Loch Brandy – A Dark Corrie Loch above Glen Clova
About 3.4 miles on foot.
Loch Brandy is a round, dark loch held in a bowl of crags nearly 2,000 feet up, right above the hotel at Clova.
The path to it is short and unrelentingly uphill, with the whole of Glen Clova opening out behind you as you climb. It's about 5.5 km there and back, and it's a hill walk that needs boots and a clear day.
- Time
- Two and a half to three and a half hours: about 5.5 km (3.5 miles) there and back by Walkhighlands' figure, with about 410 metres of climbing. A short, steep hill walk.
- The path
- A built hill path, steep, with large stone steps.
- Where to start
- The Milton of Clova car park, by the Glen Clova Hotel on the B955. Check the signs for any charge. The hotel's own car park is for its guests.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 11am to be down in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight and clear weather. From November to January set off by 11am. Under snow or ice, only with winter kit and skill.
- Dogs
- Welcome, on a lead among the sheep.
- Children
- A steep climb for children used to hills. The water is deep and cold.
- Toilets
- Public toilets beside the car park at Clova.
- Before you set out
- A hill walk to nearly 2,000 feet: under snow or ice it needs winter kit and skill. The estate stalks deer, with hinds from 21 October to 15 February.
The walk
The walk starts from the Milton of Clova car park, by the Glen Clova Hotel where the B955 reaches Clova. Check the signs for any charge, and leave the hotel's own car park to its guests. There are public toilets beside the car park. Walkhighlands gives the walk as 5.5 km there and back, with about 410 metres of climbing, and allows two and a half to three and a half hours. It's short but steep, on a built path with big stone steps low down, climbing the open hillside straight above the glen. Loch Brandy lies in a corrie nearly 2,000 feet up, a dark round loch with crags curving behind it.
Most people sit by the water for a while and come down the way they went up. The path that carries on round the rim above the crags is rougher and more exposed. The water is deep and very cold. Dogs are welcome, on a lead among the sheep. The Glen Clova Estate stalks deer on these hills, and hinds are in season from 21 October to 15 February, so follow any sign at the start and keep to the path. This is a hill walk, so take boots, waterproofs, a map and something warm, and choose a clear day.
From November to January, set off by 11am. Under snow or ice it becomes a winter hill day for people with the kit and the skill, and one to leave for spring otherwise. The hotel serves food to walkers. Ring 01575 550350 to check before you count on it.
If it rains
The path is open hillside from bottom to top and the loch disappears in low cloud. In rain or mist, keep this one for a clear day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Tommy Wallace (TamTheArab) via Google