Loch Muick to Glen Clova — Capel Mounth Ancient Drove Road via the Mounth Plateau
Centuries-old drove road over the Mounth plateau.
The Capel Mounth has been moving cattle, soldiers, and smugglers between Deeside and Angus for centuries. The track leaves the car park at the foot of Loch Muick near Ballater, climbs steeply through heather moorland past the Capel Burn crossing, and crests the plateau at around 2,450 feet before dropping hard into Glen Clova — one of the finest Angus glens you’ll see from a driver’s seat. The descent into Clova is the rough bit: loose stone, eroded channels, and a series of compressed switchbacks that demand total attention. Estate gates are present throughout — leave them as you find them.
This is an intermediate to difficult track depending on conditions. A lifted, high-clearance 4WD with low range is the minimum — summer-dry conditions make it manageable for a competent stock 4×4, but wet or early-autumn conditions add significant mud and loose scree on the descent. No permit needed but you’re crossing Balmoral Estate ground; check seasonal deer-stalking closures (typically August to October). Nearest fuel is Ballater or Kirriemuir. No cell service on the plateau. Pack water and plan to stay at the Clova Hotel at the bottom — it earns every pint.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 14 mi / 22.5 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2450 ft |
| Best season | May-July |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with low range |
| Nearest town | Ballater, Aberdeenshire |
| Land manager | Balmoral Estate / Forestry and Land Scotland |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Defender or Tacoma handle this, or does it need something more serious?
A high-clearance 4WD with low range and good all-terrain tyres can manage it in dry summer conditions — a stock Defender 110, Tacoma, or 4Runner with a modest lift is the baseline. Anything lower, softer, or without low range is going to have a bad time on the plateau sections and the approach tracks.
When is this route actually driveable and what shuts it down?
May through July is the reliable window — snow can linger on the Mounth plateau well into spring and the tracks turn to bog in wet autumn and winter. Even in summer, a heavy rain event can make the water crossings and soft ground sections impassable quickly.
Do you need a permit to drive the Capel Mounth, and is there a fee?
The route crosses Balmoral Estate land, so you'll need to check current access permissions with Balmoral Estate directly before you go — this is not an open-access vehicle route and permission is not guaranteed. Scotland's Land Reform Act covers walkers and cyclists, but it does not extend to motorised vehicles on private estate tracks.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it technical?
The plateau crossing is where it gets serious — loose rock, eroded peat ruts, and exposed moorland with no bailout options if conditions turn. The combination of steep gradient, rough surface, and a total lack of recovery assistance in the area is what earns it the 'difficult' rating, not one single gnarly obstacle.
Are there fuel stops or services between Ballater and Glen Clova?
No — there is nothing between the start at Loch Muick and the Glen Clova end, and cell service is completely absent the entire route. Fill up in Ballater before you go, carry recovery gear, and let someone know your itinerary and expected exit time.
Trail track
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