Explore: the Burma Road
Apparently built by prisoners-of-war in the 1940s, The Burma Road is a 13-mile trail over the Monadhliath Mountains, ending in the valley of the Dulnain River. It’s an amazing walk for stunning views over the Cairngorms and will take around 4-5 hours – with plenty of stops for pictures.
How to get to the start (by car)
From the A9, turn off towards the Kinrara Distillery at Lynwilg. A short road takes you to a small settlement along the Allt-na-Criche creek. Veer right at the fork just before the settlement and you’ll see a small car park.
Plan ahead with a car at the end of the route
If you don’t want to walk the whole route back again (us neither) then it’s best to park a car at Dalnahaitnach, which is next to the River Dulnain, near Carrbridge. To get there, head along Station Road (opposite the Spar in Carrbridge) for about 10 minutes and you’ll get to a car park by the river. If you don’t have 2 cars available, you could just leave your car at the finish and then get a taxi to the start.
Starting the walk
From the Allt-na-Criche car park you’ll walk up a short road, through a gate, and onto a stony path. We’ve read reports of an honesty box with some tasty traybakes to buy, but we have to admit we didn’t see it last time we were there. Maybe bring a few pounds just in case!
The start of the walk is a brutal climb. It takes about an hour to walk the top, but you’ll get some incredible views of the Cairngorms while you’re up there. Plus, it’s good to get the hardest bit out the way first, then it’s all downhill from there. Make sure you bring plenty of water for this bit – and a camera.
Initially the road has a smooth gravel surface as it gets some farm traffic, but it becomes increasingly rough with larger rocks as you near the top. It's never technically difficult though, just long and steep.
Three rock cairns mark the top of the climb at 2,300 feet and the view from here is impressive, especially on a clear day. From here you’ll follow the path of the Burma Road, almost completely downhill for 10 miles or so – that’s your reward for climbing the steep hill at the start.
The road gets a bit rockier, but nothing too strenuous if you’ve got some good walking boots. It’s easy to follow the path along the descent into the tranquil valley of the River Dulnain. You’ll cross a quaint bridge over the river Dulnain, and after that the trail turns north and follows the river for some time.
When you reach a house at the seven mile mark, the trail surface switches to grass for a short distance before switching to crushed stone. The path will follow the River Dulnain and eventually come out at Dalnahaitnach where you’ve parked the car – or asked someone to pick you up.
Although it requires a bit of logistical planning, with a car needed to get to the start and the finish, this walk is well-worth it for a beautiful views over the mountains. Expect to see lots of sheep, plenty of miles of the Cairngorms, and very few people.
