Weekend in Glen Clova Friday 20th July 2012

Well its time to pack the car, and set off to Glen Clova in Angus for 3 nights.  A birthday treat from Catriona and Brett, we are staying in the Angus Lodge, complete with hot tub and sauna.  The weather is warm and overcast and we hope for it to improve.  The Clova Beer Festival is on so will drop by that too over the weekend.  Glen Clova is in the area where we have done several walks and we plan on a couple of small walks over the next couple of days. With us is Catriona and Brett, also friends Violet and Tutch.

Lodge is fantastic all pine, lots of space and oh the hot tub just calling us so we with a glass of wine, we all jump in :) before a sauna, tea and trip to beer tent.

Saturday we wake up to sun, have coffee, more hot tub and sauna before breakfast.  Having this all done, we get ready to walk up to Loch Brandy.

Loch Brandy route has been superbly constructed in recent years and enables height to be gained quickly, soon giving good views back down to the hotel and Glen Clova. Seen from here, the glen is split into two contrasting halves, with woodland and a softer landscape down the glen and barer, rockier slopes above its upper end

The path starts behind the lodge and is a steady climb staight away, there are a few people about but path not too busy at the moment. we have done this walk a few times and is quite easy and good for beginners. We had not planned on strenous walking this time as next week we will be doing lots.

The sun has disapeared by now but it's still warm, about 15 °C and it's not too long before we reach the loch.  Catriona and Brett are with us, but we have lost Violet and Tutch who are walking up at a slower pace.  We have a coffee and snack bar as we enjoy the view and wait on the other two.

You could go higher up the snub and complete a circuit which we have done before but that's not on our agenda today.  After Violet and Tutch have a hot drink etc. we head down to where hot tub awaits.

A popular objective in its own right, Loch Brandy is a suprisingly spacious hill-loch cradled in a steep-sided mountain corrie.

The path contains a lot of steps and are quite steep so care is needed when going down as Violet shows.

  

Below you can see cars and tents building up for beer fest. :)

On the way down we meet lots of people including families on their way up, and it does not take long to get back to the lodge.

It is good to get in that hot tub, even when it rains.  

Sunday

On Sunday we wake to nice weather again and it is both Violet and I's birthday, so after presents and breakfast we decide to have a walk up Corrie Fee.

We leave from the Glen Doll car park at the head of Glen Clova where there is a ranger information post and toilets (parking charge).

The forest here is currently being re-developed by the Forestry Commission to increase biodiversity, with the spruce being gradually felled and replaced by native species.  From the car park, we follow the sign for Forest Walks and take the track past the farm at Acharn, keeping left when the track forks.

We keep straight ahead following the signs for Corrie Fee. until soon Jock's Road, the ancient route to Braemar leaves to the right. We won't be following this route today as we have done many trips throughout the years this way.  :)

There are many signs along the path describing the trees, animals, birds and plants to be found in this area.

Violet and Tutch follow us.

We keep straight on when the track leaves to the right and soon the path narrows and heads into the woods.  Catriona and Brett find things to amuse them as they walk



The path winds uphill, crossing a small stream, and then reaches the deer fence at the entrance to Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve.

From this viewpoint you can see the magnificent bowl shape of the corrie, with the waterfall at the back.  If you wanted to go up to the waterfall, you follow the path across the bottom of the corrie.  The bumps are mounds of glacial debris left by the retreating glacier that carved out the corrie.  You may find a large number of rare plants or spot golden eagles and other birds of prey in this area.  At the back of the corrie the well-made path starts to climb steeply, eventually reaching the waterfall. 

But that's not on our plan of today, because it has turned really chilly and blustery we choose to return from here following the outward route after exploring the area.

And anycase there is a hog roast, hot tub and champagne waiting for us. :)