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Walks for
2008
Aberdeenshire
Council Ranger Service
Programme of Events April – September (Deeside)
Welcome to the Aberdeenshire
Council Ranger Service programme of events for April to September
(Deeside).
Why not try something
different this summer - experience the creatures of the night, dig a bit
of archaeology or go wild in the woods. Whatever your age, interest or
ability, there’s something for everyone.
To help you decide
if an event is suitable for you, all our events have symbols. However,
if you need any further information or have any special requirements then
please contact the relevant organiser – details are given with each
event.
C
Children’s Event – aimed at 8 – 12 year olds. Children
8 and under are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent
or guardian.
O
Open to All – everyone is welcome to come along. Under 16’s
should be accompanied.
A
Adult Events – only suitable for over 18’s.
B
Booking Essential – many events need to be booked in advance. To
reserve your place simply contact the event organiser. Some events may
have a waiting list, so if you find that after you’ve booked you
are unable to attend, please call and let us know.
£
Cost – the majority of events are free to attend. Where there is
a charge it can be paid on the day (unless stated otherwise). Cheques
should be made payable to Aberdeenshire Council.
WALKS
Some of our walks have been graded – these are for guidance only.
E Easy – mainly on paths and tracks.
M Moderate – paths or tracks most of the way, but
walking on rough ground and/or steep ascents in places.
S Strenuous – some previous experience recommended;
significant walking over rough ground and some long/steep ascents.
Please remember that
for safety reasons you should come appropriately dressed for the event
you are attending.
Dogs on walks –
dogs are welcome on some guided walks – please ask when booking.
Saturday 12th April 10.00am – 9.30pm A B £ FABULOUS
FROGS AND LOVELY LIZARDS
Following on from last years success we are again offering the chance
for people to join us in the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording
Scheme (NARRS) surveys run by The Herpetological Conservation Trust (HCT)
- for details and to sign up to take part visit www.narrs.org.uk.
Volunteer to carry out surveys in your local area and find out how to
identify different species and habitats. This will involve an indoor session
and field visits including one evening visit. Please bring outdoor wear,
a packed lunch and money for an evening meal plus a torch for our evening
session.
This event is organised in partnership with Glen Tanar Ranger Service,
www.glentanar.co.uk
MEET: at Braeloine Visitor Centre, Glen Tanar, Aboyne. AB34 5EU
CONTACT: the Access Ranger on 013398 87453
Sunday 27th April A B £ M BEN NEWE – TILLYPRONIE (6
miles)
Bus leaves Gordon House at 8.30am and returns at approx. 4pm.
Landranger map No 37 Strathdon.
This walk starts in Strathdon below Ben Newe. It immediately crosses the
River Don and climbs over the shoulder of Clachcurr by the Glac of Barns,
then by way of Tom Beith, south to Siliken and on to Gallows Hill. The
descent over Baderonoch takes us near the beautiful Tillypronie House,
the grounds of which are open to the public twice a year. Great views
over both Donside and Deeside on this fairly easy walk. Cost: £14
MEET: at Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie
CONTACT: the Bennachie Centre on 01467 681470
Saturday 17th May
10.30am – 3.30pm A B BUTTERFLY IDENTIFICATION & RECORDING
WORKSHOP
Learn how to identify butterflies & contribute records to Butterfly
Conservation’s national recording schemes & the North East Scotland
Biological Records Centre (NESBReC). Suitable for beginners or improvers,
the day will include a presentation on Scottish species & visits to
local sites, where spring butterflies such as priority species Pearl-bordered
Fritillary should be on the wing. Bring a packed lunch. This event is
organised in partnership with Butterfly Conservation & NESBReC.
MEET: Burn o’ Vat Visitor Centre - grid ref: NO 429 997.
CONTACT: NESBReC on 01224 273633, e-mail nesbrec@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
or visit www.nesbrec.org.uk
Saturday 17th –
Friday 23rd May A B £ E/M/S BALLATER WALKING FESTIVAL
Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service will be leading some of the walks
on upper Deeside & Donside for this annual walking festival.
CONTACT: Ballater (Royal Deeside) Ltd. on 013397 55467, e-mail info@walkballater.com
or visit
www.walkballater.com
Sunday 18th May A B £ E GLEN TANAR CIRCULAR (9 miles)
Bus leaves Gordon House at 8.30am and returns at approx. 4pm.
Landranger map No 44 Ballater
This circular walk starts at the car park at Braeloin in Glen Tanar. It
rises gently over the Firmounth Road, an ancient cross country route,
and into one of the few remnants of the old Caledonian Pine Forest for
which this area is famous. From here the path leads round the Strone and
descends by the Water of Allachy to the Water of Tanar, past Glen Tanar
House and the end of the walk. Cost: £14
MEET: at Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie
CONTACT: the Bennachie Centre on 01467 681470
Saturday 14th June
10.00am – 12noon O B E BANCHORY St TERNAN’S FAIR WALK
Discover the natural and cultural heritage of Banchory while exploring
some of the local path network. This event is organised in partnership
with Banchory Paths Association.
MEET: Bellfield Park (by guide hut), off Dee Street, Banchory –
grid ref: NO 698555 CONTACT: the Marr Ranger on 013398 85751
Sunday 29th June A B £ S BALMORAL FOREST AND BALLOCHBUIE
FOREST (8 miles)
Landranger Map No 44 Ballater
Bus leaves Gordon House at 8.30am and returns at approx. 4pm.
