Braclo one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Braclo here.

A challenging route for experienced walkers, with a fair amount of rough ground and at times no clear path over the highest and most exposed part of the route (from Crow Craigies to the drop into Glen Callater). Map, compass, boots and gaiters are all a good idea. I'm afraid I don't think it's realistically wheelable. Even mountain bikers would be carrying for a few miles, I think.

I had already walked from Kirriemuir to Clova, so by the time I got onto the route itself it was dark and the road was deserted. Glen Clova hotel has a nice, hiker friendly bar for pre walk refreshments.

Navigation is very easy on the road to Glenn Doll, as there are no turn offs. The next time I do this walk I may have a look at the track on the other bank of the River South Esk, which looks like it could be useful during the day if the road is busy.

The ranger station at Glenn Doll car park has toilets and a map with suggested wild camping spots, one of which I stopped at for the night. Stunning location beside the White Water and completely deserted in October, only 5 minutes walk from the facilities.

Most of the marked trails in Glenn Doll are still closed due to storm damage, but following the 'Corrie Fee Trail' from the ranger station allows the route to be completed. Take the left fork and cross the White Water about a mile above the ranger station, then a track which forks right to follow the White Water's left bank about 400m further on. It was well signposted when I was there as a Jock's Road diversion.

At the end of the track follow the clear path upriver to the end of the trees, cross the White Water via a footbridge and then it's a 50m uphill walk to Jock's Road and you can rejoin the Slow Way.

The path from here is uneven and narrow, but very clear as it climbs up Glen Doll. The views back are glorious, in my case confirming that I would be navigating through low cloud at the top of the hills.

Davy's Brouach is just on the left of the path as it leaves Glen Doll and would be a good option for stopping overnight to break the route, but it's a very basic bothy. Above it the path continues to be clear and easy to follow, and traverses the steepest slopes. I was slow but comfortable with a full rucksack of camping gear.

Above Cairn Lunkard the path gets less steep and much fainter. If there's snow on the ground it would become challenging to follow. It turns left for the final slope up to Crow Craigies. I can imagine a stunning view on another day.

From Crow Craigies it is really about finding a route across the boggier bits, as the path disappears at times. But with a compass it was easy enough to stay oriented and arrive at the right spot to drop into the glen. A few aggrieved capercaillies were disturbed by my rambling route.

The most challenging part of the route on this direction is the first part of the descent into Glen Callater. Steep and slippery, even with relatively dry ground. After about half a mile you cross a river and the slope gets less steep and the going easier. Lots of bellowing stags were hidden in the clouds. The path remains narrow and uneven with boggy bits as it follows Callater Burn to and alongside Loch Callater. The Callater Stable bothy at the end of the loch is also an option for an overnight stay, but there could be wild camping options near the loch too.

Just past the loch there's a cottage and the bothy, and on leaving a sign saying not to approach or feed the ponies. From there it's a clear track down the Glen to the main road following the Callater Burn.

There's a faint path above the road which you cross at the end of the fence to head down to the footbridge - the exact route on the Slow Ways app is impassible due to the fence at this point, I think. Across the footbridge and turning left is the last challenging bit of path, it's very narrow at points and with a steep slope down to the river. But it's only 100m before it turns away from the river and uphill to join the military road.

This is an easy track, and then becomes a single track road as it enters Braemar. The only challenge was trying not to herd sheep down it.

The road ends opposite the Fife Arms. I enjoyed my visit to the Flying Stag bar, but if looking for cheap accommodation there's a footbridge 400m before the end of the route which is a short cut to the youth hostel and caravan park. The latter has a camping field and excellent facilities, including a drying room.

The bus stop outside the Fife Arms has regular buses to Aberdeen. When planning my trip I had looked for buses to Clova, but I could only find an on demand service that goes to Dykhead twice a week (still 5 miles from Clova). So it will require planning to get to the Clova end of the route without a lift or a further long walk.

Having said that it's an amazing route, and also a part of the history of of our right to roam. I will be doing it again via a suggestion for an alternative route from Kirriemuir to Clova to properly join it up to public transport.

This is a spectacular but arduous route which should not be attempted without the proper gear, Scotland's weather can turn so fast, Mountaineering Scotland have an excellent website. I split it into two parts, carrying a tent and camping overnight, there are plenty of places to wild camp.

Coming out of Braemar the route starts opposite the Fife Arms up Cluniebank Road onto the Old Military Road, which is really quiet because the main road runs parallel. The road is easy and level and you stay on it for a nice easy 2.25 miles until you come up to a mobile phone mast on your right. On the left at the end of the fence on you turn down a footpath towards the river and turn left along by the river on a small path over a little bridge and then a bigger one over the river and up the other side to the main road.

The car park for Jock's Road is about 100m on your left but it's 100m of an arterial route so you need to have eyes and ears open

At the car park it's a steady climb up a 4x4 track for about 3.5 miles alongside the Callater Burn to Callater Stable Bothy where there is a cafe, well, a man with a kettle who will take your donation for a cuppy. Information on the Bothy can be found on the The Mountain Bothies Association website

Hereon in you are onto footpaths. The path alongside Loch Callater is fine but deteriorates over the next 2 miles of level marsh and bog, there are some stepping stones, but at the foot of the climb to Crow Craigies the path is intermittent at best, good navigation is needed to climb up through the streams to reach the path at the top.

Then it's an easier walk over the top of Crow Craigies on good paths straight on past the storm shelter to the steep climb down Glen Doll.

At the forest Jock's Road itself is still closed due to storm damage. At the start of the trees there is a track turning right down the hill to a footbridge over the river, this takes you onto the Dounault path which rejoins Jock's Road beyond the damaged section, it's all easy forest tracks down to the Ranger Base apart from some debris on the path in places.

From the Ranger Base it's a single track road down to Clova, easy to walk on but Glen Doll is a popular destination and the road twisty so care needs to be taken.

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