www.nnr.scot
Red squirrel Red
Corrie Fee and Corrie Sharroch Corrie and Fee Corrie
Moraine
glen-doll/
www.angusalive.scot/countryside-adventure/visit-us/
Email: [email protected] Email:
550233 01575 Tel: year. the throughout
The Angus Glens Ranger Service lead guided walks walks guided lead Service Ranger Glens Angus The
enjoyment, and please keep dogs under control. under dogs keep please and enjoyment,
litter. Respect other people’s privacy, their need for quiet quiet for need their privacy, people’s other Respect litter.
path to prevent erosion, leaving it undisturbed and free of of free and undisturbed it leaving erosion, prevent to path
Corrie Fee NNR’s fragile environment by keeping to the the to keeping by environment fragile NNR’s Fee Corrie
Remember the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Help protect protect Help Code. Access Outdoor Scottish the Remember •
very rapidly. very
be warm and dry higher up as mountain conditions change change conditions mountain as up higher dry and warm be
Leaving the car park in sunshine does not mean that it will will it that mean not does sunshine in park car the Leaving This is known as recessional moraine. recessional as known is This
including sleet or snow between autumn and late spring. spring. late and autumn between snow or sleet including glacier melted in stages, each time leaving behind a ridge. a behind leaving time each stages, in melted glacier
Be prepared for sudden changes in mountain weather, weather, mountain in changes sudden for prepared Be • mounds form a pattern of ridges showing how the Corrie Fee Fee Corrie the how showing ridges of pattern a form mounds
From the top of the corrie looking down you can see these these see can you down looking corrie the of top the From
excursion. excursion.
waterproof clothing, and food and drink for a whole day’s day’s whole a for drink and food and clothing, waterproof in heather. Look out for them as you walk up through the corrie. the through up walk you as them for out Look heather. in
You will need walking boots with a good tread, warm and and warm tread, good a with boots walking need will You • melted, leaving behind distinctive mounds that are now covered covered now are that mounds distinctive behind leaving melted,
As the Scottish climate grew warmer the Corrie Fee glacier glacier Fee Corrie the warmer grew climate Scottish the As
and short areas of unguarded boardwalk. boardwalk. unguarded of areas short and
or icy. Some sections of the path are steep with cross drains drains cross with steep are path the of sections Some icy. or leaving gravelly debris behind filling the floor of the glen. the of floor the filling behind debris gravelly leaving
prepared for rough ground that can sometimes be slippery slippery be sometimes can that ground rough for prepared As the ice melted, the glaciers retreated back into the corries, corries, the into back retreated glaciers the melted, ice the As
things you will see on route to Corrie Fee NNR. Fee Corrie to route on see will you things
track becomes a steep mountain trail, so you need to be be to need you so trail, mountain steep a becomes track
carving out the rough shape of the glen over thousands of years. years. of thousands over glen the of shape rough the out carving
Muir of Dinnet and Invereshie and Inshriach NNRs. Inshriach and Invereshie and Dinnet of Muir and crossbill. Signal posts along the trail will reveal some of the the of some reveal will trail the along posts Signal crossbill. and
about 2 hours there and back to the edge of the forest. The The forest. the of edge the to back and there hours 2 about
plucking up rocks and excavating the ground underneath, underneath, ground the excavating and rocks up plucking
glacially carved features can be seen on the Creag Meagaidh, Meagaidh, Creag the on seen be can features carved glacially some of the wildlife here, such as red squirrel, roe deer, dipper dipper deer, roe squirrel, red as such here, wildlife the of some
the top of the corrie and onto the Cairngorm plateau. Allow Allow plateau. Cairngorm the onto and corrie the of top the
Then during the Ice Age, glaciers flowed down the glen, glen, the down flowed glaciers Age, Ice the during Then
Similar processes happened all across the Cairngorms and other other and Cairngorms the across all happened processes Similar and colourful fungi in the autumn. Tread quietly and you may see see may you and quietly Tread autumn. the in fungi colourful and
about 1.5 km through the Reserve. This climbs 670m up to to up 670m climbs This Reserve. the through km 1.5 about
granite can be seen on the summits. the on seen be can granite As you walk up through the forest look out for woodland plants plants woodland for out look forest the through up walk you As
You can continue your walk following the unmarked trail trail unmarked the following walk your continue can You • Corrie Fee and Corrie Sharroch. Corrie and Fee Corrie
frost and ice wore away the softer rock above. Today this hard hard this Today above. rock softer the away wore ice and frost
As it flowed downhill, the glacier ice excavated the deep corries of of corries deep the excavated ice glacier the downhill, flowed it As and rivers. and
