THIS is a great winter walk, taking you high above a picturesque Angus glen, up to a dramatic corrie of cliffs containing a loch and on to a vast mountain plateau with fantastic views. But it is a mountain walk, so be fully prepared and take care, especially in poor weather conditions.

The first section rises through birch trees to open hillside, where there is already an unrestricted view of Glen Clova. The path to Loch Brandy was built to stop erosion, and the stone steps have actually been made for the average walker – not giants or toddlers.

After you reach Loch Brandy, the route becomes much rougher as you clamber up the path on the extremely steep sides of the Snub. Before you start this – the steepest part of the day – enjoy the view of the deep corrie and loch, with its great, shattered crags.

The rest of the route will take you round the top of this corrie, but not before some huffing and puffing to the summit cairn of the Snub – at 2,746ft. The views are great, with the mighty Lochnagar dominating to the north-west. To the west are Driesh and Mayar, with Mount Keen, the most easterly Munro, standing alone in the north-east. All around is a mountain plateau, which you can take in as you continue down to a boggy bealach and up a gentler slope to the top of Green Hill – at 2,854ft. The summit is beyond the first large cairn you come to, at a smaller cairn on some boulders. From here you can see down Glen Clova to the Airlie monument.

The descent is straightforward, down Broom Shank. On the way, look at the impressive cliffs below the Snub before you return to Loch Brandy's shore and retrace your steps to the glen.

In deep snow and thick ice, this walk can be a tough undertaking – especially the steep climb of the Snub. If you are unsure, remember that it will be there another day.

Distance 5.5 miles.

Height climbed 2,290ft.

Time 4.5 to 5.5 hours.

Map OS Landranger 44.

Park Take the B955 out of Kirriemuir, following signs to Clova. On reaching the Glen Clova Hotel, go left and then left again, into the Milton of Clova car park.

In summary Walk back to the hotel and go round the back, keeping to the right-hand side. Go past a bunkhouse, on the left, and up to a metal gate. Go through this, following a sign for Glenesk, and walk up through woods to a wooden footbridge and a metal kissing gate.

On the other side of the gate, follow a well-made path up a steep, open hillside. The gradient eases before you reach Loch Brandy.

Just before the loch, bear left to climb the steep path up the Snub. Go straight on, past the summit cairn, and drop down to a boggy area – where you go right.

Keep going in a roughly straight line, ignoring tracks and a path going off to the right, until you reach a large cairn. Just after this, a second cairn, by some boulders, marks the top of Green Hill.

Return to the first of the two cairns and turn left. Follow the path down, bearing right towards the bottom at the top of a line of grouse butts. After crossing a burn, walk round Loch Brandy and go left at the bottom of the path up the Snub to retrace your steps to the start of the walk.

Refreshments The Glen Clova Hotel is a popular watering hole for outdoor types, and is great for post-walk pints and bar food. It also has a restaurant.

While you are in the area Check out Glamis Castle (01307 840393, www.glamis-castle.co.uk), the childhood home of the Queen Mother, which is on the A928 south of Kirriemuir.