Glen Banvie and the Falls of Bruar

Walk distance : 10 miles
Total ascent : 1,247 feet
OS Map : Pitlochry
Difficulty rating : 1.5 out of 5
 
Another of Blair Atholl's fine day walks takes you through a mixture of woodland, forestry and open moorland. Towards the end you are rewarded with the incredible Falls of Bruar. Steeped in history, this walk is fairly easy going and well signposted, a great way to wile away 4-5 hours.

Starting from the car park at Old Blair follow the orange arrows towards the Hamlet of Old Blair. A really picturesque little place I didn't expect to find, tucked away in St Brides Kirk, a fascinating peice of Scottish history. Namely the grave of John Graham of Claverhouse, more commonly known as Bonnie Dundee. If you want to find out more about him I'd recommend the Bealach na Searmoin and Killiecrankie walk.

Once you've left the leafy hamlet you'll soon cross the Banvie Burn and enter the Banvie woods.

Not far into the woods you'll come a cross a sign for "The Whim" a folly built by one of the Dukes of Atholl.

The Whim is at a stage on the walk which makes it a natural and great place to stop for a rest, you're afforded great views back to Blair Castle and beyond.

After returning to the path and following it through the woods you'll soon exit and enter the bleak but atmospheric Glen Banvie. Follow the vehicle trackpassing the distant cairns off to the right.

 I didn't pass a single soul here until I reached the pine trees near the end of the Glen.

When your heading up the Glen you'll notice a track on the other side, this path will take you to Beinn Dearg. At 3,307 feet it's not a monster, but it's fairly remote and is an 18 mile round trip, so definitely one for another day. Continue on through the Pine plantation and start heading downhill, you'll soon reach the sign for the Falls of Bruar.

I'd recommend making time to see these wonderful falls. Once rested and fed continue on until you reach your original starting point.

Hard to believe that until around 300 years ago there were no tree's here at all!

The first tourists complained the falls were nothing spectacular and too bleak, so the Earl of Atholl planted trees, millions of them.

Here's the route profile :

And the route itself :