New Aberdour to Pennan; the Corpse Road

Today's Sunday afternoon walk was along the corpse road from  New Aberdour to Pennan. The  track from Mill Farm first descends, then climbs the side of the Dour Den, it is steep and twisting at this point. There are alders, willows and the occasional conifer and one has a sense of descending into a secret place. Beneath the trees are bracken and ferns, willow herb, bishop weed and dog's mercury.  Between the trees are glimpses of the kirkyard to which coffins were carried from Pennan.  Once out of the Den the path climbs steeply to Bankhead and after a short distance becomes a narrow path between fields. There are astonishing  panoramic views back towards New Aberdour and along the coast to Rosehearty. After rejoining  the road to Clinterty Farm the road descends to Pouk Howe where there is  a shallow lochan.

The lochan at Pouk Howe is almost choked with pond weed. The green foliage in the middle distance is Bog Bean. The leaves were clearly identifiable with the aid of binoculars as were the few remnants of flowers.


There is  a steady climb along a pleasant  track, this has steep banks on both sides, sections of which are covered in bracken and ferns and occasionally heather and ling. The track arrives at a junction with the path from the main Pennan road at Slack of Towie. Again there are amazing views towards Auchmedden kirk, Mains of Auchmedden, Pennan Head and the bay.Here we turned back and retraced our steps, hurrying to avoid approaching rain.