Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts at the car park near Achlean in Glen Feshie and goes out and back. It follows the glen road and then tracks and paths along the east side of the River Feshie, through pinewood that is regenerating, to Ruigh Aiteachain bothy, 6.2 km from the start. Return the same way.
It is 12.4 km with 120 m of ascent; allow about 3½ hours. The grade is Moderate: the going is gentle on tracks and paths, but the burns on the way have no bridges, and three of them have to be forded. They are usually straightforward, but they can be hard or impossible to cross after heavy rain or snowmelt, and each has to be crossed again to get home.
Ruigh Aiteachain is an open shelter for walkers; Glenfeshie Estate owns it and Wildland looks after it. The Cairngorms National Park's bylaws ban campfires and barbecues from 1 April to 30 September. Glen Feshie has no row in the Heading for the Scottish Hills table, so in autumn be prepared to follow local guidance if stalking is under way.
The car park is free (OpenStreetMap lists no charge). The nearest station, Kingussie, is about 10 km away in a straight line.
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.
Good to know
- Up the east side of Glen Feshie through regenerating Caledonian pinewood to a bothy beside the river
- Ruigh Aiteachain is an open shelter for walkers, owned by Glenfeshie Estate and looked after by Wildland
- Burns to ford on the way, which can be hard or impossible to cross after heavy rain
- Low-level walking for such big country, 12 km there and back with about 100 m of climb
Getting there
Start: Achlean car park, Glen Feshie · Free parking. 57.06325, -3.89711
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Achlean car park: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.