Munros above Jock's Road

Visitor centre in Glen Doll

Glen Doll is the starting point of this route, with the nearest town being Kirriemuir to the south. From Kirriemuir, roadside signs lead out of the town to Glen Clova. In Glen Clova the road forms a circular route on either side of the River Clova, where apparently an unofficial clockwise one-way system is in place.

High up Glen Clova, the road crosses a bridge by Glen Clova Inn, from where a single-track road is followed for just under 6km to a large car-park at the road end. It costs £3 to park here - worth the improved visitor facitilies including centre, toilets and path construction.

Summit plateau of Driesh

From the car-park, follow the track north-west, pass some farm buildings, through a gate and come to a junction with various signs. At this junction, turn left (marked 'Kilbo Path') and walk down to a bridge.

Beyond the bridge the track veeres right, which is followed for 400m to a sharp turn. Look for a path aiming directly uphill. Follow this path, which crosses another track further on (sign post 'Kilbo Path').

The path climbs up what used to be thick forest, but with recent felling, the views are now more open. Further on, the remaining forest is entered and the Burn of Kilbo is reached and crossed (with care in spate).

The path exits the forest and climbs up below the crest of Shank of Druimfollow to meet with a cairn just before reaching the bealach between Driesh and Mayar.

The cairn marks a junction in the path - turn to the left and follow the path as it drops slightly, then climbs initially hugging the edge of the corrie.

The path becomes fainter and travels to the summit of Driesh with a cairn sheltering its trig point.

Descending Driesh on way to Mayar

Return to the bealach , hike up directly ahead, following a few old fence posts partically buried in the grass and rocks (watch out for the hidden wire in the ground).

Upon reaching the top of Shank of Druimfollow, turn left (west) then continue on fairly level ground, following fence posts east until a Right-of-Way sign at a sharp corner on the fence line is reached.

At this point, leave the fence behind and on a very obvious and worn path, continue westwards. The ground rises and becomes more bouldery as the summit of Mayar is attained.

Old fence-post point the way north from Mayar to Tom Buidhe

Leave Mayar and head north-west following a very faint path and some tired, old fence-posts over pathless grassy ground. After just under 1km, the path divides , with one branch heading north and ther other following the remnants of the fence-line westwards. Follow the fence line and head up the southern shoulder of Dun Hillocks to pick up a stalkers ATV track (at grid ref NO232740) .

The track can be followed to the summit of Dun Hillocks , where it turns south-west of aim for Finalty Hill. But instead of following this, leave the track and aim north over fairly featureless grass and peat-hagged ground to hike up Little Kilrannoch .

More gently undulating grass covered ground leads to Tom Buidhe 1½km further on . Not much of a cairn, though the views are suprisingly quite good.

Tolmount's summit cairn and view to Lochnagar and Broad Cairn

Following a faint worn path, head west for just under ½km. The path splits, take the right fork, to head downhill to cross a small burn in the middle of the bowl ahead.

After crossing the burn, the path seems to disappear - aim uphill directly ahead, then turning north-north-east, you should be able to see a line of iron fence-posts. The line of posts travel between Cairn of Claise and Tom Buidhe.

The line of posts and a faint path alongside it continue over grassy ground northwards in the direction of Tolmount. As Tolmount's summit nears, ground becomes a bit more rocky in places, with the cairn on the top being a rather untidy bouldery pile . Amazing how close Lochnagar looks from here !

Shelter on Jock's Road

Aim east-north-east on a fairly obvious path and some fence posts for just under 1km and pick up 'Jock's Road', the old drover's road linking Glen Callater to Glen Doll.Turn south-east to reach the small cairn on Crow Craggies .

Continue following Jock's Road (rough in bits, but fairly well maintained), past the grassed-over emergency shelter , down into Glen Doll. Into forestry, the path becomes a track as it returns to the car-park.