Heritage Path of the Month.
The Tolmounth (Jock’s Road) is our Heritage Path of the Month for February 2025, click here to view the details
More about The Tolmounth (Jock’s Road):
Auchallater is 3km south of Braemar along the A93. From there go southeast up Glen Callater by a good track to Loch Callater, passing the MBA’s Callater Stable bothy. Continue along the path on the northeast side of the loch and up the Allt an Loch with a steep climb up the headwall of Glen Callater to reach the col at 880m between Tolmount and Knaps of Fafernie. The path turns southeast across the featureless plateau, climbs slightly to 900m just below the top of Crow Craigies and continues along the undulating crest of a broad ridge towards Craig Lunkard. Before reaching that point descend steeply south into the head of Glen Doll, but do not go right down to the White Water. The path passes a small shelter, Davy’s Bourach, and continues southeast for almost 2km (at this point it is called Jock’s Road) before it drops down to the floor of the glen and enters the forest. The route then continues down to the Glen Doll Ranger Base at the Forestry and Land Scotland carpark near Braedownie.
This is one of the most serious walks described by the Heritage Paths project. It crosses a high, exposed and featureless plateau which in winter is frequently swept by storms. At that time of year the path over the plateau is likely to be covered by snow and completely invisible for several months, and accurate route-finding in bad weather will require considerable skill.
OS Landranger 43 (Braemar & Blair Atholl) and 44 (Ballater & Glen Clova)
This right of way was the subject of an action by the Scottish Rights of Way and Recreation Society (now better known as ScotWays) against Duncan Macpherson who had attempted to close the route. The case went to the Court of Session in 1886-87 and the House of Lords in 1888. It was proven that it had been long the practice of drovers to take sheep from Braemar over the Tolmount to the market at Cullow, near the foot of Glen Clova. It is often said that the section of the route known as Jock’s Road is named after a John Winter (Jock) thought to be one of those who testified against Macpherson. However, the name Jock’s Road pre-dates the courtcase and the Society’s own Walter A Smith subsequently declared Jock’s identity to be a mystery, so the story appears to be apocryphal. W A Smith had led the ScotWays’ Cairngorms signposting delegation of 1885 which ultimately led to the Jock’s Road court case.
The Tolmounth may not have seen a great deal of traffic as it rose so high and must have been near impossible to cross for several months a year. However, it was an important droving route as the markets at either end were held a couple of days apart in order to give the drovers enough time to transport cattle or sheep left from the first mart to the second. Glen Clova’s Cullow market was held in April and October. The New Statistical Account for Cortachy and Clova (1842) states it “has become one of the best sheep markets in the north of Scotland” and that the grounds are “most conveniently situated for the flocks as they descend from the mountains”.
On New Year’s Day 1959, five experienced hillwalkers were caught in a horrendous storm on this old route and all lost their lives. Davy’s Bourach, the well-known landmark on Jock’s Road in Glen Doll, was built by Davie Glen in their memory in 1966. It is maintained by Forfar & District Hill Walking Club.
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.