Old Glen Clova Road

Old Glen Clova Road Show path on map

Start location: unclassified road near Kinrive, Glen Moy ( NO 391 627 )

End location: B955, Gella, Glen Clova ( NO 373 656 )

Geographical area:

Path type:

Path distance: 4km

Accessibility info:

Route Description

From the unclassified Glen Moy road, the route to Kinrive once followed the former farm access road over the bailey bridge. However motor traffic has since the 1990s been diverted via a new road to the north to avoid this old bridge, which has had signs indicating Danger since at least 2013. From the outskirts of Kinrive Farm, walk NNW on good track above South Esk, through woodland, leaving the latter about 0.25 mile south of Brocklas (where the cottage once boarded up has now been renovated); it was a Girl Guide site for many years. There are a great many grassy paths in the vicinity of the house, but the right of way heads NNE to a junction where the, now fairly degraded but easily followed, heathery track to Gella heads almost due north. It is important not to follow the clearer grassy track heading east. The right of way trends gently NNW along a clearly marked route which has obviously been heavily used in times past, but suffers now from poor drainage.
At Gella Farm, the route bends around the settlement on its east and north sides where a completely new estate track breaks off eastwards to Glen Cuilt and Glen Moy. The main, stony, farm track runs down to the B955 about 0.25 mile north of the picnic spot and parking area at Gella Brig.

OS Landranger 44 (Ballater & Glen Clova)

Heritage Information

This is quite typical of old tracks as it stays higher than the modern road and so would have drained better. It appears in various old maps, linking Glen Clova with Glen Moy, such as John Thomson's 1825 map of Angusshire. On that map, no bridge is shown across the River South Esk. As we are informed that there was no reliable bridge at Gella until 1861, perhaps this explains both the reason for the route's use and its subsequent disuse.

 

Gallery

NO371653 looking ESE under the old Gella bridge to the new bridge, crossing the South Esk (2006). © Gwen and James Anderson, Geograph NO371653 looking ESE under the old Gella bridge to the new bridge, crossing the South Esk (2006). © Gwen and James Anderson, Geograph
NO387628 looking SSE from Kinrive Plantation to Strathmore and the Sidlaw Hills beyond (2013). © jamesnicoll, Geograph NO387628 looking SSE from Kinrive Plantation to Strathmore and the Sidlaw Hills beyond (2013). © jamesnicoll, Geograph
NO382638 looking SSW towards Brocklas and the rooftop of Middlehill Cottage in the distance (2011). © jamesnicoll, Geograph NO382638 looking SSW towards Brocklas and the rooftop of Middlehill Cottage in the distance (2011). © jamesnicoll, Geograph
NO382641 looking north. On this day the path to Gella was buried in waist-deep drifts. The hares and deer had the sense to walk beside it and so (after a false start) did I! Much of Kinrive Plantation has been taken out, making the views more open (2009). © Kevin Philpott, Geograph NO382641 looking north. On this day the path to Gella was buried in waist-deep drifts. The hares and deer had the sense to walk beside it and so (after a false start) did I! Much of Kinrive Plantation has been taken out, making the views more open (2009). © Kevin Philpott, Geograph
NO372656: Scottish Rights of Way Society signpost indicating the public path to Glen Moy from Glen Clova (2012). © Alan Morrison, Geograph NO372656: Scottish Rights of Way Society signpost indicating the public path to Glen Moy from Glen Clova (2012). © Alan Morrison, Geograph
NO372654 looking SSW at the old Gella Bridge (August 2007). Taken shortly after part of the parapet collapsed into the river. The bridge was demolished completely within a few months of this. © stuart anthony, Geograph NO372654 looking SSW at the old Gella Bridge (August 2007). Taken shortly after part of the parapet collapsed into the river. The bridge was demolished completely within a few months of this. © stuart anthony, Geograph
NO391628 looking NW (2013). The line of the old farm track to Kinrive can be seen here. This track was superseded by a new road when the bridge was replaced by a new structure further up stream in the 1990s. © jamesnicoll, Geograph NO391628 looking NW (2013). The line of the old farm track to Kinrive can be seen here. This track was superseded by a new road when the bridge was replaced by a new structure further up stream in the 1990s. © jamesnicoll, Geograph

Map Preview

Open Main Map