Royal Deeside :Ballater
Walking Festival : Information

Ballater Walking Festival offers a programme designed for walkers of all capabilities from Munro-bagging to pleasant rambles. Each walker can choose to take part in whatever grade of walk they feel suits them best and can participate on as many as six days or as few as one. Most of the walks are situated within the Cairngorms National Park, though a few enter parts of West Aberdeenshire or the Angus Glens which border the Park.

Each day, three categories of walk are available: Easy, Medium and Strenuous. Easy walks are up to six or seven miles long and normally have a minimum of gradient; Moderate walks typically measure around ten to twelve miles and may include some substantial hills or the occasional Munro. Strenuous walks either include several hundred metres of ascent or are of considerable length. A professional mountain guide normally leads the strenuous walks. Other walks are led by local residents or full-time rangers from Aberdeenshire Council, Glen Tanar or Balmoral Estates, many of whom have special knowledge of the wild life, vegetation or local history which they are happy to share with visitors.

A message from the organisers, 2012

Here it is, just what you’ve been waiting for! Welcome to the 2012 Ballater Walking Festival brochure, our 15th since it all began as Ballater Walking Week in 1998.

Old hands will recognise that the format has not changed – why change a winning formula? Those new to our Festival will, I’m sure, be pleasantly surprised at the quality of our walks in wonderful countryside and at the friendliness and enthusiasm of the walkers and of our team of leaders and helpers.

We think we have assembled a programme to appeal to most, from gentle strollers to Munro Baggers. We have managed to find some new walks (no mean feat in our 15th year) including two excellent forays into the central Cairngorms. There are also new walks within both the easy and medium categories. Of course several old favourites are also included.

Unfortunately price increases have been forced on us, the first since 2009, largely due to increased transport costs. Thus the prices of medium and strenuous walks have gone up but easy walks remain the same as does the registration charge.

In previous years many of our walks have been fully subscribed as early as February and so we encourage you to look carefully over the walk descriptions and book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please note that we now require you to sign a health declaration, this is in accordance with the requirements of our professional guides.

We think you find walks that appeal to you and we are sure the Deeside countryside will work its magic as usual. The team is looking forward to meeting old and new friends and is brushing up its stock of stories, some of which could even be true!

Evening Programme An evening entertainment programme starts with the formal registration and reception on the Saturday. This enables participants to mix with each other, the leaders and local residents who will accompany them on the walks. Other highlights include dinner, probably on Wednesday, at a local restaurant and the week is rounded off on Friday with the popular traditional ceilidh.

Sandy Mitchell - Convenor of the Ballater Walking Festival Committee for 2012