The Mack Walks: Short Walks in Under 10 km

Invercauld-Keiloch-Craggan Rour Circuit ()

Route Summary A very scenic walk in the sheltered mature woodland on the slopes of Craig Leek, above the Invercauld mansion house. There are good views at every turn on the track of the mountainous Highland landscape all around, towering above the valley of the River Dee near .

Duration: 2.25 hours.

Route Overview Duration: 2.25 hours. Transport/Parking: Start/end point is 220 m from the main A93. Regular Stagecoach bus service along A93 Deeside to Braemar. Check timetables. Invercauld Estate walkers car-park at the walk start/end point. Fee £3 at May 2021. Length: 5.710 km / 3.57 mi Height Gain: 217 meter. Height Loss: 217 meter. Max Height: 469 meter. Min Height: 329 meter. Surface: Moderate. Good estate roads and grassy tracks. A 1.7 km section on a tarred estate access road at the end of the walk. Difficulty: Easy. Child Friendly: Yes, if children are used to walks of this distance and overall ascent. Dog Friendly: Yes, keep dogs on lead on public roads and near farm animals. Refreshments: Options in Braemar and Ballater.

Description This is a very pleasant short walk amongst mature open conifer woodland, with fine open views down to the valley of the upper River Dee, and of the mountainous landscape all around Keiloch on the Invercauld Estate. The route slowly climbs onto the area known as Craggan Rour on the SW shoulder of Craig Leek. There are good views initially, on the NE aspect, down to the wide Felagie Glen and hills beyond. Looking SE there is a commanding group of high hills, dominated by the peak of Lochnagar. Look out (and listen) for Peregrine Falcons who nest on the cliffs in this section of the route. Higher on the slopes of Craig Leek you may spot eagles wheeling through the sky (as we did!). After gaining height, the grassy estate road proceeds through open mature woodland with views over the River Dee to the hills to the S and E of Braemar. Eventually, at various points on the track, there are good views to the Cairngorms in the W, with Beinn A'Bhuird standing out in the middle distance. After the mid-point, the track descends to a viewpoint where there is a curious little wooden building called the Fog House, where the Farquharson lairds could enjoy the good views across the river to Creag Clunie (although these views are partly affected by mature trees nowadays). The Fog House is so named because of the local word for heather which was originally used as thatch. From there, the route descends to the valley floor onto a tarred access road (originally a section of the Old Deeside Turnpike road, replaced by the modern A93 road), close to Invercauld House, which is partly visible through the trees. Here, you will also spot a very large sculpture of a female torso in the parkland adjoining the House. The return from here passes by the planned parkland landscape where you will likely see Highland Cattle in the fields. For historical information about Invercauld House and Estate see: http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/GDL00224

1 Waypoints (1) Start the walk from the Invercauld Estate car-park (57.00582; -3.33803) https://w3w.co/sadly.impresses.verbs Start the walk from the walkers/cyclists car-park*, which is about 220 m from the A93 main road **, along the access road to Invercauld House and Estate, on your right. Leave the car-park onto the estate access road and turn right. heading north between Estate buildings, on the route signed for Felagie. Ignore signs indicating left for Craig Leek (you will return that way). Soon, you will leave the estate buildings behind as you follow the rough estate road into a woodland area with mature conifers.

*Note: car-park charge is £3 (May 2021).

**Note: coming from the direction on the A93, the signposted entrance drive for Invercauld is on your right, 22 km from Ballater, 250 m before the Invercauld Bridge over the River Dee, and approximately 5 km from the centre of Braemar.

(2) Go left here (57.00947; -3.33407) https://w3w.co/shook.outhouse.craft In about 550 m, go left off the estate road to Felagie onto another estate road which soon climbs quite steeply up the craggy hillside* on the shoulder of Craig Leek. There are good views initially, on the NE aspect, down to the wide Felagie glen and hills beyond. Looking SE there is a collection of high hills, dominated by the peak of Lochnagar. After gaining height, the grassy estate road proceeds through open mature woodland with views over the River Dee to the hills to the south and east of Braemar. Eventually, at various points on the track, there are good views to the Cairngorms in the west, with Beinn A'Bhuird standing out in the middle distance. (561 m)

*Note: look out (and listen) for Peregrine Falcons who nest on the cliffs here. Higher on the slopes of Craig Leek you may spot eagles wheeling through the sky (as we did!).

(3) Veer right and uphill at y-junction.jpg (57.01300; -3.34553) https://w3w.co/nibbled.sprains.validated In 1.35 km, at a y-junction on the grassy tracks, take the right fork going gently uphill. (1.9 km)

2 (4) The Fog House viewpoint (57.01654; -3.35595) https://w3w.co/unspoiled.shuttling.garden In 1.3 km, the track descends to a curious little building called the Fog House*, where there is a swing-out information board and good views, partly affected by mature trees now, across the river to Creag Clunie. When you are ready, walk back up to the rough road you left earlier to visit the Fog House, and with your back to the structure, turn right and continue following the track downhill through the mature forest. At all times, keep going downhill towards the valley floor. (3.2 km)

*Note: see this photo of the Fog House information board:

3 (5) Left along tarred access road (57.01536; -3.35897) https://w3w.co/necks.bonfires.belief In 800 m, you will descended to the valley floor onto a tarred access road*. Invercauld House** is partly visible to your right through the trees. You will also spot a very large sculpture *** of a female torso in the parkland adjoining the House. Turn left here to follow the tarred road back to your start-point in the walkers car-park. Look out for a small herd of Highland Cows in the parkland fields to your right after you leave the trees. (4.0 km)

*Note: this estate access road is actually a section of the Old Deeside Turnpike road, replaced by the modern A93 road.

**Note: Invercauld House is a large mid-18th C baronial residence with later 19th C additions . It is three storeys in height, with a castellated tower. Invercauld has been the home of the Farquharson family from the 16th C and has had a large designed landscape since the early 18th C. It is regarded as having outstanding Historical value. The House is now on a 50 year lease to the Wirth family, from Switzerland, international art dealers who are responsible for the extensive refurbishment of the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar and its re-launching as a 'boutique' luxury, art hotel. See: http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/GDL00224

***Note: see this photo of the sculpture. taken on our walk:

4 (6) Finish walk back at the Invercauld car-park (57.00581; -3.33791) https://w3w.co/sadly.impresses.verbs In 1.7 km, you will arrive back at your start-point in the walkers/cyclist car-park for the Invercauld Estate. (5.7 km)

5 Route Map

Links: Photos from walk Download Route Guide (PDF with illustrated Waypoints) Download GPX file (GPS Exchange Format) Access Walk on Viewranger Access Walk on Outdooractive Access Walk on Wikiloc

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