the edge of the wood, where you can see into the corrie. corrie. the into see can you where wood, the of edge the was exposed millions of years later after weathering by water, water, by weathering after later years of millions exposed was
broadleaved trees like birch along the sides of the forest streams streams forest the of sides the along birch like trees broadleaved
(roughly 45 minutes) along the waymarked forest trail to to trail forest waymarked the along minutes) 45 (roughly The magma cooled and hardened, becoming granite which granite becoming hardened, and cooled magma The July. of middle
for wildlife. You can see Sitka spruce, Scots pine, larch and and larch pine, Scots spruce, Sitka see can You wildlife. for
Corrie Fee NNR is reached after walking about 3.5km 3.5km about walking after reached is NNR Fee Corrie • deep inside the earth rose up to about 6km below the surface. surface. the below 6km about to up rose earth the inside deep the in even crampons, and axe ice rope, required have would
a wider variety of tree species and create sustainable habitats sustainable create and species tree of variety wider a
when several gigantic masses of molten rock (magma) from from (magma) rock molten of masses gigantic several when Fee Corrie through walk a then, Back Fee. Corrie in here glacier
Glen Doll car park and finishing at the top of the corrie. corrie. the of top the at finishing and park car Doll Glen
managed by the Forestry Commission Scotland to also encourage encourage also to Scotland Commission Forestry the by managed
The Cairngorm mountains northwest of Glen Doll were formed formed were Doll Glen of northwest mountains Cairngorm The small a was there ago years 12,000 age ice the of end tail the At
The Corrie Fee Trail runs for about 5km, beginning in the the in beginning 5km, about for runs Trail Fee Corrie The • originally planted in the 1950s and 1960s for timber, and today today and timber, for 1960s and 1950s the in planted originally
Earthmoving glaciers Earthmoving ice by carved armchairs Giant’s
The trail to Corrie Fee first takes you through a working forest, forest, working a through you takes first Fee Corrie to trail The Trail tips Trail
Moraine corries The wonders Woodland
Getting there Take the B955 north from Kirriemuir to the head of Glen What to see in Corrie Fee Clova, then take the minor road to Glen Doll car park. Hidden valley, hidden jewels Follow a glacier’s journey. The car park is 25km from Kirriemuir. The Glen Doll Walk up the Corrie Fee Trail to the edge of Glen Doll forest and Imagine its strength when it Ranger Base and toilets are by the car park. Corrie Fee enjoy the views of the natural amphitheatre of Corrie Sharroch carved out the cliffs and For public transport information please visit National Nature Reserve and the slopes of Craig Rennet, formed by glaciers and ice. corrie. Walk between the www.travelinescotland.com hummocks and erratics that Welcome to the botanical paradise of Corrie Fee National show where its power literally Nature Reserve, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. There melted away. For more information please contact: are nine National Nature Reserves in and around the Scottish Natural Heritage Tel: 01224 266516. Cairngorms National Park. Fee Burn Follow the burn as it flows down the corrie and discover the Look out for white bog cotton, yellow bog plants, birds and mammals that make this quiet mountain asphodel and purple cross- leaved heath Search for ‘Scotland’s National landscape special. Nature Reserves’ on Facebook. flowers brightening the wet flushes With the correct equipment, you can walk up through the corrie between May and August. to the Cairngorm plateau and onward to the nearby Munros of © Scottish Natural Heritage 2019 Mayar and Dreish to experience the whole upland atmosphere.
ISBN: 978-1-85397-807-4
Cotton grass Support this NNR at www.nature.scot/donate-nnr Discover the deep blue delicate milkwort and sunshine yellow tormentil between June and August when their flowers nestle amongst the drier heath. Milkwort
Watch the Fee, white with VISIT bubbles or winter ice, where it tumbles down the steep back wall, turning peat-stained brown A9 ABERDEEN as it sedately meanders across 7 Aboyne the valley floor, turning here and A93 there around the hummocks. Banchory Braemar Ballater
Glen Doll waterfall Stonehaven 3 A9 Corrie Fee Find alpine lady’s mantle, 2 A9 one of the more widespread NNR B9 5 0 arctic alpine plants with 5 A9 Montrose frothy yellow flowers above Pitlochry Kirriemuir Brechin silver backed leaves. A9 Forfar Alpine lady’s mantle Arbroath Walkers on the Corrie Fee Trail Dunkeld 4 DUNDEE 9 A 0 10 ml
PERTH A90
0 10 20km code: xxxxxxx Print Woolmer. Shona Hill. Main map by Fitzpatrick Richard Cooper, Scott Muir, Andy Thompson Photography, Gill/SNH, Photography: Lorne
www.nnr.scot
Red squirrel Red
Corrie Fee and Corrie Sharroch Corrie and Fee Corrie
Moraine
glen-doll/
www.angusalive.scot/countryside-adventure/visit-us/
Email: [email protected] Email:
550233 01575 Tel: year. the throughout
The Angus Glens Ranger Service lead guided walks walks guided lead Service Ranger Glens Angus The
enjoyment, and please keep dogs under control. under dogs keep please and enjoyment,
litter. Respect other people’s privacy, their need for quiet quiet for need their privacy, people’s other Respect litter.
