24Moray Dufftown

Cairngorms National Park. the southern expanse of the surrounding mountains across excellent views of the ridge to the top, affording steady climb along a broad the other half involves a a well-defined track, while this pleasant route follows – a Munro at 944m. Half of way to the top of An Socach you’re already nearly half – the Glenshee Ski Centre), of Britain’s biggest ski resort sea level (and just 5km north 1 A93 in Glen Clunie, next to

metres 1200 Start from a lay-by on the Start km 40 0 80 0 0 0

Starting 450m above KIRKPATRICK DAVE CHOSEN BY… 23 u Distance: 9⅔ miles/15.5km u 2 4 AN SOCACH ABERDEENSHIRE

6 first top of Socach Mor. WSW to climb towards the At this point, start to head should level off slightly. 100m of climbing, the route through the heather. After west to start climbing slowly At this point follow this stream coming down from the west. should see a small stream for approximately 2.5km you 2 the river south west. track which roughly follows Cross a stile and follow the picturesque farm. Baddoch a bridge and passing the to follow a track walking over Go through the wooden gate six miles south of Braemar). a small wood (approximately GR ADIENT PROFILE After following the track 1½ miles/2.5km Huge mountain views in the south Cairngorms. 8 Time: 4½ hours u 4½ hours Time: 10

Grade: Challenging

DAVE KIRKPATRICK DAVE PHOTO: westerly direction to reach the Mor continue climbing in a 3 14 Public & hotelsPubs in Braemar Refreshments Braemar Nearest town PLANNING Stiles 1 above sea level while starting high the top of the Munro, of the way and gaining following a track for half relatively easy navigation, A mountain route with Is it for me? NO138832 of Braemar, grid-ref on A93, six miles south Start/parking At lay-by ROUTE Public Glen Shee Ski Centre Landranger 43 Landranger 43 Maps OS Explorer OL52; Nothing to start PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN From the cairn at Socach 2¾ miles/4.5km toilets transport 16

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SCOTLAND ✁ route re-enters Dufftown for Glenfiddich whisky), the Fiddich (source of the water walking alongside the River Giant’s Chair and, after geological formation of the paths take you past the Scotland. Pleasant riverside the oldest Christian sites in the 7th Century and one of Mortlach Kirk, dating from passing several distilleries and winds in and out of the village, network of paths. This route also boasts an impressive villages of Speyside, Dufftown of Balvenie Castle. past the impressive ruins and makes a final descent metres km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 whisky producing One of the great JENNY GILLIES CHOSEN BY… 24 u Distance: 6⅔ miles/10km u miles/10km 6⅔ Distance: 2 4

DUFFTOWN MORAY

6 a path leading to the edge Meg’s Widd and turn R onto follow a sign pointing towards On the other side of road over the grass and the road. at the top, carry straight on after this turn R up a track and, crosses a burn. Immediately 2 1 along the hillside. turn L to follow another track the hill and, after a building, warehouses. The track climbs immediately after the white the opposite side of the road, distance and take the track on alongside the road for a short turn R along the A941. Walk walk back to the main road and GR ADIENT PROFILE F Start rom the distillery car park, T 1⅓ miles/2.3km he track bends L and

8 Time: 2½ hours u hours 2½ Time: Balvenie Castle. 10 The ruins of The ruins of

Grade: Easy

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JENNY GILLIES JENNY PHOTO: 14 ROUTE Landranger 28 Maps OS Explorer 424; the K&D heritage railway Dufftown at weekends via which connects to Nearest station Keith, Craigellachie and Aberlour. service 36) from Elgin via Regular bus (Stagecoach Public Albert Place, Dufftown Public of cafes/pubs in Dufftown Refreshments A selection Nearest town Dufftown PLANNING Stiles None points shortened at several Route can be easily tracks and minor roads. around Dufftown on paths, uses the network of paths Is it for me? The route NJ324409 Craigellachie, grid ref park, off the A941 from Glenfiddich Distillery car Start/parking PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN transport toilets 16

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SCOTLAND DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

© Country Walking July 2018 JULY 2018 JULY 1 START IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes OS MAPS ONLINE: VIEW ON THE WALK eventually meet up with the meet eventually in the glen. Follow main track north east, the main track back to streams fording the lay-by. 2

4 miles/6.5km of An the top From 3 ridge to the true summit ridge to the avoid to note (944m). Take slopes on the southern steep the top. approach flanks as you Socach, retrace your steps steps your Socach, retrace the steep 1 km, past After east. slopes on the south, a small dip in the ridge marks heads that of a track start a small following south east slowly descends This stream. to the heather crossing 4 Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop ABERDEENSHIRE AN SOCACH in Braemar in Braemar the walk, after Stopping off Stopping 4 DON’T MISS... DON’T for a well-deserved a well-deserved for from and cake coffee one of its many shops. coffee OS Explorer map OL52 u

next large cairn at 938m, which 938m, cairn at large next of the Anmarks the start the cairn From Socach ridge. the following head south west, u

SCOTLAND ✁ DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

8 6 IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS 6 miles/9.5km bends R carry road When lfto.com/cwroutes START OS MAPS ONLINE: VIEW ON THE WALK straight onto fenced path and path fenced onto straight wood from Emerge wood. into Balvenie of field above top at turn L to castle, At Castle. start. L back to junction, 8 1 4

3 5

2 5½ miles/8.7km and turn the road Cross

L following the sign to join the sign to L following beside down drops that a path path Fiddich. The the River and follow a track widens into R Turn the road. rejoin this L to the the bridge and at cross to follow turn L to junction road up the hill into Street Fife mile turn 1/4 After Dufftown. passing Ave, Stephen R onto the L of village round hospital and then straight onto roads the cross on at Road. Tomnamuidh 7 ©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2018 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 007/18 MEDIA SURVEY. ORDNANCE 2018 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop

MORAY MORAY DUFFTOWN ollow the track along the the track ollow 2½ miles/4km Church sharp R onto Turn 4⅓ miles/7km F 3⅓ miles/5.4km as it the path Follow 2 miles/3.2km a wide onto straight Carry OS Explorer map 424 u Street to pass the ancient pass to Street the road Mortlach Kirk and at on to carry straight junction Distillery, Dufftown pass brae. climbing up the steep out of the minor road Follow you mile until 1/3 the village for on L. a signed footpath reach u of the wood, where you take take you where of the wood, the edge around the R path of the wood. 3 4 5 6 undulates alongside the Dullan undulates the geologicalBurn, passing Chair. of the Giant’s feature the path a weir passing After Dufftown back at arrives Distillery. track, shortly turning R to pass shortly turning R to track, that a path onto a gate through the edge of field. follows the fenced follow R to Turn the field and then L down path that a track onto the bottom at St. Church out onto brings you side of the river past the past side of the river you and a field until cemetery R here, Turn a signpost. reach Pass Cross. Gordon’s signed for and turn L to a gate through up the hill. the path follow continue another gate After on along the track straight the A941. meet to 24

SCOTLAND