Route: The Minigaig Pass

The Minigaig Pass was created in the 16th century by the Lord of Badenoch. It was the only road north to the Highlands from Perthshire. It was created to transport a particularly fine ale from an Inn at Old Blair, next to Blair Castle. I started the run from the wall of the Barracks and finished at the wall of Blair Castle. I went up and over Beinn Bhuidhe into Glen Tromie, ran down the glen on tarmac then passed the head of Gaick Pass. The route started to get very remote here and I felt very isolated in the vastness of the Cairngorms. The Allt Bhran river and bog followed for a few miles which felt like an age to traverse. Multiple crossings of the river until the path started to climb up Leathad an Taobhain to a quartz cairn at the highest point on the route (I had wet feet for much of the route) It then dropped sharply to Glen Bruar so a few miles on the track before passing Bruar Lodge and up hill again past Meall Dubh before descending into Glen Banvie. The path runs through Whim Plantation down to Old Blair and on to Blair Castle. Spectacular highland scenery in the Cairngorm Mountains National Park. Very tough going in places where the path was indistinguishable and lots of bog to wade through. I'd recommend researching the route and having a good OS map. No mobile reception from Glen Tromie to the bottom of Glen Banvie!!