Kilbo Path

Kilbo Path Show path on map

Start location: bridge by Kilbo, Glen Prosen ( NO 247 708 )

End location: Glen Doll ( NO 278 762 )

Geographical area:

Path type:

Path distance: 7.5km

Accessibility info:

Route Description

From the bridge by Kilbo bothy, take the path north onto Cairn Dye and along a barely discernible path on the Shank of Drumwhallo. The plateau is reached at about 850m. Formerly, a ScotWays signpost* at NO253737 indicated a turn of direction to east-northeast for about 700m to the edge of the plateau just northwest of the col between Mayar and Driesh. Very careful navigation is needed in mist. Descend the path on the east side of the Shank of Drumfollow into Corrie Kilbo and Glendoll Forest, and continue along a track over the White Water to the Glen Doll Ranger Base at the Forestry Commission Scotland carpark at the end of the public road. A little further on at Braedownie, the Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club’s Hut can be booked by mountaineering clubs and other groups.

*This signpost was one of ScotWays very few high-level signs. The directional plates have gone missing twice, possibly due to their presence being controversial. The pole itself was still a useful navigational aid, but has fallen.

OS Landranger 44 (Ballater & Glen Clova)

Heritage Information

This path is certainly quite old as it appears in older Ordnance Survey maps but its use, so far, is a bit of a mystery. The bothy at Kilbo, once ruined but rescued in 2013, is an old deerwatcher's house, so it could be surmised that this is an old and well constructed stalkers' path. It is also thought to be a possible droving route.

The Heritage Paths project is pleased to announce that Neil Ramsay (our former Project Officer) and Nate Pedersen (one of our earliest volunteers) have teamed up to write an ebook - The Mounth Passes - with photography by long-standing ScotWays member Graham Marr. If you too are interested in the heritage of these old ways through the Grampian Mountains, we highly recommend it.

 

Gallery

NO 247 725: the Kilbo Path. The northern side of the pass is busy, being the trade route up two munros. The southern Prosen side is quieter, and a more gentle path, but needs a far longer approach from the nearest public road. © Richard Webb, Geograph NO 247 725: the Kilbo Path. The northern side of the pass is busy, being the trade route up two munros. The southern Prosen side is quieter, and a more gentle path, but needs a far longer approach from the nearest public road. © Richard Webb, Geograph
Kilbo, a ruin at the head of Glen Prosen. This would have been an important stance on the Mounth road south from Glen Doll and Deeside. © Richard Webb, Geograph Kilbo, a ruin at the head of Glen Prosen. This would have been an important stance on the Mounth road south from Glen Doll and Deeside. © Richard Webb, Geograph
Footbridge crossing the Prosen Water at Kilbo, just one RSJ. © Richard Webb, Geograph Footbridge crossing the Prosen Water at Kilbo, just one RSJ. © Richard Webb, Geograph
NO 249 713: Roe Deer on the Kilbo Path. © Bob Peace, Geograph NO 249 713: Roe Deer on the Kilbo Path. © Bob Peace, Geograph
NO 248 715: Kilbo Path. The Mounth road from Glen Doll to Glen Prosen. Here it is running through a forestry plantation. The path is wet, muddy and shrouded in trees. Most unpleasant (March 2009). © Richard Webb, Geograph NO 248 715: Kilbo Path. The Mounth road from Glen Doll to Glen Prosen. Here it is running through a forestry plantation. The path is wet, muddy and shrouded in trees. Most unpleasant (March 2009). © Richard Webb, Geograph
NO 248 718: just inside the plantation, this is where much of the snow that was blown off the moorland ended up. Long after the hills were clear of snow, a huge drift remained here, across the Kilbo path. Many trees have been damaged (March 2009). © Richard Webb, Geograph NO 248 718: just inside the plantation, this is where much of the snow that was blown off the moorland ended up. Long after the hills were clear of snow, a huge drift remained here, across the Kilbo path. Many trees have been damaged (March 2009). © Richard Webb, Geograph
NO 248 720: signpost where the estate all-terrain-vehicle path leaves the Kilbo Path. The estate track over King's Seat may be a better option, the path south down to Kilbo from here follows a very muddy path through a Sitka plantation. © Richard Webb, Geograph NO 248 720: signpost where the estate all-terrain-vehicle path leaves the Kilbo Path. The estate track over King's Seat may be a better option, the path south down to Kilbo from here follows a very muddy path through a Sitka plantation. © Richard Webb, Geograph
NO 249 729: looking down the Shank of Drumwhallo towards Glen Prosen. The Kilbo path links Glen Prosen and Glen Doll by a high but easy pass. © Richard Webb, Geograph NO 249 729: looking down the Shank of Drumwhallo towards Glen Prosen. The Kilbo path links Glen Prosen and Glen Doll by a high but easy pass. © Richard Webb, Geograph
NO 252 738: Which way? A single set of footprints passes the signpost for the Kilbo Path right of way. The sign is long gone (January 2008) but a rime formation takes its place pointing the way of the path into Glen Prosen. © Gwen and James Anderson, Geograph NO 252 738: Which way? A single set of footprints passes the signpost for the Kilbo Path right of way. The sign is long gone (January 2008) but a rime formation takes its place pointing the way of the path into Glen Prosen. © Gwen and James Anderson, Geograph
NO 251 735: Kilbo Path looking south. The quieter Glen Prosen side of the Mounth road running down the Shank of Drumwhallo. © Richard Webb, Geograph NO 251 735: Kilbo Path looking south. The quieter Glen Prosen side of the Mounth road running down the Shank of Drumwhallo. © Richard Webb, Geograph
NO 259 739: on the Shank of Drumfollow. Looking towards South Craig south of Mayar. © Michael Graham, Geograph NO 259 739: on the Shank of Drumfollow. Looking towards South Craig south of Mayar. © Michael Graham, Geograph

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