Dùn da Lamh hillfort and the Black Wood from Pattack Falls, Laggan

The walk starts at the Pattack Falls car park on the A86 west of Laggan and goes round in a loop. A footway and path lead from the car park to a forest track, which climbs the hillside in zigzags to the foot of a ridge path, 2.3 km from the start. The path follows the ridge for 2.1 km through old Scots pines, over the top of the ridge (562 m at 3.2 km, the high point of the walk), and on to the ruined hillfort of Dùn-da-Lamh on its rocky knoll, 4.7 km from the start. The Cairngorms National Park Authority's Laggan leaflet calls the fort iron-age, built around 2,000 years ago, and describes views from it south-west towards Loch Laggan, north-west towards the Corrieyairack Pass and north-east towards the Cairngorms. The way back goes down the east side of the hill by a path and forest tracks to the car park.

It is 8.8 km (5.5 miles) with 349 m (1,145 ft) of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Moderate: the tracks are firm and the climb is steady, spread over the first 3 km, with a short steeper stretch at the fort.

Most of the way is in a working forest with mountain bike trails beside and across the track: OpenStreetMap maps several as one-way cycleways, so keep to the track and watch for riders at the crossings. At Pattack Falls, a short way from the car park, Forestry and Land Scotland asks visitors to stay on the stone path and viewing area and not to cross the barrier, and says overnight parking, camping, fires and barbecues are not allowed in the car park. A Cairngorms National Park byelaw bans fires and barbecues from 1 April to 30 September.

The Pattack Falls car park is free (OpenStreetMap: no fee).

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.