The Mack Walks: Short Walks in Under 10 km

Old Logie Loop ()

Route Summary A short walk, with an undemanding overall ascent, in pleasant mixed countryside near Pitcaple, on the banks of the River Ury. The ragged peaks of the nearby ranger are a dominant feature of the landscape throughout. There are some interesting historical features.

Duration: 1.5 hours.

Route Overview Duration: 1.5 hours. Transport/Parking: Stagecoach buses run through Pitcaple on the A96. This would add almost 5 km to the walk (there and back). Check timetables. There are a small number of parking spaces at the roadside, at the start/end point. Length: 5.140 km / 3.21 mi Height Gain: 103 meter. Height Loss: 103 meter. Max Height: 136 meter. Min Height: 83 meter. Surface: Moderate. A mix of tarred minor road and good grassy tracks. Difficulty: Easy. Child Friendly: Yes, if children are used to walks of this distance and overall ascent. Dog Friendly: Yes. On lead on public roads and near farm animals. Refreshments: The Buzzard Cafe at the Pitscurry Project is nearby. Also, the Old Post Office cafe at Chapel of . Otherwise, options in .

Description This is a gentle little hike through mature pine woodlands and open farmland, with a short section along the banks of the River Ury. At various points on the route, the views of the north side of the Bennachie range are especially impressive. Along the way, there is some history to discover and speculate upon. The walk starts and ends at the Old Logie Graveyard, where the dominant feature is the Dalrymple Horn Elphinstone burial enclosure. Built in 1798, in an open-roofed Gothic style, it is deemed to be one of the most attractive such family memorials in Scotland. The impressive western façade is dominated by a large pointed arch. Buried nearby in a low mound of vegetation are the remains of a medieval chapel dedicated to St. Mary. This old kirk was originally an appendage of Lindores Abbey but became disused when the parish of Logie Durno was united with Chapel of Garioch in 1599. On the first half of the walk, the route essentially goes around the perimeter areas of what must have been, at 145 acres, a huge Roman army camp, the largest found north of the Forth–Clyde. Unfortunately, nowadays there are no visible signs, on the surface, of the camp. There is speculation that this was the camp of Agricola at the time of the Mons Graupius battle with the indigenous Celts, under Calcagus, in AD 83. Certainly, the size of the projected camp site seems capable of containing the suggested 17,000 to 30,000 Roman troops in Agricola’s army. However, the site of the battle is uncertain, and may not have been in the Bennachie area. Moving on to the banks of the River Ury, we come upon an intriguing trio of Class 1 Pictish symbol stones, arranged in a triangle and standing in an area of woodland, just a little west of the Logie House (now an attractive wedding/events venue). The stones originally stood 1 km away on the Moor of Carden. They show typical Pictish symbols such as crescents, V-rods, Z-rods, double discs, and an elephant. Thanks to Canmore for this site plan for the Logie Durno Roman Camp: https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1525677

1 2 Waypoints (1) Start walk at Old Logie Kirkyard (57.32702; -2.49331) https://w3w.co/meanwhile.tools.plod After checking out the Old Logie Kirkyard*, turn right as you leave graveyard and walk along the tarred access road in a westerly direction.

*Note: where the dominant feature is the Dalrymple Horn Elphinstone burial enclosure. Built in 1798, in an open-roofed Gothic style, it is deemed to be one of the most attractive such family memorials in Scotland. The impressive western façade is dominated by a large pointed arch. Buried nearby in a low mound of vegetation are the remains of a medieval chapel dedicated to St. Mary. This old kirk was originally an appendage of Lindores Abbey but became disused when the parish of Logie Durno was united with Chapel of Garioch in 1599.

