Minister’s Road Show path on map

Start location: Church, Glenprosen village ( NO 328 657 )

End location: B955, 0.5km south of Wester Eggie, Glen Clova ( NO 356 696 )

Geographical area: Angus and Tayside

Path type: Rural Path

Path distance: 6.5km

Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

Starting from the church in Glenprosen Village, head northeast by the east side of the Burn of Inchmill and over Drumwhern to descend to a Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society signpost (NO356696) beside the B955 in Glen Clova, south of Wester Eggie.

There is an alternative end to this path, which may well be older and heads more directly towards Clova. It travels across the moorland entering the trees near Elf Hillock and ultimately reaches the B955 at a wooden signpost (NO339717), northwest of Coremacy Hill House, adding a further 1.5km to the route.

OS Landranger 44 (Ballater & Glen Clova)

Heritage Information

The Minister’s Path takes its name from the fact that the same minister officiated alternately in Clova and Prosen churches and this is the route he would regularly take - reputedly by pony and trap. The New Statistical Account (1840s) for Kirriemuir and for the united parish of Cortachy and Clova describe him as a missionary minister on the Royal Bounty. The Old Statistical Account (1791-99) refers to the minister for Kirriemuir officiating at Glenprosen's chapel two or three times a year, yet Clova's church saw worship performed by the minister of the church of Cortachy some nine miles distant. It thus appears that the use of the Minister's Road for this particular ecclesiastical purpose dates to the nineteenth century; it seems the shortcut over the hills was a practical solution to the problem of providing more frequent church services in these two adjacent Angus glens.

The route wasn't solely used by the minister of course. In the 1970s, an elderly gentleman that had lived all his life hereabouts confirmed that prior to the introduction of the motor car, this route was in normal use by the people of GIens Clova and Prosen for their social and business intercourse. It will have been a useful and natural link between the two glens. Whether for the use of the minister or the local population more generally, this may explain the presence of several Posts on the stretch between the Hillocks of Huddenkey (from circa NO336683) and past Elf Hillock at NO346703, marked on the OS 6" mapping surveyed 1862-1900.

The local historical society reportedly occasionally re-enact the journey the Minister took, complete with pony and trap. However, although you are unlikely to encounter the local minister these days, Visit Scotland describes it as the best walk in the Glen Prosen area.

Gallery

© Lloyd Housley , Geograph

NO331671 looking north along the Minister's Path (2011). The Glen Prosen minister also preached in Glen Clova's Kirk and made his way between them along this hill track across the moor. It is debated whether he walked, rode a pony or used a pony and trap. © James Allan, Geograph

NO332675 looking south along the Minister's muddy Path (2011). Unless the track has deteriorated greatly since the minister's day, I very much doubt if he could have negotiated it with a pony and trap. © James Allan, Geograph

NO337683 looking north. Gated fence on a boggy section of the minister's path where it crosses the Hillochs of Hudenkey on the watershed between Glen Prosen and Glen Clova (2011). © James Allan, Geograph

NO341690 looking ENE along the Minister's Path (2011). At this point the descent into Glen Clova is about to begin. © James Allan, Geograph