Badandun Hill with Craig Lair

A relatively easy and straightforward hill walk up a 740m marilyn in the Glen Isla area. Good views from the summits up into Glen Isla and beyond to Glen Shee.

Distance: 13.5km / 8.2 miles
Ascent: 620 m / 1800 feet
Terrain: estate tracks and paths
Start / finish: Bridge of Forter, Glen Isla grid reference NO 187 647 (layby for about 3 cars). Additional parking 250m south.

Route Map

The walk starts from the gate at the parking layby and is initially signed for the Cateran Trail. Keep left at two junctions; the first of which you follow the sign for the Cateran Trail and the second of which you leave the Cateran Trail to head up the hill. It’s a gradual pull up the hill on estate tracks with the gradient easing as you start to approach the summit.

The track continues over the summit of the hill to descend the north east shoulder. Ahead of you is the summit of Craig Lair our next destination. Go left (north) when you reach a track junction still losing a bit of height.

When you reach the low point of the track if you don’t wish to include Craig Lair you could take a short cut westwards across the rough pathless moorland to meet the descent track from Craig Lair.

Follow the track as it starts to ascend Craig Lair. After gaining about 70 – 80m of height you reach another track junction. If you want to miss out Craig Lair, just turn left to start the descent, otherwise keep right and continue upwards. The track doesn’t go directly to the summit but there are paths on the northside of the hill that do.

There is a well made cairn on the summit of this hill rather than just a pile of rocks and there are good views of the surrounding countryside. Return to the track junction either the way you came up or directly south off the summit.

Head downhill from the junction on a track skirting the northern slopes of Badandun Hill. Before reaching the farm of Fergus, you pass through a small conifer plantation. At this point there appears to be an attempt to divert walkers away from the farm buildings however it is not clear where the route goes so it is probably easiest to stay on the track to the farm.

At the farm turn left and ford the river. The landrover track soon becomes a grassy track alongside the River Isla which makes for a very pleasant final section of the walk. The track reaches the roadside at Bridge of Forter close to where the route started from.