📌 Glen Clova, Angus
★★★★
The pair of Munros on the plateau between Glen Clova and Glen Prosen boast extensive views over the southern Cairngorms, with short-cropped grass and gentle gradients making for swift progress between the two. The immediate surroundings are scenically unremarkable – but Mayar has an ace up its sleeve in the form of Corrie Fee. This dramatic natural amphitheatre is probably Scotland’s most celebrated coire, and the closest the generally quiet southeast side of the Cairngorms National Park has to a honeypot site. The rocky bowl was scooped out by a glacier in the last Ice Age, and today hosts rare alpine and arctic plants, golden eagles, a spectacular purple heather coat in late summer, and a steady stream of hikers. A willowy waterfall cascades down the cliffs at the rear. Corrie Fee’s accessibility enhances its popularity: it’s a straightforward tramp from the car park to the foot of the coire along a good track. The cirque is hidden until the last moment, when a sudden emergence at the main viewpoint provides a real “wow” moment – and obligatory selfie spot!
📷 Chronological photo guide
The Scorrie – view from the start 
Glendoll Forest 
White Water 
Corrie Fee 
Corrie Fee 
Waterfall at the back of the coire 
Knapps of Fee 
Looking back over the coire & Glen Clova 
The landscape abruptly changes on the plateau 
Mayar summit 
Looking southwest 
Looking southeast to the upper reaches of Glen Prosen 
Looking north 
Path across the plateau to Driesh 
View back to Mayar 
Mayar (centre left) & the Shank of Drumfollow (right) from the ascent of Driesh 
Upper slopes of Driesh 
Driesh summit 
Descent through Corrie Kilbo 
Looking back up Corrie Kilbo 
Waterfall on the Burn of Kilbo 
View over Glen Doll from the descent
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at minor road end, head of Glen Clova
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 283761
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.870960,-3.177019
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 14 km / 9 mi | ▲ 840 m | ⌛ 4.5-5.5 hr
Features: 🦅 Corrie Fee NNR; △ Mayar (928 m, Munro); △ Driesh (947 m, Munro)
⬤ Tough | Straightforward tracks and paths become rough and steep at the back of Corrie Fee, then faint on the plateau. Fairly good path for return.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with extension to Driesh: start – Glendoll Forest – Corrie Fee – Mayar – Shank of Drumfollow – Driesh – return to Shank of Drumfollow – Burn of Kilbo – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Screeching birds of prey over Corrie Fee, sheep on Driesh, frogs on Mayar, ring ouzel on descent. Hundreds of pheasants on the drive through Glen Clova.* A few mountain hares on the plateau.**
Weather: Sunny for most of the walk, becoming cloudy on descent. 20°C at the finish.* Dull & overcast despite a better weather forecast; a few snow patches at the back of the coire.**
*July 2020 / **June 2013
