Walk 2181 - printer friendly version

Loch Lee & Falls of Unich Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 10.7 miles / 17.4 km

Ascent - 1800 feet / 545 metres

Grade - mod/hard

Start - OS grid reference NO446804
Lat 56.9115980 + Long -2.9114219
Postcode DD9 7YZ (approx. location only)

An excellent walk in the South-eastern part of the Cairngorms National Park along the shores of Loch Lee and into the hills beyond. The route climbs to pass the spectacular Falls of Unich and the Falls of Damff higher upstream. The walk includes the Invermark Castle, woodland and some tough walking on the higher ground.

The start is the free car park at Invermark (grid ref. NO446804). Exit the car park and turn right (west) soon passing Lochlee Parish Church on your right. Follow the road ahead to cross Water of Mark and the end of the public road. Continue ahead past the post box and the remains of Invermark Castle on your left. The tarmac continues for 600 metres and then becomes a gravel track. Loch Eel soon appears ahead and the shoreline is followed for two kilometres to the end of the loch (grid ref. NO4121796). Keep ahead at the junction which the walk will return later in the route.

Continue along the clear track up Glen Lee. After just under two kilometres veer left off the track to a footbridge over Water of Lee (grid ref. NO395804). A clear path (rough in places) led sweat with Water of Unich on your left and continue to the Falls of Unich (grid ref. NO387802). Especially after heavy rain, the falls are spectacular. The path the climbs steeply and continues up to the Falls of Damff (grid ref. NO386791). Beyond these falls the gradient eases. Cross the footbridge and continue beside Water of Unich ( on your right) for about 800 metres of rough and often wet path to reach a rough track (grid ref. NO380784).

Turn left up the track which climbs steadily across the moor to pass just south of Cairn Lick (682 m.). One over the crest the track down the Shank of Inchgrundle from where the views to left include Cairn Maskeldie (687 m.) and down to Carlochy which is surrounded by impressive crags. The final section of track a series of zigzags to reach level terrain by Inchgrundle farm. Stay ahead on the track, cross the bridge over Water of Lee and turn right at the junction. Retrace your steps along the track and road back to the start at Invermark.

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