Ballater Walking Festival - Carn Moine An Tighearn And Auchtavan - Moderate Walk - Bridge Street

CARN MOINE AN TIGHEARN and AUCHTAVAN
Moderate Walk

Depart from Green Hut Ballater at 9am by bus. Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Approximate Distance 18.5km
Approximate Ascent 500m
Approximate Walking Time 6 hours
Landranger Map no. - 36

DESCRIPTION
Starting just west of Crathie, this lovely walk climbs steadily onto the heather moorland of Carn Moine an Tighearn, reaching its rocky cairn at 643m. The path continues on a good track above the peat bogs of Monaltrie Moss, which are currently undergoing restoration. Passing through a newly installed gated deer fence, we continue under the shoulder of Cullardoch, rising majestically to the northwest, enjoying fine views down the sweep of Glen Fearder, before turning and crossing the Fearder Burn. The return route brings us to Auchtavan, an abandoned clachan (subsistence farming community) from around the mid 16th century. Here we can explore the buildings, including one used as the late Queen Mothers picnic cottage, with impressive views of Lochnagar. The track then leads back through birch woodlands and farmland to our collection point at Inver.

TERRAIN
Predominantly on good Land Rover tracks, one section a little rubbly. The possibility of a couple of small burn crossings, where poles may be useful.