|
This itinerary may be subject to change due to weather conditions or for seasonal land management reasons. In doing so, we will always endeavour to maintain or enhance the quality of your holiday.
SUNDAY
After meeting at St Bridget Farm, you will be introduced to our horses and there will be an opportunity to discuss the weeks programme. Riders will then be assessed in our outdoor riding arena and matched to the most suitable horse. Leaving Tomintoul along the old military road we ride to Glenmulliach Forest. After a picnic lunch we follow forestry tracks and start climbing before opening out onto moorland towards the summit of Breac Leathad. Here the panorama shows most of the area covered during the rest of the week and dramatic views of the Cairngorm mountains enjoyed. We descend through the forest back to Tomintoul.
MONDAY
Heading out to the north-west today, our route takes us through farm and woodland before descending to cross the river Avon (pronounced A’an). Our route takes us through forestry, past Kilnadrochit Lodge before opening out into Glen Brown. This valley was in the past well populated, despite its isolation, but now all that remains of this community are the deserted ruins of once thriving crofts. Leaving Glen Brown, we cross the main Tomintoul-Grantown road and stop for lunch at the Bridge of Brown Tearoom. After lunch we enter Glen Lochy- riding along the waterside in this extremely peaceful valley birdsong and the river flow are the only sounds. Leaving Glen Lochy we follow the Avon valley before returning to Tomintoul via hill and forest tracks.
TUESDAY
We set out to the north of Tomintoul following the Speyside Way, riding through upland farmland and over open moor. Weather permitting, our route takes in the summit of Cairn Daimh, (Hill of the Stags) at 1,866 ft. above sea level, this magnificent if somewhat exposed viewpoint provides a 360 degree panorama of the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area and beyond. Our descent takes us into Glenlivet, home of the world famous “The Glenlivet” malt whisky. We arrive at the distillery for lunch and time is available for a guided tour and sampling of the product (in moderation please!). Suitably refreshed, our return takes us over the shoulder of Carn Liath and through forestry plantations to return to Tomintoul along the Conglass valley.
WEDNESDAY
We leave the village heading north through farmland and pine forest, with the opportunity to see Fallow Deer, Soay Sheep (a rare semi-wild Scottish breed) and sometimes Reindeer which are farmed in this deserted glen. We descend through birch woods to the River Avon where we stop for a picnic lunch by the waters edge. After lunch we climb a secluded heather covered valley. Here there are remnants of ancient Caledonian pine forest and to the north the spectacular views over lower Avonside open to the less rugged farmland of the Spey valley. We descend through pine woods and return to Tomintoul along the Conglass valley.
THURSDAY
This route takes us east out of the village with long canters through pine forests emerging into the Braes of Glenlivet. We ride on through farmland to a secluded valley where many of the farms and crofts are now deserted, over moorland and descend through birch woods towards Tomnavoulin. After a picnic lunch we ride through farmland and pine woods to the shoulder of Cairn Ellick where a spectacular view of Tomintoul and the Cairngorm Mountains unfolds. Our descent is over moorland and farmland and follows the Conglass valley back to Tomintoul.
FRIDAY
Heading south-west out of Tomintoul our route takes us past Glenmulliach forest before climbing over open moorland and descending into the hill-farming area of the Braes of Glenlivet. We stop for a picnic lunch at the Scalan- from 1717 -1799 this was a college for training Roman Catholic priests and played a vital role in keeping the traditional Catholic faith alive in northern Scotland. The present house dates back to 1767. Our return route takes us past the Braes of Glenlivet distillery, through farmland and forest tracks with fine views over Tomintoul with the backdrop of the Cairngorms on our descent to the village.
|
