Date of Walk

Sunday 18th May

Distance
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12km, 7 miles
50m, 160ft
44
Station Square 09.00hrs
5 hrs

We follow the old railway line out of Ballater and head out towards Tullich. We pass the churchyard and take a short detour to visit the Farquharson Monument. We then rejoin the path and visit the ruins of the Bobbin Mill, where spindles for the textile mills of the North of England were made from Birch wood.
Crossing over the A93 we follow a path through woods to reach the quarry that furnished the granite from which Ballater was built in the 19th Century. We continue through the woods and then re-cross the road to pass through Tullich Cemetery and rejoin the old line path, back into Ballater.

Date of Walk

Monday 19th May

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We leave the A93 at Auchallater and follow the track, which was part of Jock’s Road to Loch Callater Lodge, where we stop for a scenic lunch. In the distance you can see Lochnagar. We then take a circular trip round Loch Callater and follow the path back to our starting point. This is a very scenic walk..

Date of Walk

Tuesday 20th May

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Starting at St.James’s 1km east of Dinnet, this walk sets out on an ancient way past the hill of Mullochdhu, then diverts from Burnside to Monandavan via Keiselguhr, where diatomite was dug to make explosives. It passes a medieval camp near Loch Davan to Heugh, then through the hamlet of Ordie to Nether Ruthven, rejoining the old road at Leys. The walk continues past the policies of Corrachree House en route to Tarland.

Date of Walk

Wednesday 21st May

From the Visitor Centre at Braeloine, our first stop is at the Episcopalian Chapel of St Lesmo built in 1890.We then follow the old drove road known as the Firmouth due south to circle a hill known as “the Strone” where we reach the confluence of the Tanar and the Allochy before returning to Braeloine.

Date of Walk

Thursday 22nd May

Starting off the A939 Ballater to Tomintoul road, this walk passes by some remote pastureland with wonderful views up the valley of the River Gairn in the distance. We start near the Black Bridge in Glen Gairn and after passing over the Gairn we follow the track to Dalfad, where the remains of the old manse and Catholic Chapel can be seen. We continue along the track passing Clashanruich to reach the A939. After a short distance we turn off this road to the ancient settlement of Glenfenzie and follow the path back via Balno to our starting point.

Date of Walk

Friday 23rd May

Starting at the Spittal of Muick we walk over to Allt-na-giubsach to join a Landrover track between the Muick and a narrow strip of conifers. The track descends gradually towards Birkhall, passing the waterfall and salmon ladder. Depending on the recent weather this can be a spectacular sight. Within about three hours we reach the Mill of Sterin for our pick up point.

Date of Walk

Sunday 18th May

We leave Ballater by the Royal Bridge, turn right onto the South Deeside Road, and walk to the Bridge of Muick, where we follow a track known as the Pollogach up to Craig Vallich. There are wonderful views of Ballater and beyond from Craig Vallich.
We then continue to Pannanich Hill and Craig Coillich before reaching Dalmochie, which was the site of the Newfoundlanders’ WW2 logging camp. We then return to Ballater via the Royal Bridge.

Date of Walk

Monday 19th May

Date of Walk

Tuesday 20th May

From the village of Tarland we walk north through cultivated fields fringed by beech trees up on to open moorland to reach a cairn on the top of Pittenderich Hill. After a stiff pull up to the summit of Pressendye at 619m we should enjoy extensive views in every direction. From here we head west along the ridge to Lazy Well from where we descend gradually past East Davoch and Millhead to reach our starting point.

Date of Walk

Wednesday 21st May

This is a very pleasant circular walk giving a variety of scenery. We start at Glencat and walk to Birse Castle, then follow the Fungle Road before turning towards Carnferg and back to Glencat for our pickup and return to Ballater.

Date of Walk

Thursday 22nd May

Starting from the Old Military Road between Crathie and Gairnshiel, this route ascends Geallaig Hill, giving unrivalled views of the Dee valley and Lochnagar. It descends to Braenaloin and Rineten, then passes an historic Catholic burial ground and watermill, returning via the abandoned croft of Blairglass to the road

Date of Walk

Friday 23rd May

After leaving the car park, the walk heads along a narrow tarred road past Lost Farm. Continuing on a track past the ruins of Corriebreck we cross the river and head westwards up Glen Nochty to Tolduquhill. We continue on the path until a T junction of tracks, where we strike eastward on a path which takes us past Knapps (548m) and Greenhill (570m). At the junction of the second track, we turn northwards to rejoin the tarred road taking us southwards, past Lost, and return to the car park.

Date of Walk

Sunday 18th May

Starting from the Linn of Dee car park, we walk up Glen Lui to Derry Lodge and Glen Derry for elevenses. As Glen Derry opens out, we follow a rough but gently climbing path to Craig Derry and then south east to Beinn Bhreac. Dropping south to the Poll Bhat, a short climb brings us to the top of Meall an Lundain. With good visibility, we should get some cracking views of the Cairngorms from this high level traverse. The descent takes us down the SE shoulder of Meall an Lundain to a pleasant walk out via Glen Quoich

Date of Walk

Monday 19th May

We start at the track to the Baddoch off the A93, cross the river and ascend to the ridge of Strone Baddoch for a very scenic walk southwards to Carn Chrionaidh. From there we bear east to the top of Carn Aosda, the first of our three Munros, overlooking the Glenshee ski area. We follow the track round to the Cairnwell, and then head west to Carn A Gheoidh, before heading north down the spur to pick up the head of the Baddoch Landrover track, and our return down the glen back to the road.

Date of Walk

Tuesday 20th May

Starting at the Linn of Dee, we get the walk to Derry Lodge under our belts whilst still fresh. Following the recently reconstructed path round and over the Luibeg Bridge, a short ascent round the shoulder of Carn A’Mhaim brings us into the Lairig Ghru (Gaelic – Gloomy Pass… we hope not on the day!) opposite Corrour Bothy. A steady gentle pull over the next few miles takes us to the pass summit at 835m/2700ft. Be careful hereabouts as there are a few boulders to negotiate. From here, we should get a good view into Speyside. The path drops quite quickly now down to a split in the track. This year, we are proposing a slightly different and perhaps more interesting finish to the walk by following the track through the Chalamain (or Windy!) Gap and ending the walk at the Sugar Bowl car park on the Cairngorm road

Date of Walk

Wednesday 21st May

Distance
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Starting from the Spittal of Muick car park, we climb up to Capel Mounth, then follow the track past Moulzie. We ascend gradually, then a little steeper up the narrowing gorge to Bachnagairn. After crossing the gorge on a good wooden bridge, we follow the good path up to the shoulder at Sandy Hillocks stable. We descend to Loch Muick via the"Streak of Lightning" path and follow the South shore of Loch Muick back to the Spittal for the lift back to Ballater..