Guide Map to Bennachie

For more information People of the hill Wildlife on the hill The many peaks of Bennachie Photo: Bennachie, from Millstone Hill

Watch Tel: 0300 067 6380 The first people may have came up the River You don’t have to go Craig Oxen Mither Tap Email: [email protected] Hermit Craig Garbet Tap Don and settled here more than 2000 years ago. far to see wildlife. Seat They lived in circular ring and ditch homesteads There’s a world of Black Hill like those at Mithergarth and worked the land small creatures living with simple tools. complex lives beneath your feet. Look down Around 1500-2000 to find chains of ants Bennachie years ago the Picts carrying food to their built a massive stone nests, tiny swirls from a A special hill like no other, with stories, Woodpeckers visit fort on Mither Tap and newt’s tail in a wet ditch wildlife and many trails to explore the wildlife viewing The hard granite tors or taps of Bennachie give the The Bennachie ridge stretches west to east for may have fought the or dragonflies flitting screen, near the hill its distinctive shape. They were formed about 8 km with many taps or peaks, including: Romans here in AD 83 across Bennachie’s Bennachie Visitor Centre

Crown copyright and database right [2016]. All rights Crown copyright and database right [2016]. All rights 425 million years ago, around the same time as the

© reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. (Bennachie is a possible many burns. Black Hill (430m), Hermit Seat (478m), Watch mountain tops of Lochnagar and Mount Keen. Craig (493m), Oxen Craig (529m), Garbet Tap

site for the Battle of Flocks of small birds North East Mons Graupius). such as siskins, (468m), Craigshannoch (418m), Mither Tap (518m) Braith oo the Ben is girse an whin, crossbills and long- Millstone Hill (409m), south of the main ridge, More recently, Getting to Bennachie tailed tits cluster in the Heather afore an trees ahin is an excellent place to view them. The Bennachie Visitor Centre is the best place to Bennachie colonists canopy of Bennachie’s go if this is your first visit to Bennachie: established small crofts Scots pine woodlands, Bennachie by Sheena Blackhall Bennachie Visitor Centre, near Chapel of Garioch, on the lower slopes of while closer to the Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 5HY the hill. They built forest floor you might Tel: 01467 681470 two-roomed houses see foraging red Email: [email protected] and drystone dykes, In July and August, bees collect nectar from squirrels, especially in Language in the landscape hauled peat for fuel, the flowering heather the early morning or and cut stone in the late evening. Use #FoundMyForest on your granite quarries nearby. Place names beginning pit are usually Pictish, Later, Scots or Doric was spoken here

pictures and videos, and we’ll share © Dianne Sutherland. Licensor www.scran.ac.uk / Pictish Warrior Photo of George Esson from the Bailies Bennachie archive The high slopes of the Celtic language of the people who carved and words like brig (bridge), Mither Tap them on social media. Now Bennachie’s George Esson, Bennachie are the Maiden Stone at Pittodrie. (mother top) and craig (rock/crag - the Designed by Design & Visitor Planning, Forestry and Land Scotland-15K/JTCP/Oct 2019/Edition 1. and Land Scotland-15K/JTCP/Oct Design & Visitor Planning, Forestry Designed by and Land Scotland unless otherwise stated. © Forestry Photography forests produce the last Bennachie important heathland Scots version of Gaelic creag) appear. colonist, died in 1939 valuable timber for habitat for meadow Gaelic began to be spoken here from the ninth construction and green pipits and red grouse. century and place names Scottish-English names like Millstone Find out more: energy as well as being Overhead, buzzards like Craigshannoch (hill Hill could be translations — which forestryandland.gov.scot excellent habitat for soar black against of the foxes), Clachie means that some Bennachie place wildlife and plants. the sky, while fast- Burn (stony burn) and names may have had the same meaning People come here to moving peregrines Bennachie itself (hill for hundreds of years! For information on public transport services picnic, walk and cycle - of the breast/the hill of contact: Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 occasionally swoop Listen for the red and enjoy the freedom Chie) have Gaelic roots. Hear the voices of past peoples in the place or www.travelinescotland.com down on prey hiding grouse call ending “Go- of the hill. names of Bennachie: in the heather. back, Go-back, Go-back” The Maiden Stone near Chapel of Garioch © Crown Copyright 2019

