Carn Daimh from Tomnavoulin

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
8.5 kms	4 hours	570 metres	Explorer 419: Grantown-on-Spey & Hills of Cromdale

Description

Follow the forest road from the car park for about 50m, then turn left and take the waymarked path through the trees, following the forest boundary fence to a stile. Leave the plantation and continue straight on in a south easterly direction along the Westertown farm road, ignoring the right track which leads to Easter Corrie farmhouse. The farm road follows the Alt a'Choire burn past Westertown, then through a narrow belt of conifers to the ruins of Craighead. As you emerge from the plantation, leave the burn and head almost due south, uphill through the field. Join the track which leads to the plantation ahead, cross the stile into the forest then follow the road through the trees to the point where route 5 joins the Tomintoul Spur of the Speyside Way (a signpost marks the junction of several paths). The track continues straight on and eventually leads to Tomintoul - this was the old road between Tomintoul and Tomnavoulin. Turn right at the signpost (westwards towards Ballindalloch), and follow the Speyside Way, along a peaty path through the trees, which then emerges from the forest and continues to the summit of Carn Daimh ('Dye') 570m, 1866 ft. To the west and south the Cairngorms and hills of Strathspey dominate the scene, eastwards the rounded Ladder Hills fill the horizon. The remote glens of Glenfiddich and Blackwater Forest can be picked out beyond the wide open bowl of the Suie, through which the river Livet meanders on its journey to Strathavon. Tomnavoulin and the starting point of the walk can be seen way below, while the conical shape of Ben Rinnes completes the panorama. Leaving the summit, head northwards along the Speyside Way keeping to the eastern edge of the forest plantation. Not far from the top, a track (marked by a signpost) heads due east down across the hillside to rejoin the route of ascent near Westertown farmhouse. To follow route 5, continue northwards past the signpost, to the NE corner of the plantation. Turn right at the corner and follow the fence eastwards through the heather. About 50m from the edge of the wood, the Speyside Way continues northwards. Leave the Speyside Way and continue alongside the fence, following it over the flat shoulder of Carn Liath. The path gradually becomes more distinct and at the high point of the shoulder passes some solitary pine trees. Continue alongside the fence as it drops down the other side of the hill until you reach an old gate. At the old gate, head diagonally down the hill along the indistinct track eastwards to the gap in the plantation encircling Lynebeg farmhouse. From here follow the farm track which skirts the northern edge of the woods, before crossing an open field to join the forest road in the Clash wood, which leads back to the car park.

Access Info

Start and finish at Clash Wood car park, Tomnavoulin, GR 208265.

Additional Info

A steady ascent along farm, forest and hill tracks to an outstanding viewpoint (570m). Return across moorland. Exposed. Dogs permitted (on leads when passing through livestock).