Walk This Wayne: Mayar and Driesh

Gaelic meaning :Obscure Hill
Height : 3,062 feet
Walk distance : 9 miles
OS Map : Lochnagar
Difficulty rating : 4

Gaelic meaning : Thorn Bush
Height : 3,107 feet
Difficulty rating : 1 (when both are climbed together)

High time for another Munro (or two) I figured and as I was feeling adventurous I thought I'd go for an area I've never been to before, so where better than the Cairngorms.

The Cairngorms, or to give them their ancient name - Am Monadh Ruadh (the red hills), are Scotlands largest and most famous range of mountains. Given national park status in 2003 it's an area that contains 5 of the 6 highest mountains in the U.K. (Ben Macdhui, Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgor An Lochain Uaine & Cairn Gorm). Mayar and Driesh, although well short of these lofty heights are a popular walk due to their location, they are described as Dundee's Ben Lomond. The day I chose to head up couldn't have been better, bright blue skies, wind free and nice and warm, perfect for walking.

Park at the Glen Doll car park a couple of miles further along the B955. You have to pay for parking here (£2) and there is a ranger station where you can leave details of the walk you take on route cards, if you run into any trouble the rangers will know you are late and will send out the search party if you fail to return. Handy to know ! To start the walk head past the Ranger station and follow the signs for the woodland walks, you'll soon come to a fork in the road beside some farm buildings, take the road that forks left then follow signs for the Corrie Fee. The road will then fork again, with the road heading of along the ancient Jock's Road to the right, stay on the main path.

Continuing on the main path the forest gives way to open ground and the magnificent Corrie Fee. I was completely taken by surprise by the size of the Corrie, it's really is incredible. After a 5 minute rest and a chance to take in the surroundings follow the path up the steep side of the Corrie.

You can see the retun route down Corrie Kilbo on the way towards Corrie Fee.

Although the path is fine it does get a bit lost on this section and it is pretty steep so care should be taken, especially as it's a busy mountain and it's a single person track. Once at the top, stop and take it all in.

There is a faint path heading SW to the summit of Mayar, follow this and the cairn will soon come into view. From here you have expansive view including the Lomond Hills in Fife, Beinn A' Ghlo in Perth, Lochnagar etc. etc. Plenty to see. When you are ready follow the fence posts toward Driesh.

On the way you can see the return path head diagonally down Corrie Kilbo, head over the bealach and onto the final ascent on Driesh. Once climbed head back to the path down Corrie Kilbo and start the long descent.

Soon you'll be back in the forest where the path, although fine isn't quite as high quality as previously.

I really enjoyed this walk, it was far tougher than I thought but it was my first Munro's of the year and my old legs weren't quite as fit as I'd thought. I've plenty of other excuses also but i'll stick with that one. If you can make your way up to Am Monadh Ruadh I'd recommend these hills, fairly easy but very rewarding, just for Corrie Fee alone !