45022). https://w3w.co/calculating.spenders.luringIn about 900 m, at the bottom of the hill, just before the road bends sharply to the right, cross the road with care, and pass a waypoint post as you leave the road to walk downhill on a narrow grassy path. Soon, you arrive at a t-junction where you turn left, with the Burn of Brown on your right side. Keep following the path. In about 350 m, cross a stile to enter a conifer plantation. In another 200 m, cross another stile to emerge out of the plantation onto open hillside, with the Burn of Brown a little further away below you now. Be aware that you may encounter farm livestock. Keep walking gently uphill on the rough path. You will see the abandoned crofts of Midtown and then Curr on the other side of the Burn before arriving at a gate into a grassy field where there are likely to be sheep. Go through the gate, closing it carefully behind you. Walk towards the ruins of Tombreck croft ahead of you. (891 m).

(3). Left and uphill at Tombreck ruins(57.25641; -3.44320). https://w3w.co/snowballs.sympathy.seasonIn 1.2 km, arriving at the fenced-in (unsafe). ruins of the croft, turn left to walk uphill for about 100 m towards a waymarking post standing out clear, in the middle area of the field. At the post, veer right and continue in a SE direction, very gently uphill, towards another waymarking post in the field, close to a broken down fence. (2.1 km).

(4). Continue in a SE direction and uphill at way-post(57.25523; -3.43949). https://w3w.co/genius.jubilant.halfIn 300 m, at the second waymarking post in the field, continue gently uphill in a SE direction. The grassy track you are on becomes a little more distinct as, in about 70 m, it leaves the field to continue onwards on a clear track with heather, now, on either side. (2.4 km).

(5). Through gate and follow field perimeter down to rough road(57.25380; -3.43465). https://w3w.co/path.pints.serenadeIn 400 m, just after catching a glimpse of Tomintoul in the distance, the track bends towards a field gate by a forestry plantation. Go through the gate, closing it carefully behind you. Check out the Glenlivet Estate information board then continue onwards, following the indistinct path as it soon heads downhill through the grassy pasture, with the forestry plantation fairly close on your left side. (2.8 km).

(6). Left on rough road - signed for Tomintoul(57.25070; -3.43300). https://w3w.co/nitrogen.wiggling.strongmanIn 300 m, you will arrive at a signed t-junction on a rough estate road. The ruins of Stronachavie Croft are just visible, close by on your right side. Turn left here to follow the estate road through mature conifers in the direction marked for Tomintoul. (3.1 km).

(7). Right at t-junction on forest roads(57.25830; -3.41719). https://w3w.co/publish.occupations.loadersIn 1.3 km, arriving at a t-junction, with the houses at Torrans close by on your right side, go right and continue following the estate road. (4.4 km).

(8). Left off forest road and over small wooden bridge onto woodland path(57.26132; -3.41548). https://w3w.co/warnings.sensitive.handsIn 400 m, go left off the forest road and over a small wooden bridge onto a path through the trees (may be signed for Pine Yurt). . You will keep following the narrow path gently uphill and through trees and open areas, then heather and juniper bushes, for 1.7 km, passing over stiles at various points. There are a couple of small benches on the later part of this section which afford good views down to Glen Avon. Ignore the signed diversion to the cairn on the top of Tom Beag (unless you are feeling particularly energetic!). . (4.8 km).

(9). Left and uphill on grassy section of Old Military Road(57.27091; -3.42815). https://w3w.co/sedated.constrain.soccerIn 1.7 km, at a waymarked post, drop down a low bank and off the path you are on, to join a grassy section of the Old Military Road*, with a white cottage and the modern A939 road below you. Go left and uphill, soon passing a forestry plantation on your right side. Follow the old road uphill as it bends uphill, passing over a stile along the way. There are some great views up Glen Avon behind you to enjoy when you stop for a 'breather'. Not long after crossing the stile, the road goes over the shoulder of the hill and starts to go gently downhill towards your starting point, with open hillside on your left and trees on your right. (6.5 km).

*Note: the Coupar Angus-Braemar-Corgarff-Fort George Military Road built in the mid to late 18th Century.

(10). Finish walk back at White Bridge car-park(57.27075; -3.43899). https://w3w.co/free.rotations.forksIn 700 m, you will have arrived back at your start point in the little White Bridge car-park, by the main A939 road. (7.2 km).