This walk is a mixture of superb open hillside and woodland. It starts
near Balmoral Castle and proceeds via the Dubh-chlais onto the track up
Glen Gelder for Lochnagar to the south. Then heading west over rocky moorland
it descends into lovely Ballochbuie Forest before crossing the River Dee.
This route offers a good chance to see red deer, red grouse, and if you
are really lucky, the elusive capercaillie. Cost: £14
MEET: at Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie
CONTACT: the Bennachie Centre on 01467 681470
Friday 4th –
Friday 11th July O/A B (£) E/M/S BRAEMAR GALA WEEK
For this community festival, Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service will
be leading walks including Baddoch to Auchcallater via Loch Callater &
Craig Leek to Glen Feardar circular (in conjunction with Invercauld Estate),
Morrone Birkwood – butterfly walk, plus a moth/bat night & pond
dipping.
CONTACT: For full programme details - Braemar Tourist Information Centre
on 013397 41600, email braemartic@visitscotland.com
or visit www.braemarscotland.co.uk/visiting_braemar/news_events
or the Marr Ranger on 013398 85751 for more information on ranger-led
events.
Saturday 19th July
2.00 – 4.00pm O B E JEWELS OF THE AIR
Discover the butterflies & dragonflies that inhabit our moorlands
& bogs on a 3-mile walk using mostly level tracks during Butterfly
Conservation's 'Save our Butterflies Week'. This event is organised in
partnership with Balmoral Estate & Butterfly Conservation.
MEET: at Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Centre, Glen Muick, Ballater AB35
5SU
CONTACT: the Balmoral Rangers on 013397 55059
Friday 25th July 8.30pm ‘til late O B CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
Get up close and personal with moths and bats in Finzean Community Woods
& dispel all your fears of these intriguing creatures. Bring a torch
& wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses if you have them (to shield eyes
from moth trap light). This event is organised in partnership with Birse
Community Trust – Finzean Community Woods Project & Butterfly
Conservation.
MEET: at the Village Hall car park, Finzean on B976 – grid ref:
NO 621925
CONTACT: the Marr Ranger on 013398 85751
Saturday 26th July – Sunday 10th August O/A B (£) E/M/S ACTIVE
ABOYNE
Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service will be leading a number of local
walks & family events for this multi-activity festival.
CONTACT: Mid Deeside Ltd. on 013398 85222, e-mail activeaboyne@tiscali.co.uk
or visit www.activeaboyne.co.uk
Sunday 27th July A B £ S GLEN GAIRN BY LOCH BUILG TO CORGARFF
(15 miles)
Bus leaves Gordon House at 8.30am and returns at approx. 4pm.
Landranger Map No 36 Grantown and 37 Strathdon
This is a long walk but it is all on track or landrover tracks. Starting
by the famous hump-backed bridge over the River Gairn it heads upstream
past the strangely named Tullochmacarrick farm to lonely Corndavon Lodge.
West, then north, to Loch Builg sheltering under the steep slopes of Ben
Avon to Inchrory and the River Avon. A short climb takes us into the headwaters
of the River Don and we follow this east to Corgarff castle and the end
of the walk. Cost: £14.
MEET: at Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie
CONTACT: the Bennachie Centre on 01467 681470
Saturday 9th to Saturday
16th August O/A B £ E/M BALLATER VICTORIA WEEK
For this community festival, Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service will
be leading two walks in the Ballater area & (in conjunction with Balmoral
Estate) a bat & moth night at the Spittal of Glen Muick.
CONTACT: Ballater (Royal Deeside) Ltd. on 013397 55467, e-mail ballatervw@gmail.com
or visit
www.freewebs.com/victoriaweek
for full programme details or the Marr Ranger on 013398 85751 for more
information on ranger-led events.
Sunday 31st August A B £ S GLEN CALLATER TO GLEN SHEE VIA
CARN AN TUIRC (8 miles)
Bus leaves Gordon House at 8.30am and returns at approx. 4pm.
Landranger Map No 43 Braemar and Blair Atholl
A chance to bag a Munro! This walk starts with a gentle rise along Glen
Callater to Loch Callater. The it climbs up the north shoulder of Carn
an Tuirc at 1019 m with superb views over the Cairngorms to the south
west. The descent is via the Allt a’ Gharbh choire to the Old Military
Road which still carries traffic over to Glen Shee. Cost: £14
MEET: at Gordon House, Blackhall Road, Inverurie
CONTACT: the Bennachie Centre on 01467 681470
Friday 5th September
7.30pm ‘til late O B WILD NIGHT IN THE WOODS
Discover the fascinating nightlife of Scolty Woodland Park, including
moths, bats & anything else we may find! Bring a torch & wide-brimmed
hat or sunglasses if you have them (to shield eyes from moth trap light).
This event is organised in partnership with Scolty Woodland Park Association,
Forestry Commission Scotland & Butterfly Conservation.
MEET: at Scolty Woodland Park car park, off Auchattie Road, Banchory –
grid ref: NO 688948
CONTACT: the Marr Ranger on 013398 85751
Saturday 20th September 10.30am – 3.30pm A B M SALMON &
STANES
Explore how natural forces & human activities have shaped the landscape
on this 8-mile walk. From the spectacular Falls of Feugh, where salmon
may be seen leaping, the walk ascends around the Craig of Affrusk in Rhindbuckie
Wood to reach three prehistoric stone circles, including the largely intact
Nine Stanes of Mulloch, returning by another route through the forest.
Please bring a packed lunch.
This event is part of Scottish Archaeology Month & Scottish Geology
Month. MEET: at the Falls of Feugh car park, South Deeside Road, Banchory
– grid ref: NO 703951 CONTACT: the Marr Ranger on 013398 85751
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