Parking
Park at Braeloine Visitor Centre (Glen Tanar Visitor Centre), where the estate waymarked walks begin; toilets are available there.
Overview
About Chapel of St Lesmo Path
Why go
- Short, mostly level loop with a distinctive historic destination
- The Water of Tanar gives the return a different feel
Heads up
- Visits inside the chapel must be arranged separately
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Cairngorms map
Full mapElevation158–165 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
3 active Cairngorms alerts
- CautionStorm Boelo high windsStorm Boelo will bring extremely windy weather to the Cairngorms; take extra care and limit time outdoors. - The Park Authority expects the very windy weather to last until Monday 26 October.Official details
- ClosureGlenmore wildfire closures and dangerous treesWildfire damage has closed Allt Mor car park and the path to Sugarbowl/Utsi’s Bridge; keep out of the closed area.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Cairngorms Tour Guide
Your drive to Chapel of St Lesmo Path, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Cairngorms National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Cairngorms audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Glen Tanar and Fairy Lochan0:00 / 0:33
“Glen Tanar Visitor Centre is coming up, in the former Braeloine Cottage. Park at Braeloine and cross the old arched bridge to reach its heritage displays and ranger advice.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Cairngorms Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Alder’s Underground Helpers
- The Woodland Drumroll
- Rowan Through the Seasons
- How the Mountains Divide the Rain
- 298 audio storiesacross Cairngorms’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Reindeer, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 260 trails, 90 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Chapel of St Lesmo Path
A gentle loop to the chapelThe Chapel of St Lesmo Path is a gentle 1.09-mile (1.75 km) loop from Braeloine Visitor Centre.
The Chapel of St Lesmo Path is a gentle 1.09-mile (1.75 km) loop from Braeloine Visitor Centre. Cross the valley through meadows to the chapel, then return along the Water of Tanar; allow about 30 minutes. The waymarked path is mostly level, with crushed-stone and grass surfaces and a few short, gentle slopes. Follow the cross symbol for this route; the longer 3.5 km Fairy Lochan loop also passes the chapel.
Start and accessBegin at Braeloine Visitor Centre, also called Glen Tanar Visitor Centre.
Begin at Braeloine Visitor Centre, also called Glen Tanar Visitor Centre. Parking and toilets are there. The walk reaches the chapel exterior; visits inside are separate and arranged by enquiry, so ask ahead if you want a tour. Dogs are allowed under Scotland's outdoor access rules and should remain under proper control.
A small chapel with a local storyThe stone chapel was made from the ruins of the former House of Braeloine.
The stone chapel was made from the ruins of the former House of Braeloine. Its dates do not quite line up: the construction year is given as 1872, while the stated consecration date is 15 November 1871. Small pebbles set between the wall stones are known locally as cherry-cocking. Inside are twisted Scots pine branches used as joists, Glen Tanar granite altar steps and floor, and a bell inscribed with St Lesmo's name; these details require a separately arranged visit.
Pause at the destinationThe chapel stands among trees and grave markers in an open part of the glen.
The chapel stands among trees and grave markers in an open part of the glen. Include some of the surrounding meadow and trees with the stone building to show its setting, rather than framing only the façade.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Cairngorms
159 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
63 sightingsReindeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
102 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
37 sightingsBlack GrouseMost seen around 4 AMSighting map
72 sightingsRed GrouseMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
82 sightingsPine MartenMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Cairngorms. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