Bennachie Centre Back o’ Bennachie Donview Rowantree

The heart of the hill Bennachie Visitor Centre A hard-working hill Bennachie’s quiet side Bennachie’s legendary side

Welcome to Bennachie This is a good place to start if you’re exploring The Visitor Centre is the focus for events and This is a favourite starting point for people A slightly longer route to Mither Tap starts Stories and legends surround the Maiden Bennachie for the first time. You’ll find the easiest activities. It is a great place to learn about climbing Oxen Craig, Bennachie’s highest top, from this peaceful picnic spot and makes Causeway - was it built by Pictish road makers forest trails here as well as the shortest (and steepest) Bennachie, with useful information on the and gives a superb three-peak route across the its way over a hill which may have supplied or by the Devil himself? Whatever you believe, Visible for miles around, the graceful outline route to Mither Tap hill fort. For long-distance hill and its trails. It’s also the base for the open hill to Mither Tap and back. grinding stones for the mills along the River it’s a popular, more gradual approach to of Bennachie has been a symbol of ‘hame’ for walkers this is where the Gordon Way begins. Aberdeenshire Council Garioch Ranger Don. It’s a steep climb, but worth it for the Mither Tap, with sweeping views to the north Along the way you’ll see amazing views, find a generations of families in the north east and who delivers environmental education superb views of Bennachie’s southern side - and pretty picnic spots along the way. On a summer’s day you might hear deserted quarry at Little Oxen Craig and a giant’s a favourite landmark for those and public events throughout the year. arguably, the best there are. woodpeckers tapping in the tall pines An old turnpike road through the woods links who love being outdoors. enormous sleeping place. and spot dragonflies beside the Clachie The main indoor exhibition tells the stories You can continue on to Mither Tap by Heather Rowantree to the Bennachie Visitor Centre, Down below, enjoy the On the ancient tops of Burn. If you just want to relax, there are of the people who lived and worked here Brig (marking the spot where the Clachie Burn giving an alternative route back from Mither Tap. gentle pleasures of the Mither Tap and Oxen plenty of picnic places to enjoy. and describes how Bennachie was formed flows east and Birks Burn Gillree Burn and a large Pittodrie Estate looks after Craig, panoramic views millions of years ago. Additional exhibitions flows west) or circle back Bennachie’s rich heritage is explained in the welcoming picnic area. the hillside surrounding stretch to Lochnagar and change through the season, so there’s always towards Scare Hill. Visitor Centre, but you can see some of it for Rowantree and much across Aberdeenshire. something new to discover. yourself in the ruined homesteads on the Colony Trail. of the Turnpike Trail The sheltering forest on There is a Community Room which can be hired the lower slopes is a haven during opening hours. The Visitor Centre is for woodland birds and animals, with lots of managed by The Bennachie Centre Trust. different trails and quiet picnic spots to enjoy. Bennachie’s rich cultural heritage is part of the hill’s attraction, from the Pictish fort on Mither Tap to old stone quarries and colourful legends of giants and pretty maidens. Explore this magical landscape for yourself through one of four very different gateways...

The Bailies of Bennachie is a voluntary conservation Bennachie Visitor • exhibitions society whose objectives are to encourage and • Feel the weight of history in the lintel quarry • Cross the Heather Brig watershed • Follow an ancient way to Mither Tap Centre facilities • maps, snacks and gift shop stimulate the public’s interest in Bennachie. • Cook up a feast at the barbeque area • Enjoy rare views from Millstone Hill • Picnic with panoramic views at Hosie’s Well • hot and cold drinks Find out more about the hill or get involved through • Look for cloudberries around Bennachie’s • Watch for osprey and dippers on the river • Take a turn along the Turnpike Trail • accessible toilets including our facebook page or www.bailiesofbennachie.co.uk Open every day highest peak from 10am, April to baby changing October. Free entry. • public access defibrillator map inside hame’s far the hairt is the landscape o langin aybydan Mither the ben o belangin

