Thieves’ Road (Nethy Bridge to Glen More) Show path on map
Start location: track junction, northeast of Forest Lodge ( NJ 021 164 )
End location: by Reindeer House, Glen More ( NH 977 097 )
Geographical area: Cairngorms National Park
Path type: Drove Road
Path distance: 9.7km
Accessibility info: Suitable for bikes, Suitable for horses, Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
Forest Lodge lies south of Nethy Bridge, past Dell Lodge. From there, the track to Glen More heads southwest and is signposted. This is a well-made forest track. After only 100m or so, a junction is reached, whereupon a choice of routes is available:
(a) For the original track, go straight on at the junction on a rising track towards the small group of houses at Rynettin (NJ012147). Go through a gate (unlocked at time of survey) on to a wet, muddy, grassy track which then heads downhill following a field boundary, heading almost due east, through another gate (unlocked at time of survey) at NJ013144 and on to another well-made track eventually reaching a junction at NJ016143.
(b) The alternative track heads southeast and slightly downhill from the junction at NJ018159 reaching the track from Rynettin at NJ016143. There are no gates on this newer track.
From here the good track carries on southwesterly again through the forest. When the edge of the forest is reached at NJ007126 the views of the Cairngorm Mountains are more apparent and the track becomes slightly rougher and wetter in places though still wide and easy to follow. Ryvoan Bothy is reached at NJ006115 and the path becomes much more rocky and bouldery as it descends past the junction to the Lairig an Laoigh (NJ003110). The path improves again past An Lochan Uaine (the green lochan) and remains very good all the way to the road end at Glenmore Lodge. A purpose-built cycle and footpath runs alongside the single-track road from here to the Reindeer House at NH978097.
This route is suitable for mountain bikes. The descent from Ryvoan Bothy may need to be treated with care.
This path is suitable for horses. It would probably be preferable to take option (b) at the first junction past Forest Lodge in order to avoid any issues with gates.
OS Landranger 36 (Grantown, Aviemore & Cairngorm area)
Heritage Information
This old route is said to have been used by cattle reivers heading for Glen Feshie and the south, hence the name. Details about its continuation onwards from Glen More to Feshiebridge can be found here.
