Very strenuous. Full hillwalking gear required, please bring a packed lunch.

This is the longest trek in the Festival programme and demands a high level of fitness. The rewards are a day in superb High Mountain country with magnificent views across the Cairngorms. From Glen Doll, the upper glen is followed to Bachnagairn with a steep climb up to the ridge leading to Broad Cairn (998m). The ridge is followed to Cairn Bannoch (1012m, the day’s high point) and on over Fafernie (1000m) before the ancient track known as Jock’s Road is joined for a long and often rough descent back into Glen Doll.

Very Strenuous. Full hillwalking gear required. Please bring a packed lunch.

This is the longest trek in the Festival programme and demands a high level of fitness. Jock’s Road is said to be the oldest Right of Way in Scotland. It links Glen Clova with Braemar and was an old drove road. The route starts at Auchallater by Braemar and follows good tracks alongside the River Callater. Good views and level ground by the side of Loch Callater until the climb out of the glen to the plateau and Crow Craigies. This section is very steep!!

Very strenuous. Full hillwalking gear required. Please bring a packed lunch.

This superb hillwalk follows good tracks from Glen Doll to take the Kilbo Path onto the Shank of Drumfollow. The path is left for a stiff climb onto Driesh (947m, a Munro). An undulating ridge is followed over Hill of Strone and Cairn Inks (where, in centuries past, the local witches gathered & hurled their spells down on to the residents at Milton of Clova in the glen below), with superb views, before a steep descent into Glen Clova for refreshments.

After leaving Gleneffock Farm, there is an ascent to Cairn Caidloch and then to Burnt Hill. The descent from Burnt Hill leads to Inchgrundle and then a stroll along the north shore of Loch Lee before arriving at Loch Lee Church (ruin) and graveyard. There are many interesting gravestones here including that of Alexander Ross (b.1699), headmaster at Loch Lee School who, in 1768, published the story of Lindy & Nory (The Fortunate Shepherdess) which was acclaimed throughout Scotland. Nearby is Invermark Castle (ruin) which was built in 1526 by the Lindsays of Edzell Castle. This walk is mostly on good paths.

The walk starts at Easter Lednathie Farm in Glen Uig and is a low level walk on good tracks, through the hills to Glen Quharity and continue onto Backwater Reservoir with good views via Craig of Balloch.