📌 Glen Esk, Angus
★★★★★
For sheer variety, the terrain surrounding Craig Maskeldie has it all. Dark crags, a deep loch and a couple of thundering waterfalls give this area a distinctively rough feel for the usually rounded Cairngorms. This circuit starts with a straightforward “walk in” amongst increasingly dramatic scenery, passing picturesque Loch Lee on route to the spectacular Falls of Unich. The fan-shaped Falls of Damff are only a short climb beyond, but are only seen to best effect by crossing the burn and braving the pathless western slopes of Craig Maskeldie. The summit’s position right on the edge of sheer cliffs gives dizzying views of the Water of Lee far below, with Mount Keen dominating the northern horizon. After the relatively tough terrain, the easy and scenic track used for the descent will be a welcome sight.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Invermark Castle 
Track through Glen Lee 
Craig Maskeldie looking impressive from the walk in 
Falls of Unich 
Falls of Unich from above 
Water of Lee from above the falls 
Glen Lee from the top of the falls 
Water of Lee above the Falls of Unich 
Tributary waterfall 
Looking down the Water of Lee from below the Falls of Damff 
Falls of Damff 
View down Glen Lee towards Hunt Hill from above the Falls of Damff 
Red grouse 
Water of Lee from Craig Maskeldie 
Further down the Water of Lee 
Loch Lee 
Mountain hare 
Loch Lee from the Shank of Inchgrundle 
Carlochy
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish near Glen Esk minor road end, 4 mi west of Tarfside
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 446804
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.911277,-2.909916
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 17 km / 11 mi | ▲ 560 m | ⌛ 5-6 hr
Features: 🏰 Invermark Castle ★★; 💧 Loch Lee; 🌊 Falls of Unich ★★★; 🌊 Falls of Damff ★★★; △ Craig Maskeldie (687 m)
⬤ Tough | Varied terrain – good track until shortly before Falls of Unich then increasingly rough path to Falls of Damff. Pathless ascent to Craig Maskeldie, then intermittent path to Cairn Lick before joining track for return. Some soggy ground, steep in places.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop walk: start – Invermark Castle – north side of Loch Lee – Falls of Unich – Falls of Damff – cross footbridge above falls – Craig Maskeldie – Cairn Lick – Shank of Inchgrundle – Inchgrundle & Loch Lee – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Grouse and lots of mountain hares on Craig Maskeldie.
Weather: Becoming increasingly sunny, but distinctively chilly with strong winds higher up.
November 2011
Also on this walk
Falls of Damff ★★★
🌍 Location
📌 On Water of Lee 4 mi west of Invermark car park
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 386791
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.899463,-3.010043
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 See info for walk route above
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 There is no quicker access to the waterfall than by the start of the route described above – about a 5 mi walk (each way).
Falls of Unich ★★★
🌍 Location
📌 On Water of Lee 4 mi west of Invermark car park
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NO 387802
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.909048,-3.008682
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 See info for walk route above
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 There is no quicker access to the waterfall than by the start of the route described above – about a 4 mi walk (each way).
