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From
the car park, return to the road and turn left. At the driveway
to Tombae House, cross the stile and take the farm track. At a fork,
go right and in 200m cross the Water of Livet. The walk is waymarked
with a distinctive capital 'G' and the number 10.
In
50m, go right across the grass, cross the Crombie Water and go half-left
to cross a stile at a gate. Follow the field edge along a bank,
with the burn below. There is often livestock in this field, and
dogs must be kept on a lead.
After
a section of boardwalk, cross a stile into another field and drop
down to recross the Crombie Water. Continue into the wood, curving
right through heather and birch to join a track. There is an attractive
pond below to the right where heron may be seen fishing.
Leave
the wood and cross heather moor to the saddle below The Bochel.
The hill's name has the same Gaelic root as the more famous Buachaille
Etive Mor in Glencoe, and means a herdsman or guardian. There are
fine views of the Ladder Hills ahead, and in the late summer the
heather is glorious. At a gate, Walk 3 joins from The Glack, down
on the left. Walk 10 continues on the path around the hill, but
to climb the hill (recommended for the view) turn right and walk
up the heathery slope. There is an indistinct path, but if you keep
on a fairly direct line towards the top, you won't go far wrong.
The
491m summit commands a wonderful view taking in the Ladder and Cromdale
Hills and to the west the distinctive summit tors of Ben Avon in
the Cairngorms. To leave the Bochel, turn sharp left (south-east)
away from the direction of climb and go down steep heathery slopes,
aiming for the left-hand corner of the nearest plantation of conifers.
Walk down the side of this plantation to regain the waymarked route
at a gate.
Cross
the stile to enter the plantation. The path broadens to a wide forest
track giving easy walking. In about a kilometre, cross the Crombie
Water and join a minor road. Turn right along the road past The
Kirkie, a cottage once used as a place of worship.
Cross
a bridge and leave the road on the right to walk along a farm track.
It passes an old cottage called Refreish. Continue on the track
for about a kilometre.
Just
before the fourth gate, turn right down the field as signed, then
left to cross a stile. Turn right at the next fence to walk down
steps to the Crombie Water and pick up the outward route, returning
over the two bridges, back to the road at Tombae House and along
to the car park.
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