Aberdeenshire ½ Mile / Firm but Uneven Gravel 1 Km Surface
Cambus o’ May Trail information Scolty Gaelic for ‘cleft’ Dunnottar 6 Camas a’ Mhaighe – Gaelic 7 (in a hill) 8 Dùn Fhotheir – Gaelic for for ‘river bend of the plain’ ‘fort on the shelving slope’ Lochside Trail Discover the forests of
A short loop around the west lochan, where you may see damselflies and dragonflies dancing over the water. Aberdeenshire ½ mile / Firm but uneven gravel 1 km surface. Some short Reid squirrels, green pines, bluebells bricht Allow The Shell steep slopes with single Visit this Deeside treasure again and again. ¼ hr House Come here in summer for endless darting uneven rock steps. dragonflies on the lochans and in winter for Parts may be slightly grassy or muddy. Stonehaven’s lively community wood is full of snow-clad views of the surrounding mountains. Most people come to climb Scolty surprises and stories about the Kennedy family Hill and the Burnett monument — who once lived in Dunnottar House. The woodland here is classic Scots pine with a the route up is rugged and steep General Burnett’s carpet of heather and blaeberry — ideal habitat Walk directly into the woodland from the town Two Lochans Trail but the views are superb. monument for capercaillie and black grouse. You may not see and quickly lose yourself in history and nature. these shy and sensitive birds, but they are easily Wander beneath majestic Douglas firs to reach a pair Down below the forest is quiet and interesting, In summer the forest is vibrant, green and speckled disturbed, so please keep your dogs close to you. of picture-perfect lochans nestled amid the pines. with scampering red squirrels and woodpeckers with wildflowers. In autumn crunchy beech, drilling. Gentle trails weave over small burns and ash and sycamore leaves carpet the ground — Uneven gravel surface 1 ½ miles / past old stone walls, relics of Scolty’s farming history. great for tramping through! with some slightly 2.5 km grassy and muddy Allow For a longer day try a section of the Deeside Way Community events take place all year round - parts. Some steep 1 hr and get the bus back from Aboyne or Drumoak. see www.dunnottarwoods.org slopes with one flight of wooden steps. Includes three bridges. Trail information Trail information A nearhaun widdie (a nearby wood)
Pine Tree Trail History Trail Denlethen Craigloch Trail March Trail A longer tour through the tranquil pine forest, Explore the deciduous woodlands of Dunnottar House Laurencekirk’s small community wood is friendly and informal. which is home to red squirrels, capercaillie and Discover the mossy walls of old farms and a fine A longer circuit through the tranquil forest, with the and discover its intriguing history at the Shell House, North East black grouse. viewpoint on this shorter loop through the spruce chance to see woodpeckers, roe deer and red squirrels. Lady Kennedy’s Bath and Gallow’s Hill. You’ll find benches here for sitting quietly and Uneven gravel surface 2 ¾ miles / and larch forest. 1 ½ miles / Uneven gravel and earth 2 ½ miles / Firm but uneven gravel 2 miles / watching the woodland with some rocky and 4.3 km Wide, firm but uneven 2.6 km surface with exposed tree 4 km surface. Long moderate 3.4 km birds and interesting muddy parts. Some Allow gravel surface throughout. Allow roots. Some rocky and Allow slopes with short steeper Allow short paths to wander. steep slopes. Includes 1 ½ hrs Long moderate slopes 1 hr slightly muddy parts. Long 1 ½ hrs sections. Some tree 1 hr The main forest track three bridges and with some steeper sections. moderate slopes with short roots and muddy makes a circuit of about some exposed tree roots. Includes two wide gates. Some parts may be muddy. steeper sections. Includes one narrow kissing gate. patches. Includes two quiet road crossings. 1.8 miles / 3 km.
