Date of Walk

Sunday 17th May

Distance
Ascent
OS Map
Time

13.5km, 9 miles
80m, 250ft
44, 37
5 hours

We are dropped off at the Crannoch Woods, and then cross the main road to pick up the old line path which will take us into Dinnet in about an hour. We then walk round the edge of Loch Kinord before heading cross country to reach the Burn O’ Vat. From the Burn O’ Vat, a gradual ascent will take us up to the path above, for a lovely walk back through the woods to our starting point at Crannoch.

Date of Walk

Monday 18th May

Distance
Ascent
OS Map
Time

From the centre of Braemar, we follow the Clunie Water downstream to its confluence with the River Dee. The attractive riverside path continues upstream along the Dee, emerging on the Linn of Dee road. This we cross to enter Morrone Birkwood National Nature Reserve, with post-Ice Age vegetation similar to parts of Norway. We take the circular route anticlockwise around the reserve as far as the Cairngorms viewpoint indicator. From here we continue on a path around the base of Morrone hill, descending to Glen Clunie and returning to the village by a quiet road alongside the river

Date of Walk

Tuesday 19th May

Distance
Ascent
OS Map
Time

Walking out of the village in a southerly direction, we cross the Royal Bridge, turning right and following the South Deeside Road to the Bridge of Muick and Glen Muick kirkyard. Along the road we pass the farm of Dalliefour and visit the ruins of Knock Castle, reminder of the bitter Gordon – Forbes conflicts. We take a woodland path to Loch Ullachie and Strath Girnoc from where we head north through the woods and re-cross the River Dee by the pretty suspension bridge at Polhollick and return to the village via the Bridge of Gairn and the Old Line Road.

Date of Walk

Wednesday 20th May

At Crathie we visit the old kirk’s graveyard where John Brown, Queen Victoria’s ‘loyal servant’ was buried. We cross the River Dee by the suspension bridge to East Balmoral, passing close to the Royal Lochnagar Distillery We walk up Creag Lurachain to Albert’s Cairn after visiting the shrubbery where John Brown’s statue is now situated. From the Cairn we drop down into Glen Gelder and travel round Ripe Hill to the woods of Garmaddie. The estate road takes us past the farm of Invergelder to the top of the drive giving fine views of Balmoral Castle. We exit through the main gates and return to the car park at Crathie

Date of Walk

Thursday 21st May

This route starts at the Old Brig O’ Dee, one of the most famous in Scotland. We then pass through the beautiful ancient Caledonian Pine Forest of the Ballochbuie. We follow the path through the forest, along the side of the River Dee, until we finish at the historic village of Crathie.

Date of Walk

Friday 22nd May

This walk begins where the Water of Nochty flows into the river Don and heads east along a quiet country road south of the Don. Leaving the river we follow a track up to Heugh-Head, entering the forest at Old Semeil and climbing up Forbridge Hill. From here we return in a westerly direction through Bunzeach Forest to return to our starting point.

Date of Walk

Sunday 17th May

This walk starts on the track off the Birkhall road, from where we move across open moorland to reach the Cairn of the Coyles. The Cairn of the Coyles overlooks the other two Coyles, i.e. Meal Dubh and Craig of Loinmuie. At this time of year the ground should be abundant with wild flowers. From the Coyles we should get great views down on Ballater and up to Lochnagar. We return down a steep slope and through the pine forest, passing the ancient settlement of Loinn Muighe, to come out opposite Birkhall.

Date of Walk

Monday 18th May

Date of Walk

Tuesday 19th May

We head out of Ballater past the Darroch Learg Hotel, and cross over the Pass of Ballater road, to enter beautiful Glen Bardy, where on a clear day there are fantastic views of the mountains. A steep climb will take us to the top of the Hill of Candacraig, after which we make our way over to Peter’s Hill. From Peter’s Hill, we descend to the Pass of Ballater road via Balmenach. We return to Ballater via the cinder path.

Date of Walk

Wednesday 20th May

Starting at the Keiloch car park, we follow the River Dee until we reach the Quoich Water. We then descend into the grounds of Mar Lodge, before crossing the bridge onto the main road for a short distance and then entering the forest for a lovely walk into Braemar.

Date of Walk

Thursday 21st May

This walk starts at the car park by the Glenshee Ski Slopes. We follow a relatively steep track to Meall Odher and on up to Glas Maol. From here we walk north along the track to Cairn of Claise and on to our third Munro at Carn an Tuirc. We then walk east to the corrie above Loch Kander before turning north and descending into Glen Callater to reach the lodge at the north end of Loch Callater. From the lodge an easy walk takes us to Auchallater in about an hour.

Date of Walk

Friday 22nd May

From the east end of Aboyne, we follow the Old Deeside railway line past Aboyne Loch, a good place to spot ospreys fishing. We divert around the north shore of the loch and walk a meandering path through attractive woodland towards the historic hill of Mortlich. The final ascent to the summit is an optional extension to the circuit. We continue on a moorland path to Little Hill and descend by a track to another section of the old railway, which we follow east for a short distance until reaching a track to cross the A93. From here we take the road to Belwade Farm horse sanctuary, then a track along the Tarland Burn to the Bell Wood, where paths lead back to the village.

Date of Walk

Sunday 17th May

Starting at the old military bridge at Invercauld, we walk up through the wonderful ancient pine forest of Ballochbuie past one of Queen Victoria’s favourite spots at the Garbh Allt falls. Following the track further uphill and out of the forest, we’ll stop for elevenses at the Feindallacher stables. An interesting burn crossing sees us following a well maintained stalkers path most of the way up Carn Taggart. A stiff pull, with a litter of aircraft debris to maintain the interest, sees us to the summit and some substantial pieces of wreckage. Our descent takes us briefly down the path before heading across country via Creag an Loch and Meall an Slugain before dropping to the little frequented Loch Phadraig (Patrick’s Loch). A short but rough descent takes us onto the landrover track in Glen Callater and a short easy walk back to the pick up at Auchallater.

Date of Walk

Monday 18th May

This walk starts at the visitor centre at the Spittal of Glen Muick. The route takes us through the remnant birchwoods along the northern shore of Loch Muick. At the head of the loch we climb gradually up past the Stulan Waterfall to the Dubh Loch. We follow the Allt an Dubh loch up past a series of waterfalls to gain the summit plateau of Carn a’ Chorie Bhoidheach. From here we descend to the remote Loch Buidhe and cut across the hill to the Glas allt Shiel and follow the southern shore of Loch Muick back to the visitor centre. There is a good chance of seeing a variety of mountain birds on this walk.

Date of Walk

Tuesday 19th May

Starting at the Cairngorm Ski carpark, a walk up the ski area and the Fiacaill a’ Choire Chais ridge leads up the Cairngorm plateau. A high level but reasonably gentle path takes across the rolling plateau to the summit of Ben Macdui, second highest mountain in Britain. The descent route follows the Sron Riach ridge to Luibeg and back to the Linn of Dee via Derry Lodge.

Date of Walk

Wednesday 20th May

Distance
Ascent
OS Map
Time

Setting off from Boultenstone, we walk south west up Glen Deskry by good landrover tracks before a short ascent takes us to Preas Whin bothy for a well earned break. A stiffish pull up shortening heather gains the summit of Morven and some great views of mid Deeside. A gradual descent west, takes us back onto tracks which head south over Peter’s Hill before dropping south west to Abergain at the west end of the pass of Ballater and a last mile back into Ballater.