Heritage Path of the Month.
Old Road to Glenshee is our Heritage Path of the Month for January 2025, click here to view the details
More about Old Road to Glenshee:
From Enochdhu go north-east by an estate road, with larch gates through two deer fences, towards Elrig. Beyond the forest is an open shelter and the track becomes grassy and continues waymarked over An Lairig. Finally, go north-east down the Coire Lairige burn to Spittal of Glenshee, and although on the lower part of the descent the path is not easily discernible, the route is not in doubt.
This whole route is clearly waymarked as part of the Cateran Trail.
OS Landranger 43 (Braemar & Blair Atholl)
The Old Statistical Account (1791-99) refers to annual fairs held at the Spittal of Glen Shee and at Kirkmichael which lies just to the south of Enochdhu. In the middle of the eighteenth century Kirkmichael’s Michaelmas Fair was one of Scotland’s principle cattle markets, and this was one of the main drove routes leading to it.
Given that the place name, Spittal, usually refers to a hospital or a place of refuge, there may have been markers to direct people. Along the way, there are standing stones in Enochdhu, an ancient mound known locally as the Giant’s Grave, a stone circle on the south slope of Elrig, and another standing stone where the path enters Calaminach Wood.
More about Heritage Paths:
Learn about the history of some of the oldest transport routes in Scotland. Heritage Paths records the history of over 400 routes that criss-cross the Scottish landscape. From Roman Roads to Military Roads, find out how the route you are following came into being.
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.