Starting at the car park at the end of the public road, walkers follow the glen through the native Caledonian Forest into open moorland before crossing the river to begin the ascent.

Of particular note are the rare false blister beetle, the hoverfly Callicera rufa, the bumblebee robberfly and the green hairstreak butterfly.

[13] Glen Tanar is an important site for birds, reflected in its SPA designation, which notes the breeding presence of four particular species: capercaillie, Scottish crossbill, osprey and golden eagle.

[14] Glen Tanar is also noted for black grouse, hen harrier, golden plover and merlin, and is probably the most important site for the Scottish crossbill, a species endemic to Scotland.

[5][13] Mammal species at Glen Tanar include red squirrel, Scottish wildcat and otter, and the river system is important for atlantic salmon.

In 1865 the estate was bought by William Cunliffe Brooks, an English barrister and merchant banker who in 1869 was elected as Conservative MP for East Cheshire.

He also installed numerous carved stones and memorials in the surrounding countryside, many of which make playful references to his name or celebrate the virtues of drinking water rather than alcohol.