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Walks around Tarland

Alastrean Circular Walk
Alastrean House

Parking/Start

St Moluag’s Church Car Park

Standard

Country Hike

Way-Marked Colour

Green

Distance

5 km

Time

1.5 hours

Introduction/Overview

This pleasant walk explores the countryside to the east of Tarland and is good for observing wild-life.   The outward route is through Alastrean Woods and the open countryside beyond.   The return loop follows quiet roads through the Howe 0’ Cromar.  Much of the walk is on good footpaths, tracks and roads.  There is little uphill climbing, but parts of the route can be exposed on windy days.

Route Description

From the car park opposite St Moluag’s Church, take the path way-marked green into the wood beyond the eastern boundary wall of the church.  Turn right after 250 metres onto a wider woodland track (1).  Continue eastwards until you emerge from the wood and meet a tarred access road to Alastrean House (2).   Bear slightly left away from Alastrean House and continue along the way-marked woodland track.   Watch out for the red squirrels and many different kinds of bird which are frequently seen in Alastrean Wood.

 

Red squirrel

Alastrean House, originally the House of Cromar, was the Deeside home of Lord and Lady Aberdeen until 1934 when it was transferred to Sir Alexander MacRobert.  It is currently owned by The MacRobert Trust and operated by the RAF Benevolent Fund as a retirement home.

Follow the woodland track for a short distance and you will come back to the tarred access road to Alastrean.  Cross the road and follow the track into the woods.   The track changes to a narrow footpath after crossing a ditch.  When you emerge from the trees at the eastern end of the wood (3), turn left down the stony track, following the way-marking post, and make for the prominent bridge which crosses the Smallburn (4).  Ahead lies an avenue through what will become a new line of ‘double beeches’. 

Autumn scene near Alastrean House

 

Shelter belts in the form of lines of double beeches are an established feature of the local landscape.  This is the first to be planted for over a century.

As the path climbs from the far end of the beech avenue, look back at the views of Lochnagar and Morven before entering the small pine wood.  To the left of the way-marking post at the top of a small rise within the wood are what may be the degraded remains of a stone circle (5).

The site matches what was described in the New Statistical Account of 1842 as one of three “lesser Druidical temples” believed to have been subsidiary to the Tomnaverie Stone Circle.   There is evidence to suggest that many more stone circles existed locally than survive today.  This would have been a typical site with its panoramic views to the south and west.

A short distance further on, turn right along the tarred road and look out for the old walled garden area.   The walls have been very carefully constructed and include two recesses for beehives along the back wall.

The road then winds through the farm buildings of Oldtown of Kincraigie.  The ‘monkey puzzle’ tree in front of the farmhouse(6) enjoys a particularly commanding (and exposed) outlook (6).

 

A beehive recess at Oldtown

 

Enjoy the fine view over the Howe O’ Cromar as you descend to join Tarland-to-Coull road (7).   Tum right and follow the road back to Tarland.

Depending on the time of year, you may see large numbers of geese roosting in the low-lying wet fields on your left.  Tomnaverie Stone Circle sits on top of the prominent small hill at the other side of these fields.   When the Circle was built, and for centuries afterwards, the floor of the Howe was covered by an extensive loch.

On your right, the curling pond (8) lies in a sheltered hollow with Tarland Golf Course beyond.   The ruined church on your left as you enter the village (9) is believed to date back to before 1567.

Turn right beyond the ruined church to return to the car park or left to visit the Square for shops and refreshments.

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Based on leaflet published June 2004 by the
Tarland Development Group in association with Upper Deeside Access Trust

© Peter Craig