couple of additional chairs. The hearth has been carefully reconstructed and sports a rare ‘swee ’ – a pot stand on a swinging arm – an interesting piece of ironmongery commissioned by a former MBA maintenance officer from an Inverness blacksmith. Note: The two most practical approaches to Maol Bhuidhe are from the W but be aware that the bothy is protected on 3 sides by water. Delays or detours in times of spate must be factored in: crossing fast-flowing currents is risky and there is no prospect of rescue should you get into difficulties. After heavy rain, even the final stream crossing on Route 2, just before the bothy, can be challenging. Ben Dronaig Lodge (p87) is a useful staging-post if the weather unexpectedly deteriorates.
ROUTE 1 Follow the metalled road as it turns first L and then R, away from the entrance to the gardens, and along the glen to the holiday cottages at Strathan. Then take the vehicle track,
widened for heavy vehicle use, up
should be taken when crossing the
the steep slope to Loch an Droighinn,
river before the final stretch up to the
skirting the edge of a forestry
bothy. The best fording point is just
plantation. Continue up a series
before the confluence of the main
of zig-zags to a broad bealach just
channel and the Allt a’ Chreachail
beyond the outflow of Loch na Caillich.
Mhòir, which runs down past Maol
From here it is straight down into the
Bhuidhe from Aonach Buidhe to the S.
Strath Feith á Mhadaich, before the track loops round the valley floor and,
DISTANCE 12½ miles
after another half a mile, continuing
TIME 4 hours
on to Ben Dronaig Lodge. Pass it and Allt Coire na Sorna before turning E
TERRAIN Challenging. Tracks, established paths and faint trails. Up to 350m
up round to Loch Calavie. Take a faint
PARKING Attadale (NG 923 386)
walk over a rickety bridge or ford the
path R a little beyond the main body of
98 The Scottish Bothy Bible
water, crossing the Allt Loch Calavie by
ROUTE 2
a new wooden footbridge, which has
From Camas-luinie, continue on
replaced two precarious wires, before
past the end of the tarmac, through
contouring down across some tough
a locked gate and along the S bank
pathless moorland to Loch Cruoshie,
of the River Elchaig to an estate
and the wide River Ling. Extreme care
cottage. Cross the bridge to the