Poem: Bennachie by Sheena Blackhall map inside Trail information information Rowantree Going to the top? Going to the top? It may not be a Munro, but climbing It may not be a Munro, but climbing Mither Tap Maiden Bennachie can be a real mountain Mither Tap Maiden Bennachie can be a real mountain Causeway experience with real mountain dangers. Causeway experience with real mountain dangers. Back o’ o’ Bennachie Bennachie Ice and snow make the paths extremely Ice and snow make the paths extremely AA walkwalk of of legends legends to to the the impressive impressive Pictish Pictish hill fort. hazardous in winter and spring. Even in hazardous in winter and spring. Even in Thehill fort. Maiden The CausewayMaiden Causeway itself is named itself is after named a local summer the wind blows constantly at the top summer the wind blows constantly at the top girlafter who a local bet the girl devilwho thatbet the she devil could that bake she a batchcould of and temperatures will drop suddenly in rain. The LarickLarick Trail Trail and temperatures will drop suddenly in rain. oatcakesbake a batch before of heoatcakes could build before a road he could up Bennachie. build Don’t get caught out - dress warmly, take a road up Bennachie. bootsDon’t andget caughtwaterproofs out - anddress be warmly, prepared take to From a fresh green burstburst inin springspring to to an an Steep, rough and uneven 3½ miles / Steep, rough and 3½5.6 mileskm / turnboots back and when waterproofs the weather and bechanges. prepared to autumn blastblast ofof gold,gold, the the larick larick (larch) (larch) here here rocky trail with steep uneven rocky trail 5.6Allow km turn back when the weather changes. provides a differentdifferent colour for allall the seasons. rock steps. Some parts arewith narrow steep androck can Allow2½ hrs Mither Tap to Oxen Craig: A moderate toto fairlyfairly 1½ miles // besteps. wet Someand muddy parts after rain. 2½ hrs Mither1½ miles Tap / 2.3to Oxen kms, allowCraig: 1 hour each way steep trail,trail, withwith 2.4 kmkm are narrow and can 1½Mither miles Tap / 2.3 to kms,Craigshannoch: allow 1 hour each way varied surfaces: Allow be wet and muddy after rain. Mither1 mile /Tap 1.5 to kms, Craigshannoch: allow ¾ hour each way firm forest roads, 1 hrhr 1Craigshannoch mile / 1.5 kms, toallow Oxen ¾ hourCraig: each way earthy paths thatthat cancan be be muddy muddy and and rough rough Craigshannoch1 mile / 1.5 kms, to allow Oxen ¾ Craig:hour each way sections with rocks, rootsroots andand large large steps. steps. 1(following mile / 1.5 waymarkedkms, allow ¾ trail) hour each way (following waymarked trail)

Mither Tap Mither Tap Quarry Trail Quarry Trail Bennachie Centre Centre

A great workoutworkout on thethe hill,hill, visitingvisiting the Mither Tap and Bennachie’s Bennachie’s highest highest summit summit - - Oxen Craig. Discovery Trail Trail A very steep, 5½ miles miles / / 9 kmkm rough trailtrail withwith A gentle wander throughthrough thethe forest.forest. WildlifeWildlife rubbing long climbs,climbs, Allow posts are dotteddotted alongalong the the trail; trail; collectcollect paperpaper and and 3¾ hrshrs large steps,steps, crayons fromfrom thethe visitorvisitor centre. rocky and somesome areas areas on on the the summits summits which which SEE BENNACHIE VISITOR A smooth firmfirm trail,trail, withwith ½ milemile / / CENTRE INSET MAP (RIGHT) 1 km may bebe muddy. muddy. short gentle slopesslopes and and 1 km Allow no obstacles. Allow Bennachie no obstacles. ½ hr Visitor Centre ½ hr

