Glen
Glen Lui
The Caledonian pine approach to the Cairngorm plateau — old pines, the shell of Derry Lodge, and the southern way in to Ben Macdui.
- Munros
- 5
- Corbetts
- 3
- Grahams
- 1
- Bothies
- 4
- Wild swimming
- 1
- Highest peak
- Derry Cairngorm (1155.8m)
Glen Lui runs north from the Linn of Dee through ancient Caledonian pinewoods toward the heart of the Cairngorm massif. The approach from the National Trust for Scotland car park at Linn of Dee (west of Braemar) follows a wide track up Glen Lui to Derry Lodge — a long, low-level walk through the pines. Beyond Derry Lodge, the routes branch toward the Cairngorm plateau, Ben Macdui, and the Lairig an Laoigh.
The forest is remnant Caledonian pinewood — old Scots pine with juniper, blaeberry and heather beneath. The glen forms the southern approach to some of the Cairngorm plateau's most remote terrain.
The road in
Parking1 spot
Linn of Dee car park
Pay and display for non-members of the National Trust for Scotland (members park free) — check signs on site
Hills from Glen Lui5 Munros · 3 Corbetts · 1 Grahams
Bothies in the glen4 in range
Bob Scott's Memorial Bothy
NO042932
From Linn of Dee car park
Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House)
MBANO003869
From Linn of Dee car park (NTS, paid), west of Braemar
Corrour Bothy
MBANN981958
From Linn of Dee car park
Hutchison Memorial Hut
MBANO023998
From Linn of Dee car park
Wild swimming1 spot nearby
What's in the glen
Derry Lodge
A former shooting lodge of the Mar estate, still standing but empty and dilapidated. It sits where the Glen Derry and Glen Luibeg paths divide, a long-standing waypoint on the approaches to the Cairngorm plateau from Deeside.
Derry pinewoods
Remnant Caledonian pinewood around Derry Lodge and into Glen Derry — old Scots pine with juniper, blaeberry and heather beneath.
Our take
The Derry pines walk is consistently excellent. It is the right level of commitment for a winter day when the high plateau is out of condition — old pines, a clear track, and Derry Lodge at the end. For the plateau, use this as the approach if you are coming from the south — it adds distance but the forest start is worth it.
History
Glen Lui runs north from the Linn of Dee to Derry Lodge, a former shooting lodge of the Mar estate, which has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland as the Mar Lodge Estate since 1995. The lodge still stands, empty and dilapidated. The glen is the principal walkers' approach from the south to the Cairngorm core — Ben Macdui, Carn a' Mhaim and the Lairig Ghru.
Practical
- Mobile signal
- Signal at Linn of Dee. None in the glen beyond the first kilometre.
- Midges
- Low–moderate(2/5)
- Public transport
- No public transport to Linn of Dee that we can confirm — check Traveline Scotland. Car or taxi from Braemar.
- Dogs
- On lead — livestock or ground-nesting birds present.
Map
Hills (green), bothies (brown), parking (blue), wild swimming (light blue).
Nearby glens
Scotland outdoor updates
Route guides, condition reports and seasonal picks — once a month, no noise.
Glen Lui — common questions
- How's the drive into Glen Lui?
- Unsealed track — rough surface, not suitable for low cars. Allow extra time for the drive in.
- Can you drive a campervan into Glen Lui?
- Best avoided in a big vehicle. Narrow sections, tight turns or scarce passing space make Glen Lui awkward for motorhomes and large campervans — park in a wider valley and walk in.
- Will midges be a problem in Glen Lui?
- We rate Glen Lui 2/5 for midges — moderate between late May and September. Still, humid evenings are peak biting time; wind and height are your friends. Pack Smidge and a head net from May.
- Is it legal to wild camp in Glen Lui?
- Yes. Under the Land Reform Act 2003 you can wild camp on most unenclosed land in Scotland, provided you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code — keep off enclosed farmland, camp in small groups, and leave no trace. Glen Lui sits outside the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Camping Management Zones, so the March-September permit restrictions there don't apply here.
- How do I reach Glen Lui by public transport?
- No public transport to Linn of Dee that we can confirm — check Traveline Scotland. Car or taxi from Braemar.