Falls of Damff
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 17 kms | 06:00 (hrs:mins) | 420 metres | Landranger 44 Ballater & Glen Clova |
Description
Just north of Edzell, a fifteen-mile road climbs alongside the River North Esk to form Glen Esk, the longest and most easterly of the Angus glens and, like the others, sparsely populated.
Glenesk is set in a wonderful landscape of moorland, native woodland, plantations, enclosed arable land and rough pasture, high ground with cliffs, corries and Mount Keen, the most easterly Munro on the north boundary between the Counties of Angus and Aberdeenshire. Loch Lee, at Invermark, is particularly striking.
The hills may look empty and bare to the casual visitor, but they are carefully managed. Heather burning and vermin control play important roles in a well run estate and the resulting beautiful countryside is a testament to how well farmers and game keepers look after Glenesk. The moors are important for grouse, red deer and sheep and support a wide range of flora and fauna.
Conifer plantations and native broad leaved woodland are an integral part of the landscape of Glenesk (Glen of the Rowans). Most of the woods are predominately of birch, but many of the trees are now old. Steps are now being taken, with some areas being fenced, off to exclude grazing animals and allow regeneration of the birch wood.
Leave the car park and head westwards, past the historic ruin of Invermark Castle and soon you will see Loch Lee with Lochlee Churchyard on its shores.
Invermark Castle was built in the 1300's and built to guard the southern end of the strategic pass leading from Deeside. In 1607 the castle was used as a refuge by Lord Edzell's son who was in hiding after murdering Lord Spynie in Edinburgh.
The ruined church at Lochlee was probably built no earlier than 1645, as at that date the previous church was burnt to the ground by the Marquis of Montrose and his soldiers who had taken refuge in Glenesk. Part of an earlier building has been found, built into the east wall of the Church. Mr. John Scott, minister at Lochlee and Mr. David Rose, clergyman to the Episcopalians who worshipped at the Church on the Rowan during the time of the 1745 rebellion were bitterly opposed to each other.
There are many interesting gravestones in Lochlee graveyard particularly that of Alexander Ross who was known throughout Scotland in the 18th century for his poems and stories in the Scots dialect. Continue along the north shore of Loch Lee for four kilometres to cross the Water of Lee and head towards the Falls of Unich.
This waterfall is well worth a quick diversion for a closer look, although care must be taken when the conditions are wet and the burn is in spate. Over the centuries the water has carved a bowl into the rock which can be viewed with just a little scrambling involved.
There is then a fairly steep climb, past an interesting outcrop of mica schist, to reach the Falls of Damff.
The schists form a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas.
Cross the bridge just past the Falls and head for Cairn Lick where a good Land Rover track is joined before heading downhill to Inchgrundle and returning to the car park by the north shore of Loch Lee.
This area is full of all the wildlife that you would expect to find in the Scottish Highlands but is particularly well known for its adders and the rare ring ouzel.
From Lick there are outstanding views over Loch Lee and down Glen Esk.
The monument that can be seen, further down the glen on Rowan Hill is the Rowan Tower, properly called the Maule Cairn and was built in 1866 by Fox Maule, 11the Earl of Dalhousie. It was erected as a memorial to members of his family who had died, including his brother Lauderdale Maule, M.P., who died of cholera during the Crimean War. It was built by Robert Dinnie of Birse, who also built a bridge at Gleneffock and helped to build the Maule Memorial Church.
The tower stands 50 feet high and 38 feet in diameter, and was largely rebuilt in 1887 after a slip. This work was done by Stewart Porter of Cuttlehaugh, who was an apprentice to Robert Dinnie.
