The Bochel Circuit, Glenlivet Estate

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
10 kms	04:00 (hrs:mins)	0 metres	Explorers 419: Grantown-on-Spey & Hills of Cromdale and 420: Coreen Hills & Glenlivet

Description

From the Tombae quarry and car park, follow the public road south-eastwards to Tombae house. Leave the road and cross the stile at the gate, following the farm track downhill through the trees, and cross the River Livet at a metal bridge. Turn westwards and cross the Crombie water at a wooden bridge. Continue south eastwards at the edge of the farm fields, following the bank of the Crombie, to another footbridge over the river, south of the Tullich. This bridge marks the junction of the paths which circle the Bochel. To follow the clockwise route, cross the footbridge and head up through the birch trees to join the track in the woods. Follow this track south-eastwards until you emerge from the trees, then continue in the same direction across the open heather moor at the base of the steep north side of the Bochel, where attractive birch woodland is gradually recolonising the hillside. Cross the shoulder between Carn Tullich and the Bochel, then continue south eastwards alongside a hill fence to the point where route 10 merges with Walk 3 above the Glack farmhouse. Here the view opens up into the Braes of Glenlivet, an area steeped in stories of whisky smuggling. Continue southwards along the track which merges with numerous sheep walks as it skirts the base of the hill. Though open and exposed this is sheep and cattle country, encompassed by the heather clad slopes of the Ladder Hills. Just before the cottage of Badievochel, at the junction of several farm tracks, turn westwards and follow the track which leads to the Bochel wood plantation. Follow the path westward, through the plantation turning northwards to join the Braes road after crossing the Crombie Water. Turn right onto the main road and continue past the Kirkie - a small cottage at a sharp bend of the road, originally built as a place of worship for the Protestant residents. As the road crosses a bridge just the other side of the bend, turn right at a gate and follow the farm track, which passes an old millers cottage, before turning northwards. Continue along this path through two gates until you reach a third metal gate about 250m before the track reaches the ruins of Delhandy. Turn right before the metal gate, leave the track and head downhill towards the Crombie, following the marked path which leads back to the footbridge near the Tullich, completing the circuit. Return to the car park along the path through the fields along the south west bank of the Crombie Water to Tombae farmhouse, then back along the road to the quarry.