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This itinerary
may be subject to change due to weather conditions or for
seasonal land management reasons. In doing so, we will always
endeavour to maintain or enhance the quality of your holiday.
SUNDAY
After meeting at St Bridget Farm, you will be introduced to our
horses and there will be an opportunity to discuss the weeks
programme. Riders will then be assessed in our outdoor riding
arena and matched to the most suitable horse. Leaving Tomintoul
along the old military road we ride to Glenmulliach Forest.
After a picnic lunch we follow forestry tracks and start
climbing before opening out onto moorland towards the summit of
Breac Leathad. Here the panorama shows most of the area covered
during the rest of the week and dramatic views of the Cairngorm
mountains enjoyed. We descend through the forest back to
Tomintoul.
MONDAY
Heading out to the north-west today, our route takes us through
farm and woodland before descending to cross the river Avon
(pronounced A’an). Our route takes us through forestry, past
Kilnadrochit Lodge before opening out into Glen Brown. This
valley was in the past well populated, despite its isolation,
but now all that remains of this community are the deserted
ruins of once thriving crofts. Leaving Glen Brown, we cross the
main Tomintoul-Grantown road and stop for lunch at the Bridge of
Brown Tearoom. After lunch we enter Glen Lochy- riding along the
waterside in this extremely peaceful valley birdsong and the
river flow are the only sounds. Leaving Glen Lochy we follow the
Avon valley before returning to Tomintoul via hill and forest
tracks.
TUESDAY
We set out to the north of Tomintoul following the Speyside Way,
riding through upland farmland and over open moor. Weather
permitting, our route takes in the summit of Cairn Daimh, (Hill
of the Stags) at 1,866 ft. above sea level, this magnificent if
somewhat exposed viewpoint provides a 360 degree panorama of the
Tomintoul and Glenlivet area and beyond. Our descent takes us
into Glenlivet, home of the world famous “The Glenlivet” malt
whisky. We arrive at the distillery for lunch and time is
available for a guided tour and sampling of the product (in
moderation please!). Suitably refreshed, our return takes us
over the shoulder of Carn Liath and through forestry plantations
to return to Tomintoul along the Conglass valley.
WEDNESDAY
We leave the village heading north through farmland and pine
forest, with the opportunity to see Fallow Deer, Soay Sheep (a
rare semi-wild Scottish breed) and sometimes Reindeer which are
farmed in this deserted glen. We descend through birch woods to
the River Avon where we stop for a picnic lunch by the waters
edge. After lunch we climb a secluded heather covered valley.
Here there are remnants of ancient Caledonian pine forest and to
the north the spectacular views over lower Avonside open to the
less rugged farmland of the Spey valley. We descend through pine
woods and return to Tomintoul along the Conglass valley.
THURSDAY
This route takes us east out of the village with long canters
through pine forests emerging into the Braes of Glenlivet. We
ride on through farmland to a secluded valley where many of the
farms and crofts are now deserted, over moorland and descend
through birch woods towards Tomnavoulin. After a picnic lunch we
ride through farmland and pine woods to the shoulder of Cairn
Ellick where a spectacular view of Tomintoul and the Cairngorm
Mountains unfolds. Our descent is over moorland and farmland and
follows the Conglass valley back to Tomintoul.
FRIDAY
Heading south-west out of Tomintoul our route takes us past
Glenmulliach forest before climbing over open moorland and
descending into the hill-farming area of the Braes of Glenlivet.
We stop for a picnic lunch at the Scalan- from 1717 -1799 this
was a college for training Roman Catholic priests and played a
vital role in keeping the traditional Catholic faith alive in
northern Scotland. The present house dates back to 1767. Our
return route takes us past the Braes of Glenlivet distillery,
through farmland and forest tracks with fine views over
Tomintoul with the backdrop of the Cairngorms on our descent to
the village. |
