Loch Brandy Trail

Loch Brandy Trail is a steep 3.3-mile out-and-back from Milltown of Clova to a high corrie loch beneath Green Hill’s rocky slopes. Allow about three hours, including the short walk from the public car park to the signed hillside path. The climb gains roughly 400 metres in a little over a mile and a half, so the distance makes this sound easier than it feels. Go for a proper hill walk and a dramatic enclosed basin, not a gentle stroll beside the water.

Use the public car park just over the bridge toward Glen Doll at Milltown of Clova; Glen Clova Hotel’s spaces are for patrons. Walk toward the hotel and follow the Loch Brandy sign from the buildings. The path passes the bunkhouse and cabins, crosses a footbridge and gate, then leaves the trees for open hillside. A rough track branches left early on; stay with the signed path.

The gravel path gains height quickly. It is a well-built line on steep ground, but it remains rough underfoot and exposed once you leave the trees. Pause to look back over Glen Clova and the hotel; the rocky prow of Laird’s Chamber rises to the left. Farther up, the route follows the burn toward the corrie. The gradient eases in places away from the water, but the climb keeps coming until the loch appears ahead.

Loch Brandy sits close to 610 metres above sea level, tucked into steep, craggy walls. The main path reaches the south shore and this short route turns back. Small paths beside the water offer a closer look at the rocky shallows and the wide curve of the basin; take care on uneven ground at the edge. Look across the loch for the submerged arc known as the Causeway, thought to be a glacial moraine. Small fish can sometimes be seen in the shallows.

Retrace the same path to Milltown. The descent is still steep, and the gravelly surface can be hard on knees, so save time and energy for coming down. This walk does not climb The Snub or Green Hill. Those are longer, steeper extensions; beyond Loch Brandy, paths are not waymarked and lead into remote hill country. If you want the short corrie walk, turn around at the loch rather than following faint tracks farther uphill.

Dogs are welcome under Scotland’s outdoor access rules, but signs at the start ask for leads; this is grazing country, so keep dogs close and under control. No drinking-water point was identified on the route, so carry what you need from the start. Glen Clova Hotel is beside the access and has a bar and restaurant for a separate stop after the walk; check current opening before relying on it.