Heritage Path of the Month.
Old Drove Road from Tomintoul to Invercauld is our Heritage Path of the Month for April 2025, click here to view the details
More about Old Drove Road from Tomintoul to Invercauld:
From 200m east of Invercauld Bridge (A93), go north along the minor road to Keiloch and continue north-west towards Invercauld House. After about 1km, at a signpost, take the steep track on the right uphill and head north by the west side of Meall Gorm and the east of Creag a’ Chait to the Bealach Dearg at NO180981. There continue along the track which climbs north-east towards Culardoch before descending to the River Gairn. Cross the bridge and go along the north side of the Gairn, then north along the east side of Loch Builg and down Glen Builg to Inchrory. From there it is 11km along the private road down Glen Avon to Tomintoul.
OS Landranger 36 & 43
ARB Haldane’s book The Drove Roads Of Scotland (1951) indicates that this was one of the routes taken by droves of Speyside cattle heading for Braemar – the drovers followed the Avon to Inchrory and then continued south by Loch Builg. In 1747, the route was said to be in use by cattle thieves. Haldane also writes that “an old drover still living (1948) on Donside remembers it in active use for sheep traffic, the beasts resting for the night beside Loch Builg”.
More about Heritage Paths:
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As well as historical information, you’ll find a modern-day route description along with start and finish details. Change the background mapping in our interactive viewer and time travel along your favourite Heritage Path from 1843 to today.