Go Wild in Dufftown

Go wild in Dufftown These paths could seriously: l Improve your health and well being l Bring you close to nature l Let you see some beautiful countryside l Bring local history to life l Unravel the delights of whisky l Be fun About the Area Recommended Walks Dufftown, acknowledged as the malt whisky All the featured walks in this booklet, (except to capital of the world, is situated on the edge Auchindoun Castle), start at The Clocktower in of the Cairngorms National Park. Home to the Square. This was originally a jail, which now seven operating whisky distilleries, including houses the seasonal Tourist Information Centre. the famous Glenfiddich brand, the town nestles The clock originally housed in Banff claims between heather clad hills where the River to be the one used to hang James McPherson, Fiddich and Dullan Water meet. a notorious freebooter famously recalled in the folk song, ‘McPherson’s Rant’. Note the Established in 1817 by James Duff, 4th Earl plaque commemorating George Stephen who of Fife, the town is a fine example of a planned emigrated from Dufftown to Canada and was settlement. Nature abounds in this beautiful co-founder of the Canadian – Pacific Railway. corner of old Banffshire where numerous Outside the Clocktower there is a map board species of animal and plant life thrive in a showing the walks. Dufftown is well connected variety of river, woodland and moorland to Elgin and Aberlour by a regular bus service habitats. The area has a rich history displayed with a heritage rail connection to Keith run by by the presence of Balvenie and Auchindoun volunteers. Castles. Mortlach Kirk lies near the site of Mortlach battlefield where the Danes were An occasional bus service runs to Huntly defeated in 1010 by Malcolm II. and Aberdeen Contact Traveline (Tel: 08706082608) for further information. Annual events include two whisky festivals, (Spring and Autumn). Dufftown Highland Many of the walks are short in distance and Games are held on the last Saturday in July, a generally have good surfaces in the town with feature of which is the massed pipe bands. rougher sections in the country. For the more ambitious several routes can be combined There is a whisky museum in Conval Street to create a longer walk. Most routes are hilly recalling illicit distilling and smuggling in auld in places and stout footwear and waterproof lang syne (days gone by). Glenfiddich Distillery clothing are recommended. has a visitor centre. The Keith and Dufftown railway is run by volunteers. The Golf Club All the walks explore the countryside around welcomes visitors and is claimed to have the Dufftown and give good access to all the natural highest green in the country from where the attributes the area has to offer throughout views are magnificent the four seasons. You can be guaranteed that (see Walk 12: Viking Trail). somewhere along whichever walk you choose a spectacular viewpoint will unfold. Some, but not all, of the routes are signed. The Local Speyside Paths Network Group is working towards continual improvement of the Local Paths Network. Details of the walks can be viewed on the Moray Ways website: www. morayways.org.uk. Computers can be accessed at Dufftown Library. On Walks 1, 2 & 4, look out for stones bearing mesostic and circle poems, the legacy of a partnership between Mortlach Primary School and Speyside Paths Network Group in 2011. Children at the school worked on these stone poems with poet, Ken Cockburn, and sculptor, Mary Bourne. 1 Walk 1 The Giant’s Chair St Moluag, from the Monastery of Lismore established a cell at Mortlach in AD566. It is Distance: 2 Miles said to have been the seat of a bishop until the Time: 1 hour 30 minutes 12th Century. In the vestibule is a fine Pictish symbol “elephant” stone. The chancel has three Terrain: Mixture of tarmac, gravel and grass lancet windows dating from the 13th Century, paths. Relatively level with some minor although the glass is much later. gradients. Sections of the path near the Giant’s Chair are uneven and rough. In the Kirkyard, there is a weathered Battle Stone with a cross on one side, on the other a Users: Suitable for walkers. There are some serpent, bull’s head and a man on horseback. flights of steps. Here is evidence of the coming of Christianity The route starts along Church Street, following and the absorption of the old Pictish the road down past the Kirk and up the steep symbolism. brae with Dufftown Distillery at the bottom, Mortlach was the site of a battle between the Pittyvaich at the top. The farmhouse at the top Scots and the Danes in 1010. The story goes is a listed building with a fascinating history that the Danes had