Tomintoul, Queen's Cairn and Strath Avon

From the village, you skirt the base of Tom na Bat (Tom meaning 'hillock' in Gaelic) to reach the valley of the River Avon, one of the most majestic rivers of the Highlands. Upstream from Tomintoul, it runs through Glen Avon, a magnificent 20-mile corridor cut deep into the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

The river begins its course in the wild upper glen, where Loch Avon lies entrenched between Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui, then passes between the spectacular ridges and corries of Ben Avon to the turbulent Linn of Avon. The river is calmer by Tomintoul, and its sweep is best appreciated from the Queen's View where Queen Victoria once stopped to admire the panoramic scene.

You walk through a field that, until WWII, was Tomintoul's golf course and continue along the wooded valley side. By Delavorar Farm, you cross a wooden bridge near a fine picnic spot. The clarity of the Avon — resulting from the lack of peat and filtering effect of Loch Avon — runs over pink and grey gravel where salmon spawn, forming an important ingredient for local whiskies.

The return route leads along the opposite side of the valley, climbing through birch and alder woods before descending to the Water of Allnack (which cuts a deep, Colorado-like V-shaped ravine). Passing the 19th-century Delnabo House with its picturesque turrets, you retrace steps toward Tomintoul along Tomnabat Lane, marking the old military road that gave birth to the village.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.