Parking
The usual start is Allt Mòr car park off the Cairngorm Road near Glenmore. The walk finishes in Nethy Bridge, so arrange return transport between the two ends before setting out.
Overview
About Ryvoan Pass: Glenmore to Nethy Bridge
Why go
- Links the Green Lochan, open pass and pinewoods in one crossing.
- Ryvoan Bothy and the views toward Bynack More break up the long walk.
Heads up
- Point-to-point logistics need planning at both ends.
- Some moorland footing is wet, rough and bouldery.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Cairngorms map
Full mapElevation211–408 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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 Ryvoan Pass: Glenmore to Nethy Bridge, 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
Glenmore Lodge and Ryvoan Pass0:00 / 0:23
“You're approaching Glenmore Lodge, near the route through Ryvoan Pass to Nethy Bridge.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Cairngorms Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Hayfield and Pine Knoll
- Allt Mòr and the Lodge Trail
- Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
- Glenmore and the Green Lochan
- 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 Ryvoan Pass: Glenmore to Nethy Bridge
The through-walkRyvoan Pass is a 9.75-mile (15.
Ryvoan Pass is a 9.75-mile (15.5-km) one-way walk from Allt Mòr near Glenmore to Nethy Bridge, usually 4.5–5 hours. It links An Lochan Uaine and Ryvoan Bothy before following forest tracks to the village. This is a point-to-point crossing, not the shorter Ryvoan Trail loop that returns from the lochan. The route gains about 149 metres overall. A line traced along mapped paths measures about 9.1 miles, so the exact mileage depends on route measurement; plan around the longer 9.75-mile figure.
From Glenmore to the Green LochanFollow the path from Allt Mòr toward the glen.
Follow the path from Allt Mòr toward the glen. It crosses the Allt Mòr footbridge, another bridge, and a ford with a footbridge just upstream. At the junction with the Glenmore Lodge track, turn right toward the glen. The route climbs gradually over open ground to An Lochan Uaine. Steps drop from the path to the shore; return to the main line and take the left fork signed for Nethy Bridge.
Across Ryvoan PassBeyond the lochan, the route crosses open heather moorland toward Ryvoan Bothy, with small…
Beyond the lochan, the route crosses open heather moorland toward Ryvoan Bothy, with small lochans and views toward Bynack More. The tread gets rougher and wetter in places, with rocky, bouldery ground near the Lairig an Laoigh junction. Keep following the Nethy Bridge line through the pass rather than turning onto other hill routes.
Pinewoods to Nethy BridgeNorth of the bothy, the route enters mature pines and crosses a small wooden bridge.
North of the bothy, the route enters mature pines and crosses a small wooden bridge. Forest tracks continue past Forest Lodge and descend toward fields and pylons before reaching the village road. Nethy Bridge Community Centre is at the finish and has toilets, parking and local walking information. There is no confirmed food or water stop along the route, so plan supplies before leaving.
The old drove roadThe pass forms part of a historic drove road known as the Thieves’ Road.
The pass forms part of a historic drove road known as the Thieves’ Road. The name is tied to a story that cattle reivers used the route while taking stock south toward Glen Feshie. Dogs may accompany walkers under Scottish outdoor access rights when kept under proper control, especially around wildlife and livestock.
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.