path to prevent erosion, leaving it undisturbed and free of of free and undisturbed it leaving erosion, prevent to path
Corrie Fee NNR’s fragile environment by keeping to the the to keeping by environment fragile NNR’s Fee Corrie
Remember the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Help protect protect Help Code. Access Outdoor Scottish the Remember •
very rapidly. very
be warm and dry higher up as mountain conditions change change conditions mountain as up higher dry and warm be
Leaving the car park in sunshine does not mean that it will will it that mean not does sunshine in park car the Leaving This is known as recessional moraine. recessional as known is This
including sleet or snow between autumn and late spring. spring. late and autumn between snow or sleet including glacier melted in stages, each time leaving behind a ridge. a behind leaving time each stages, in melted glacier
Be prepared for sudden changes in mountain weather, weather, mountain in changes sudden for prepared Be • mounds form a pattern of ridges showing how the Corrie Fee Fee Corrie the how showing ridges of pattern a form mounds
From the top of the corrie looking down you can see these these see can you down looking corrie the of top the From
excursion. excursion.
waterproof clothing, and food and drink for a whole day’s day’s whole a for drink and food and clothing, waterproof in heather. Look out for them as you walk up through the corrie. the through up walk you as them for out Look heather. in
You will need walking boots with a good tread, warm and and warm tread, good a with boots walking need will You • melted, leaving behind distinctive mounds that are now covered covered now are that mounds distinctive behind leaving melted,
As the Scottish climate grew warmer the Corrie Fee glacier glacier Fee Corrie the warmer grew climate Scottish the As
and short areas of unguarded boardwalk. boardwalk. unguarded of areas short and
or icy. Some sections of the path are steep with cross drains drains cross with steep are path the of sections Some icy. or leaving gravelly debris behind filling the floor of the glen. the of floor the filling behind debris gravelly leaving
prepared for rough ground that can sometimes be slippery slippery be sometimes can that ground rough for prepared As the ice melted, the glaciers retreated back into the corries, corries, the into back retreated glaciers the melted, ice the As
things you will see on route to Corrie Fee NNR. Fee Corrie to route on see will you things
track becomes a steep mountain trail, so you need to be be to need you so trail, mountain steep a becomes track
carving out the rough shape of the glen over thousands of years. years. of thousands over glen the of shape rough the out carving
Muir of Dinnet and Invereshie and Inshriach NNRs. Inshriach and Invereshie and Dinnet of Muir and crossbill. Signal posts along the trail will reveal some of the the of some reveal will trail the along posts Signal crossbill. and
about 2 hours there and back to the edge of the forest. The The forest. the of edge the to back and there hours 2 about
plucking up rocks and excavating the ground underneath, underneath, ground the excavating and rocks up plucking
glacially carved features can be seen on the Creag Meagaidh, Meagaidh, Creag the on seen be can features carved glacially some of the wildlife here, such as red squirrel, roe deer, dipper dipper deer, roe squirrel, red as such here, wildlife the of some
the top of the corrie and onto the Cairngorm plateau. Allow Allow plateau. Cairngorm the onto and corrie the of top the
Then during the Ice Age, glaciers flowed down the glen, glen, the down flowed glaciers Age, Ice the during Then
Similar processes happened all across the Cairngorms and other other and Cairngorms the across all happened processes Similar and colourful fungi in the autumn. Tread quietly and you may see see may you and quietly Tread autumn. the in fungi colourful and
about 1.5 km through the Reserve. This climbs 670m up to to up 670m climbs This Reserve. the through km 1.5 about
granite can be seen on the summits. the on seen be can granite As you walk up through the forest look out for woodland plants plants woodland for out look forest the through up walk you As