Aberdeenshire’s forests A wid fur Bennachie Pronounced ‘Benn-a-hee’ aa sizzens Bennachie (a wood for A legendary day out for everyone all seasons) on and around this much-loved hill. Contact details: Forestry and Land Scotland, East Region 1 Delgaty Tel: 0300 067 6380 Charming woodland trails, Email: [email protected] followed by tea at the castle! Bennachie Visitor Centre For more ideas of great days out in the forest, 2 The Bin Open every Big impressive trees and visit our website: Nestling in the sheltered day from 10am, Deveron valley views. April to October. Follow us on forestryandland.gov.scot rain shadow of the mighty Free entry. Grampian Mountains, the forests The curving graceful ridge of Bennachie stands proud The heart of the hill of Aberdeenshire have their own 3 Kirkhill in the landscape and stirs the hearts of everyone special character - just like our language! Take in Aberdeen from the who comes here. It’s Aberdeenshire’s best-loved forest, At the Bennachie Centre you’ll find the easiest forest top of the Tappie Tower. an ancient place with colourful stories, wide-ranging trails, the shortest (but steepest) route to the Mither Thirty forest trails weave through twelve different wildlife, amazing archaeology and panoramic views Tap hillfort and an excellent Visitor Centre, where forests in Aberdeenshire, waiting for you to 4 Tyrebagger from its distinctive tops. you can buy hot drinks and snacks. Red squirrels explore them. and small woodland birds feed at the nearby wildlife Family strolls through towering There are four different ways into the Some are in big forest landscapes, with wide Douglas firs and colourful beech. screen, a great spot for families. open moorland and powerful skies. hill, each with a picnic area and forest trails. But if you’ve never Others are close to towns, 5 easy to get to for a brisk walk Countesswells & Foggieton been to Bennachie before, the Bennachie has it’s own leaflet, which you can Veesit as mony’s Two forests and something for everyone, best place to head for is the or a pounding forest run. ye can an keep pick up from the Visitor Centre or in the Visitor on the city’s doorstep. Bennachie Centre. Centre car park. Look out All have interesting wildlife, gaun back tae 1. 2017/Edition 15K/Barr/Feb for more of picnic sites and lots to see finn oot new ferlies ilkie time. 6 our leaflets and do. Visit as many as you Cambus o’ May covering some can and keep going back to Gorgeous pinewoods and of the forests discover something new each time. glacial lochans in Deeside. in the area
7 Scolty orestry and Land Scotland - D&VP / Quiet woodland below Reid squirrels hae lugs wi tufty hair a general’s monument. They skyte up a tree like a michty stair Gin they hear ye…wheech, they’re gaen Red squirrel: 8 Dunnottar A glisk ben the wids like a straik o flame Pete Cairns/ 2020VISION Family heritage in Stonehaven’s community woods. The Bennachie Centre Trust manages the Visitor Centre Text written by Alison Munro of Sixareen. Photography by Forestry Commission Picture Library Picture unless stated. Commission Forestry by Photography of Sixareen. Munro Alison by written Text in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Forestry F Planning, Visitor & Design by Designed For information on public transport services contact: Also look out for Coynachie, Clashindarroch and Denlethen Commission Scotland and the Bailies of Bennachie. Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or forests - all wids nearhaun that are well worth a visit! www.travelinescotland.com
© Crown Copyright 2020 Wids nearhaun (woods nearby) Dealgadaidh – Gaelic Not many forests have a castle with a tearoom A’ bheinn – Gaelic for Kirk - Doric for ‘church’ Delgaty for ‘prickly place’ The Bin Kirkhill 1 next door, but then Delgaty is a special place! ‘hill’ or ‘mountain’ 3 2 Clashindarroch You’ll find different trees and habitats here, from light-filled birch woods sparkling Enjoy this huge forest on with chattering birds, to areas of mountain bike and horseback tall larch. On the way you’ll catch in summer and on skis in winter. It’s one of Scotland’s glimpses of Delgatie Castle and top places for Nordic skiing its fishing loch — on summer with groomed ski trails and evenings tiny pipistrelle bats flit excellent snow-holding. across the water, scooping up thousands of insects a night. Coynachie Part of Clashindarroch, this young broadleaf wood Walk, run or cycle to the Tappie Tower — it’s a stiff Trail information Named for the hill at its heart, The Bin contains is growing fast, so come many of Aberdeenshire’s most impressive grand climb but well worth the effort for the grand views to back regularly to see how Aberdeen and Bennachie. firs. Some date back to the 1840s and are among it changes. There is plenty the oldest in the country. of room for horse riders on Whatever your pace, Kirkhill can help you get fitter and Fishery Trail Medicinal powers were once attributed to the Gallon the wide