(2) Veer right onto rough road (57.32714; -2.49427) https://w3w.co/bookshelf.introduce.sleeping In 60 m, veer right off the tarred road onto a rough access road. (59 m)

(3) Right onto path through Logie Woodlands (57.32821; -2.50007) https://w3w.co/evidence.remix.beep In just less than 400 m, with the back of a house on your left side, turn right to follow a track into the Logie Woodlands. The track soon becomes a narrower path as you gently ascend through the wood*. (436 m)

*Note: At this point, the route starts to go around the perimeter areas of what must have been, at 145 acres, a huge Roman army camp, the largest found north of the Forth–Clyde. Unfortunately, nowadays there are no visible signs, on the surface, of the camp. There is speculation that this was the camp of Agricola at the time of the Mons Graupius battle with the indigenous Celts, under Calcagus, in AD 83. Certainly, the size of the projected camp site seems capable of containing the suggested 17,000 to 30,000 Roman troops in Agricola’s army. However, the site of the battle is uncertain, and may not have been in the Bennachie area.

3 (4) Left along minor road (57.33297; -2.49498) https://w3w.co/scales.crunches.ignites After about 650 m, you will emerge from the wood onto a minor road, opposite Easterton Farm* and other buildings. Turn left to walk along the quiet minor road. (1.1 km)

*Note: At this point you are close to the SE corner of the Roman Camp.

(5) Left onto rough road - signed Old Logie Graveyard (57.33308; -2.51134) https://w3w.co/necklace.untrained.bottom After 1.3 km on the minor road, and after passing Westerton Farm, turn left at a walks signpost to leave the tarred minor road and join a rough access road heading back in the direction of the Old Logie graveyard. (2.4 km)

(6) Right through gate into Logie Woodlands (57.32887; -2.50184) https://w3w.co/disarmed.provoking.locator In 800 m, go right through a gate into another section of the Logie Woodlands. (3.2 km)

(7) Through gate then right downhill (57.32513; -2.50270) https://w3w.co/booms.elder.thumbnail In 400 m, go through a gate onto a rough access road, turn right, and follow the rough road downhill towards the River Ury. (3.6 km)

4 (8) Left along access road to Logie House (57.32230; -2.49868) https://w3w.co/paler.custom.ocean After 500 m, at a t-junction, go left along a tarred access road heading for Logie House. The River Ury runs parallel with this road, close by on your right side. (4.1 km)

(9) Veer left to bypass Logie House (57.32224; -2.49409) https://w3w.co/forgives.clinking.opinion In 300 m, or so, veer left to take a road that heads away from the river (and by-passes Logie House - now a weddings and other events venue). Almost immediately divert left through the trees for a few metres towards some small gravestones and standing stones. (4.4 km)

(10) Pictish symbol stones (57.32250; -2.49430) https://w3w.co/reinvest.luggage.curries Just 40 m, or so, from the turn-off at Waypoint 9, in the trees on the left, you will find some small dog gravestones, behind which are 3 Pictish symbol stones*. When you are ready, return to the rough road and proceed as before, continuing to by-pass Logie Houe. (4.4 km)

*Note: this trio of Class 1 Pictish symbol stones is arranged in a triangle and stands in an area of woodland, just a little west of the Logie House (now an attractive wedding/events venue). The stones originally stood 1 km away on the Moor of Carden. They show typical Pictish symbols such as crescents, V-rod, Z-rods, double discs, and an elephant. (11) Left along rough exit road (57.32321; -2.49161) https://w3w.co/conned.insert.shimmered In 200 m, having by-passed Logie House, go left to follow the rough access/exit road, soon with a belt of trees on your right side and open fields on your left side. (4.6 km)

5 (12) Left onto path through wood (57.32498; -2.49050) https://w3w.co/bypassed.quilt.tablets In 200 m, where the rough road meets a patch of woodland on your left side, go left to follow a path running through the trees. Soon, the path emerges from the trees onto the tarred access road that leads back to your start-point at the Old Logie Kirkyard. (4.8 km)

(13) Finish walk back at Old Logie Kirkyard (57.32699; -2.49316) https://w3w.co/meanwhile.tools.plod In 300 m, you will have returned back to your start-point at the Old Logie Kirkyard. (5.1 km)

6 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 Wikiloc

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