You can continue your walk following the unmarked trail trail unmarked the following walk your continue can You • Corrie Fee and Corrie Sharroch. Corrie and Fee Corrie
frost and ice wore away the softer rock above. Today this hard hard this Today above. rock softer the away wore ice and frost
As it flowed downhill, the glacier ice excavated the deep corries of of corries deep the excavated ice glacier the downhill, flowed it As and rivers. and
the edge of the wood, where you can see into the corrie. corrie. the into see can you where wood, the of edge the was exposed millions of years later after weathering by water, water, by weathering after later years of millions exposed was
broadleaved trees like birch along the sides of the forest streams streams forest the of sides the along birch like trees broadleaved
(roughly 45 minutes) along the waymarked forest trail to to trail forest waymarked the along minutes) 45 (roughly The magma cooled and hardened, becoming granite which granite becoming hardened, and cooled magma The July. of middle
for wildlife. You can see Sitka spruce, Scots pine, larch and and larch pine, Scots spruce, Sitka see can You wildlife. for
Corrie Fee NNR is reached after walking about 3.5km 3.5km about walking after reached is NNR Fee Corrie • deep inside the earth rose up to about 6km below the surface. surface. the below 6km about to up rose earth the inside deep the in even crampons, and axe ice rope, required have would
a wider variety of tree species and create sustainable habitats sustainable create and species tree of variety wider a
when several gigantic masses of molten rock (magma) from from (magma) rock molten of masses gigantic several when Fee Corrie through walk a then, Back Fee. Corrie in here glacier
Glen Doll car park and finishing at the top of the corrie. corrie. the of top the at finishing and park car Doll Glen
managed by the Forestry Commission Scotland to also encourage encourage also to Scotland Commission Forestry the by managed
The Cairngorm mountains northwest of Glen Doll were formed formed were Doll Glen of northwest mountains Cairngorm The small a was there ago years 12,000 age ice the of end tail the At
The Corrie Fee Trail runs for about 5km, beginning in the the in beginning 5km, about for runs Trail Fee Corrie The • originally planted in the 1950s and 1960s for timber, and today today and timber, for 1960s and 1950s the in planted originally
Earthmoving glaciers Earthmoving ice by carved armchairs Giant’s
The trail to Corrie Fee first takes you through a working forest, forest, working a through you takes first Fee Corrie to trail The Trail tips Trail
Moraine corries The wonders Woodland
Getting there Take the B955 north from Kirriemuir to the head of Glen What to see in Corrie Fee Clova, then take the minor road to Glen Doll car park. Hidden valley, hidden jewels Follow a glacier’s journey. The car park is 25km from Kirriemuir. The Glen Doll Walk up the Corrie Fee Trail to the edge of Glen Doll forest and Imagine its strength when it Ranger Base and toilets are by the car park. Corrie Fee enjoy the views of the natural amphitheatre of Corrie Sharroch carved out the cliffs and For public transport information please visit National Nature Reserve and the slopes of Craig Rennet, formed by glaciers and ice. corrie. Walk between the www.travelinescotland.com hummocks and erratics that Welcome to the botanical paradise of Corrie Fee National show where its power literally Nature Reserve, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. There melted away. For more information please contact: are nine National Nature Reserves in and around the Scottish Natural Heritage Tel: 01224 266516. Cairngorms National Park. Fee Burn Follow the burn as it flows down the corrie and discover the Look out for white bog cotton, yellow bog plants, birds and mammals that make this quiet mountain asphodel and purple cross- leaved heath Search for ‘Scotland’s National landscape special. Nature Reserves’ on Facebook. flowers brightening the wet flushes With the correct equipment, you can walk up through the corrie between May and August. to the Cairngorm plateau and onward to the nearby Munros of © Scottish Natural Heritage 2019 Mayar and Dreish to experience the whole upland atmosphere.
