Loch Brandy Walk

3.1 miles (5 km)

This walk in Glen Clova visits the lovely Loch Brandy.
The walk starts from the car park in Clova. Cross the road from here and you can pick up a well defined footpath running north to the loch. It's a steady climb, running for about 1.5 miles to the waterside. The pretty loch is surrounded by steep hills and is a really stunning sight.
There are paths running up and around the water as well. These give great views back down to the water but are more challenging than the relatively easy path up to the loch.
To continue your walking in Glen Clova, head a few miles north west to the wonderful Corrie Fee Nature Reserve. The area is rich with wildlife and also includes beautiful alpine flowers with rare mountain willows clinging to the steep crags of the bowl shaped valley. You can reach the reserve by following a country lane north west from the car park on our Glen Clova Walk. It's a nice 3 mile hike, with views of the River South Esk and finishing at the pretty Glendoll picnic area.
A few miles to the north there are more nice waterside trails around Loch Muick and the challenging climb to Lochnagar.

Postcode

DD8 4QS - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Loch Brandy Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map

Loch Brandy Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

Loch Brandy OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Loch Brandy Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Glen Clova Hotel is a nice place for refreshments after your walk. The hotel is in a wonderful location with great views to enjoy from the outdoor seating area. There's a great menu and a walkers bar where dogs are welcome.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

A few miles to the north west there's Loch Callater where there's a rugged circular trail to try. You can follow a section of the Jocks Road along the scenic loch.
Head into nearby Ballater and you could pick up the popular 7 Bridges Walk. The circular walk explores the area around the town visiting a series of old bridges.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cairngorms Walks page.