encamped in the haugh, (see “Pittyvaich - The History of an Old either side of Dullan Water. The Scots led by Mortlach Farm” by Stuart Mitchell. Aberdeen Malcolm II dammed the Dullan by the Giant’s and North East Family History Society phone Chair. Then, while the Danes slept, the Scots 01224 646323). breached the dam, followed the water down and Continue on this minor road until a lovely routed the enemy. To commemorate the victory green road (as featured on this booklet’s front Malcolm extended the Kirk by three spears’ cover) is seen on the left, signposted Giant’s length. Chair. Once across the River Dullan footbridge Leave the Kirkyard by the front entrance and the Giant’s Cradle is on the left. Great care is return to the Clock Tower via Church Street. needed here, also at the Giant’s Chair by the shelter. Both of these are natural rock features carved by the power of Dullan Water. Further downstream the path passes the beautiful Linen Apron Waterfall, which only earns its name when the burn is in spate. After a tranquil stretch of water a weir, known locally as “the intak” is reached; beyond lies Dufftown Distillery, on the far bank. Further on you can cross the river by a pedestrian brig opposite Hardhaugh, or the brig between the old and the new graveyards. The old graveyard and Kirk are well worth a visit. Mortlach Kirk, is the site of one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the country. 2 Walk 2 Meg’s Widd Walk 3 Maister’s Widd (Princess Royal Park) Distance: 1 Mile Distance: 1 1/4 Miles Time: 30 minutes Time: 1 hour Terrain: Good surfaces throughout with short inclines within the wood. Terrain: A route combining roadway paths and grass/gravel paths through woods and fields. Users: A short amble suitable for a wide range Steady inclines in places with a few rough, wet of users. Narrow paths and some steps within sections. the wood. Users: Limited to able-bodied pedestrians along This very short walk is a good introduction to rougher paths in the vicinity of Meg’s Widd. the town’s attractions including Maister’s Widd, a fine stand of deciduous trees linking Church Best started along Conval Street, this walk Street with Fife Street via Cowie Avenue. travels through Meg’s Widd from where there are fine panoramic views of the area – even Ben Note the fine new shelter and the Maister’s Rinnes can be glimpsed between the Convals at Well incorporating an inscribed stone originally one point. situated in the town square. Children at Mortlach Primary School designed a short orienteering course in the wood which is fun to follow. Leaflets containing the map of the course are available from the Library and Walk 4 Tourist Information Office in Dufftown. Tomnamuidh Widd Follow the signs through attractive pasturelands (see also Walk 14 The King’s Grave) to descend to Church Street, Mortlach Kirk (Gaelic: Tom – thicket; knoll, Na – of, Muidh – is in the foreground with its near neighbour, front beam in a weaving loom.) Dufftown Distillery. In the background is the hill of Macalea, which can be reached from the Distance: 1 3/4 Miles Huntly road. The border with Aberdeenshire Time: 1 hour 15 minutes lies just beyond. Terrain: Smooth, level roadside path in the town. Some steep and uneven sections of paths to be negotiated within the woodland. Users: Suitable for able-bodied pedestrians. No barrier features to be negotiated but there are steps on the steeper sections. Tomnamuidh Widd, locally referred to as the ‘Toon’s Widd’, is best accessed from Balvenie Street by means of the Memorial Garden, a pleasant spot to reflect on the sacrifice made by this small community in two world wars. As you climb through the wood look to your left to see the extent of Wm. Grant and Sons enterprise, Glenfiddich Distillery in the foreground. Just beyond lies the ruined Balvenie Castle, which is open to the public seasonally. This can be reached from the wood 3 by following the field path down to the cottage. Walk 5 The Gordons’ Cross (Alternatively turn left at the edge of the wood for The King’s Grave, Walk 14). Distance: 2 Miles Balvenie Castle is thought to date from the Time: 1 hour 30 minutes 10th or 13th Century. The Black Comyn, Terrain: Fully surfaced roadside paths in the the Earl of Buchan, ruled over this Celtic built up areas. Rough grassy and gravel paths in province until their overthrow a century later by country sections. Some short steep inclines to Robert the Bruce. The “Black” Douglases were be negotiated by flights of steps. then in possession until they too were wiped out in 1455 by James II who gave Balvenie Users: Suitable for able-bodied pedestrians.

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