grassy rides. more active. Explore the natural paths which weave of Water, a small pool near the knobbly top of the through the spruce and larch here, and add interest to your walks and runs. If biking is your passion, Climb up into the varied forest past the old ice house Bin, but today most people make the climb for the try perfecting your technical skills at the MTB fun park. and return via the loch with views of Delgatie Castle. invigorating views across the Huntly countryside. Firm but uneven gravel 1 ¼ miles / surface. Includes some 2.1 km fairly steep slopes and Allow Trail information a short flight of steps. ¾ hr Trail information Parts may be muddy or wet after rain. Tappie Tower Trail Ferny Knowe Trail Queen Tree Trail Gallon of Water Trail Song Birds Trail Climb through the forest to the 19th century folly at Tappie A short stroll around Ferny Knowe and Boddum Generations of trees can be seen on this trail, from Climb through the forest to the top of The Bin for Tower, which provides panoramic views from the North Hill with some great views through the majestic grand firs planted in the 1840s to seedlings pushing great views and a pool that was believed to have Sea to Bennachie. Enjoy the peace and quiet of this mossy-floored larch larch trees. through the soil. healing powers. and pine forest. 1 ¾ miles / 3 ½ miles / 4 miles / Firm and mostly wide 3 ¾ miles / Mostly wide, uneven Firm but uneven gravel Sections of rough, narrow gravel surface, with 5.9 km Firm but uneven gravel 1 ¾ miles / 2.8 km 5.5 km 6.5 km gravel and grassy and grassy surface. earth path. Long steep some uneven and Allow surface. Fairly steep 2.8 km Allow Allow Allow surface. Some exposed Some steep slopes. slope with one short flight slightly rocky sections. 2 ½ hrs slopes. Occasionally Allow 1 hr 2 hrs 2 ½ hrs tree roots and slightly Includes exposed tree of wooden steps. Includes One long fairly steep muddy parts. 1 hr soft sections. Includes one fairly steep slope. roots and slightly muddy sections. some rocky, rooty and potentially muddy parts. slope. Parts may be wet after rain.
Countesswells Countesswells Tir a’ bhalgaire – Gaelic Trail information Foggieton Trail information 4 Tyrebagger for ‘land of the fox’ 5 and Foggieton Trail information
Beech Tree Trail Warblers’ Trail Beech Tree Trail Stretch your legs in this enchanting mature woodland Watch for warblers flitting among the young trees and listen for birds, deer or red squirrels. on this short winding trail. A short stroll through the huge conifers and colourful Firm but uneven gravel ¾ mile / beech trees that line the route. Firm, largely smooth ½ mile / surface throughout. 1.3 km gravel surface throughout. 0.8 km Mostly firm gravel surface. 1 ¼ miles / Some short fairly steep Allow Generally flat with some Allow Section of uneven earthy 2.1 km slopes. Parts may be ½ hr short moderate ramps. ¼ hr slightly muddy and rooty. path with exposed tree Allow Some patches may be roots and muddy areas. ¾ hr slightly muddy. Fairly steep slopes. With wide trails suitable for young families and These popular forests are close to Aberdeen with some truly impressive trees, Tyrebagger is quieter plenty of paths to explore on foot, bike or horseback. than Kirkhill, but just as easy to get to. The Robbers’ Trail
Cycle, run or walk through the huge spruce trees near Ladyhill Trail It’s a good place to glimpse red squirrels searching Explore the towering trees of Tyrebagger Wood the entrance to Countesswells and enjoy fine views The Big Tree Trail for seeds on the forest floor. The trees here are and look out for the Robbers’ Cave, said to be a from Gairn Hill. The trails here are family-sized with Wander through the magnificent mature beech varied, which means that there’s always something hideaway for 17th century outlaws! ample room for dogs and children. wood and look for raspberries and blackberries new to see, whether it’s beech leaves turning Wander through giant Sitka spruce and majestic Douglas in the summer and autumn. orange in autumn or the white blossom of the Uneven gravel surface 1 ½ miles / fir on this short jaunt through the forest. Foggieton is smaller and quieter, a place to look for rowan in spring. with some exposed tree 2.3 km Firm but uneven gravel 1 ¼ miles / forest berries and listen to chattering birds. Its Doric Firm gravel surface with 1 ½ miles / roots and potentially Allow surface throughout, 2 km name means ‘mossy farm’ and old farm walls still some uneven sections. 2.5 km muddy parts. Some 1 hr with some short Allow stand amongst the trees. Moderate slopes. Allow fairly steep slopes. muddy patches. ¾ hr Some parts may be 1 hr Long moderate slopes. muddy after rain.
Gairn Hill Trail
A fine circuit of Gairn Hill Wood, which is home to a variety of trees and some good views across Aberdeenshire. 2 ¾ miles / Firm gravel surface 4.4 km throughout, with some Allow rocky, rooty and muddy 1 ½ hrs parts. Long moderate slopes with some short steeper ramps.