Colony Trail Mither Tap Tap Timeline Trail Donview Colony Trail Timeline Trail

An easy-going trail trail windingwinding through through attractive attractive openopen Climb to the rocky, granite summit of Mither Tap woodland andand the the ruined ruined houses houses and and fields fields of ofthe the for superb views andand to to exploreexplore the the impressive impressive MillstoneMillstone Hill Hill Trail Trail Bennachie colonists. Pictish fort.fort. 2½ miles miles / / Firm and generallygenerally 4 kmkm A very steep, roughrough trail trail 3¾ miles / Up through beautiful woods toto heatherheather hillshills 3¾ miles / smooth, withwith somesome Allow with roots, rough rockrock 66 kmkm and superbsuperb views views from from the the top top of of Millstone Millstone Hill.Hill. uneven areas. 1¼ hrs uneven areas. steps andand drains. drains. AllowAllow Generally moderatemoderate Narrow in places.places. 2¾ hrs A very steep, 3½ miles miles / / 2¾ hrs rough andand rocky rocky 5.6 kmskms slopes, withwith somesome short short fairly fairly steep steep parts. parts. The summit isis slabslab Includes steps, roots and rocky areas. rock and can be slippery when wet. trail, with large Allow Includes steps, roots and rocky areas. rock and can be slippery when wet. steps andand roots. roots. 2½ hrshrs Generally narrow,narrow, BENNACHIEBENNACHIE VISITOR CENTRE CENTRE CLOSE-UP INSET MAPMAP and hashas a a narrow narrow timber timber walkway. walkway. Can bebe wet wet and and muddy. muddy.

Mither Tap MitherHeather Tap Brig Heather Brig

This grand, adventurousadventurous routeroute crossescrosses Millstone HillHill and and on to the landmark ofof thethe Key to map Mither Tap.Tap. Stunning views. Forestry and Land Scotland Wildlife Bennachie A very steep, roughrough Viewing Visitor Centre 6 milesmiles // Land Screen and rockyrocky trail,trail, withwith 9.6 kmkm Land large stepssteps and and Allow Woodand roots. Generally 4 hrs narrow, andand has has Other woodand a narrownarrow timbertimber walkway. walkway. Can Can be be muddy. muddy. Railway line

Main road

Minor road Enjoy Scotland’s EnjoyEnjoy Scotland’sScotland’sForest road Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors responsibly outdoorsoutdoorsPath responsiblyresponsibly outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly Waymarked trails • take responsibility for your own actions •• take take responsibility responsibility for for your your own own actions actions • take responsibility for your own actions • take responsibility for your own actions TurnpikeTurnpike Trail Trail GordonGordon Way Way • respect(Pay) the interests of other people • respect the interests of other people • respect(Pay) the interestsParking of other people • respect the interests of other people • respect the interests of other people parking Parking The Turnpike TrailTrail is is a a pleasant 44 milemile (6.4(6.4 km)km) link link The Gordon Way starts at the Bennachie CentreCentre • care for the environment. •• care care for for the the environment. environment. • care for the environment. • care for the environment. Disabled between the Bennachie CentreCentre andand Rowantree Rowantree and runsruns forfor 11.511.5 milesmiles (18.5km) along along the southern Toilets access car parksparks.. You You follow follow anan old old turnpike turnpike route route through through side ofof BennachieBennachie andand on on to to the the Suie Suie car car park park, , Visitor Hill Pittodrie estate estate woodlands woodlands and overover thethe RushmillRushmill 3 miles southsouth easteast of of Rhynie. Rhynie. You You walk walk through through Centre summit Burn. The route is not well-marked from the forests, farmland and open moorland, so stout Picnic Barbeque Burn. The route is not well-marked from the forests, farmland and open moorland, stout boots tables area Rowantree end so takingtaking aa map map is is recommended. recommended. areboots recommended are recommended. as some sections are muddy.

Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly

• take responsibility for your own actions • take responsibility for your own actions • take responsibility for your own actions • take responsibility for your own actions • respect the interests of other people • respect the interests of other people • respect the interests of other people • respect the interests of other people • care for the environment. • care for the environment. • care for the environment. • care for the environment.

Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly outdoors responsibly