ISBN: 978-1-85397-807-4
Cotton grass Support this NNR at www.nature.scot/donate-nnr Discover the deep blue delicate milkwort and sunshine yellow tormentil between June and August when their flowers nestle amongst the drier heath. Milkwort
Watch the Fee, white with VISIT bubbles or winter ice, where it tumbles down the steep back wall, turning peat-stained brown A9 ABERDEEN as it sedately meanders across 7 Aboyne the valley floor, turning here and A93 there around the hummocks. Banchory Braemar Ballater
Glen Doll waterfall Stonehaven 3 A9 Corrie Fee Find alpine lady’s mantle, 2 A9 one of the more widespread NNR B9 5 0 arctic alpine plants with 5 A9 Montrose frothy yellow flowers above Pitlochry Kirriemuir Brechin silver backed leaves. A9 Forfar Alpine lady’s mantle Arbroath Walkers on the Corrie Fee Trail Dunkeld 4 DUNDEE 9 A 0 10 ml
PERTH A90
0 10 20km code: xxxxxxx Print Woolmer. Shona Hill. Main map by Fitzpatrick Richard Cooper, Scott Muir, Andy Thompson Photography, Gill/SNH, Photography: Lorne Natural clues Corrie Fee NNR The corrie floor is dotted with large boulders, called erratics, with some as big as Land Rovers. These boulders fell from the corrie walls onto the glacier and were carried along until the ice melted ennet ig R and they came to their final resting place where you see them today. Cra
s Erne Craig Corri ch e Sharro
e Fe of pps Kna
Erratic
The Fee Burn raine mo There are few places where you can clearly see the changes in the character of a mountain burn from a raging torrent to a more rratics sedate meandering channel. e The Fee Burn drops over the edge of the Cairngorm plateau, Fee Burn freefalling down the waterfall, losing its energy and slowing as the corrie flattens. The burn dumps its sandy load to form small short-lived beaches on the inside bends. Over time the meanders of the burn shift, reworking the sediments left by the glacier on the corrie floor. Rushes, sedges, and bog cotton that grow by the Path All map data © Crown copyright 2012. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100017908. meanders are the preferred food of the water vole. We are hoping they will make a comeback having been previously all but lost to invading mink. Pollen story Balancing act Put on your winter coat and hide Preserved in peat One of Britain’s last wildernesses The mountain hare is Scotland’s only mammal which is restricted to living in higher ground. Its blue-grey coat becomes a thick After the glacier retreated it left lochans which filled with fine The pollen story tells us that Corrie Fee was one of the last areas white winter coat by December, with fur growing on the underside peat over the last 11,000 years. Pollen from trees, shrubs and in Britain to be changed by humans. There was little change in of its toes giving it ‘snow shoes’. Winter camouflage helps to plants collected in the growing layers of peat over many the natural plant cover in this remote corrie for 11,000 years. protect the mountain hare in Corrie Fee from falling prey to the Waterfall and cliffs summers. Then about 200 years ago there was a dramatic change. golden eagles hunting over the corries. Scientists have studied the peat and, from identifying the pollen The woodland virtually disappeared and grassland expanded. Corrie Fee NNR is part trapped within it, have identified the different types of plants that Plants which were one widespread across the corrie became of two larger Special Cliffs and crags used to grow here. restricted to narrow gullies. Protection Areas, and is Arctic survivors From this research we know that there were once areas of willow This was a time when sheep farming was introduced and the of European importance and juniper scrub, and patches of birch and hazel woodland grassland attracted more deer. Young trees and sensitive plants for birds such as golden The harsh mountain environment of with a few pine, oak, elm and alder. could not survive the grazing. The woodlands died out, but the eagles. The crags and Corrie Fee NNR is a challenging place to woolly willow and a variety of now rare plants hung on in the woodlands of the NNR live. The plants and animals found here Alpine plants, for which the corrie is protected today, have been gullies and inaccessible ledges. are also home to other have developed special ways to survive in living here continuously since the last ice age. Many of these are mountain birds, such as the alpine conditions. This is one of the few now found only on ledges and gullies that grazing deer cannot This is why today we control deer numbers to protect Corrie Fee’s ring ouzel, peregrine places in the Cairngorms where a band of reach. special plants and habitats and a fence has been used to protect falcon, twite and raven. nutrient-rich rock, like hornblende schist, the most important areas for dwarf willows. creates soils with plant boosters that rare Mountain hare Alpine blue-sow-thistle arctic-alpine plants thrive on.
A thick skin and hairy legs could The top of the world save your life Climb to the top of the corrie and you will have The fierce winds and strong sunlight reached the Cairngorm plateau, the UK’s largest would dry out the leaves of ordinary plants. area of high mountain terrain. If you continue, Alpine saxifrage and roseroot have thick, look out for dotterel, ptarmigan and snow leathery leaves to keep the moisture in. bunting in this vast arctic wilderness. Yellow milk-vetch has stems and leaves covered with tiny white hairs that both Yellow milk-vetch reflect the harsh sunlight and trap a layer of moist air next to the plant.
Stay low and keep your head down High up on the mountainside, where the icy gales blow, is the natural habitat of the Old tree root exposed Red deer stags gnarled, twisted, and stunted ‘wee’ trees. by peat bog erosion This natural forest fringe has been lost on most Scottish mountains but here, in Corrie Fee and Corrie Sharroch, is the most extensive remnant of this montane scrub of rare woolly and downy willow. These precious willows keep their heads Woolly willow down, growing low to the ground to escape the worst of the violent wind.
Early start On these high mountains the growing season is very short. Purple saxifrage bursts into flower before the late snows have disappeared, making sure that its seeds are Meandering Fee produced and sown before summer ends. Burn and moraines
Purple saxifrage
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