M219 | 947 m. | 3107 ft.
Translation: Gaelic dris, a thorn bush or bramble
Pronuncation: dreesh

Absolutely fresh terrain as far as our hillwalking experience in Scotland is concerned awaited us this day. This in more than one sense. First the drive from Braemar to Glen Clova/Glen Doll was uncharted terrain for us as soon as we left the A93 to drive to Kirriemuir (Munro!). Then we had never been in the Angus Glens. And last of course we had never set an eye on these Munros or at least we had never identified them from afar let’s say form Broad Cairn or Lochnagar or Tom Buidhe (only about six or seven kilometres away from Mayar as the cow flies).

We left the car at the end of the public road where there is big parking lot by the river and a visitor centre. Via forest roads we made good progress towards Corrie Fee. Where the road ends the last stretch of the hike in the forest was on a broad path. When the trees end a number of big boulders are reached which make for great place to stop and take in the beauty of this absolute highlight of the tour: The cliffs, waterfalls and ice-age-formed floor of Corrie Fee. With us was family of Indian or Pakistani origin who like us took photos and soaked in the views.

We carried on into the corrie and soon reached the place where the flat section ends and the climb up the corrie headwall starts. The path crossed some quite precipitous terrain and weaved its way up and up. The waterfall of the Fee burn is great in the splendid Highland setting. Then the cliffs were behind us and a disappearing and reappearing path on the uniform slope led us over mostly wet grass and a few remaining snow fields to the flat summit of Mayar. Again, this Munro is a great view point of terrain never seen before. Glen Prosen the Kilbo path and of course the summit of Driesh not too far away.

After a lunch break on Mayar this is where we directed our feet. The distance not being great we soon passed by the Shank of Drumfollow and climbed up the steep west face of Driesh always sticking quite close to the corrie rim. Some steep slushy small snowfields were there for us. A nice remnant of the last winter. Soon Little Driesh came into view and the summit of Driesh was not far away. Once we were there we took another break and talked to a young couple who had moved over to the Aberdeen area from the Western Isles. It turned out that they climbed their first Munro that day! Congratulations, catch the virus!

From Driesh we retraced our steps towards the Shank of Drumfollow. A bypass path avoids having to climb to the top of the Shank in order to reach the quite eroded steep path that leads to Glendoll Forest. After little more than a kilometre on the path perimeter of the Forest is reached and the dark pines “swallowed” us. The rest was a case of simply staying on the path, avoiding the many tree roots that serve as traps for hiking boots and crossing several forest roads until the one close to river is reached a few hundred metres before the bridge opposite Glendoll Lodge. From there it was a pleasant stroll back to our car.

We sat in the picnic area for a few minutes drinking water and eating snacks. With the day being astonishingly warm this was a very peaceful end to the hike. That is until the midges started pestering us. Rats! Anyway: Glen Doll, Corrie Fee, Mayar and Driesh served as the beautiful basis for a wonderful walk in unknown terrain. A great day to climb these two Angus hills. Mòran taing, Alba!

 


Description These two hills are the highest points of an extensive area of rounded hills between Glen Clova and Glen Prosen. Although Driesh and Mayar blend into the surrounding landscape of undulating hills, their northern and eastern corries and crags overlooking Glen Clova and its extension up Glen Doll are much more impressive. For several kilometres between Winter Corrie and Craig Maud there is an almost continuous line of crags and gullies, and the prominent buttresses of The Scorrie and Craig Rennet rise grandly above the dark coniferous forests in Coire Fee and Coire Kilbo. By contrast, the southern slopes of these hills form broad grassy ridges above the head of Glen Prosen.The route to these hills starts at the end of the public road in Glen Clova and goes past the youth hostel and about 300 metres further to a bridge over the White Water. Cross the bridge and follow the path across the Burn of Kilbo and up the Shank of Drumfollow to a col on the plateau. Turn south-east then east to Driesh. Return to the col and go west to Mayar. From there either return by the ascent route or go north to the edge of Coire Fee and descend on the south side of the Fee Burn to reach a path going through the forest to another bridge over the White Water.