Scotland's most celebrated mountain pass and perhaps the finest, the Lairig Ghru takes you from the ancient pinewoods of Speyside to the beautiful glens of Deeside through the dramatic scenery of the Cairngorm mountains. Until the 1870s, the Lairig G
hru was used as a drove road for cattle and was kept clear of the rough boulders that litter the pass nowadays. The name derives from the Gaelic ghruamach, meaning forbidden or gloomy, easy to see why in foul weather. The pass starts at Coylumbridge and runs for 20 miles to the Linn of Dee (a further six miles to get to Braemar), rising to a height of 833 metres across the second highest mountain range in Britain.
GLEN TILT A centuries-old track constructed on a natural geological boundary between Blair Atholl and Linn of Dee (which also connects up with Rothiemurchus and the Lairig Ghru), this pass rises to the humble height of only 510 metres and runs for 22 miles over good tracks, many of which were maintained as roads at one time. In fact, Queen Victoria travelled this route on her way from Blair Atholl to Balmoral. It has been recognized as a legal right of way since 1853 when the then Duke of Atholl attempted to close the route and the cause was taken up by the Scottish Rights of Way Society.
CORRIEYAIRACK PASS A natural pass going for approximately 14 miles from Fort Augustus in the North, to Laggan in the South, this pass was used by the drovers of the islands and Highlands to bring their cattle down to the markets of Falkirk and Crieff. It was much improved in the 18th century when General Wade constructed a road through the pass to connect the military bases of Ruthven and Fort Augustus and for 100 years, this was the highest maintained public road in Britain. Even in bad repair, the road is still obvious and perhaps all the better for being in a state of disrepair, leaving this beautiful and historical route to be enjoyed by keen walkers only.
GLEN AFFRIC Scotland from East to West. Starting at the east end of Loch Affric, it is possible to walk right across Scotland to the west coast where the route takes you out at Morvich in Strath Croe near Shiel Bridge.
It is a classic coast-to-coast route used by travellers and drovers for centuries – however, with the clearances, this wild route has been left to the hillwalkers and mountain bikers prepared to cross from east to west on increasingly wilder terrain – but everyone using it is rewarded with the most magnificent views.
BEALACH NA BA One to drive on, the single-track road – whose name translates as the pass of the cattle – takes the intrepid driver from Kishorn in Wester Ross up on to the Applecross peninsula by an Alpine-style route. Rising from sea level to 626 metres by way of an alarming series of hairpin bends, the pass will afford the passenger some wonderful views of the surrounding sea and mountains, while hopefully the driver will be keeping their full attention on the road.
Frequently closed in winter, this pass is definitely not one that is recommended for learner drivers, very large vehicles or caravans. However, it does form part of the famous annual bike race, the Bealach-na-Ba Challenge .
The full article contains 564 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
