The Mack Walks: Short Walks in Scotland Under 10 km Linn of Quoich-The Punchbowl (Aberdeenshire) Route Summary This walk visits a place of extraordinary beauty where the Quioch Water is forced through narrow channels in an otherwise peaceful spot amongst heather and tall pine trees. The complete route is only suitable for experienced walkers who are up for an “assault course” experience! Duration: 2 hours Route Overview Duration: 2 hours. Transport/Parking: No public transport nearby. Park at the National Trust for Scotland Linn of Quoich car-park, which is almost 6 km east of the more popular Linn of Dee car-park on the C1M minor road to Allanaquoich, on the Mar Lodge Estate. Fee is £3 at May 2021. Length: 5.090 km / 3.18 mi Height Gain: 104 meter. Height Loss: 104 meter. Max Height: 408 meter. Min Height: 337 meter. Surface: Very rough. The route is partly on good estate roads, but the riverside section up-stream from the bridge at Waypoint 5 to Waypoint 7 is extremely arduous in sections where the path has been eroded. See guidance in the main walk description. Difficulty: Hard. Child Friendly: No, not suitable for young children. Dog Friendly: No, unlikely to be suitable due to sheer slopes caused by extreme riverbank erosion in places. Refreshments: Options in Braemar. Description The rushing waters of the Quoich, cascading through a series of narrow ravines, makes for a stunning and unforgettable experience in an idyllic Highland setting amongst mature pines. However, if planning to undertake the complete circuit, walkers must clearly understand that the route from the Linn of Quoich footbridge at Waypoint 5 to Waypoint 7, at the upper bridge, is extremely arduous in places due to riverbank erosion. *** DO NOT UNDERTAKE THE COMPLETE CIRCUIT UNLESS YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED WALKER who is prepared to scramble down and up the eroded riverbank gripping on to branches and heather for support. The path is also unclear in places, and there is a fast-flowing burn to cross on irregular stones. *** The initial path to the Linn of Quoich (“Linn” is an old Scots word for waterfall, or torrent) is, however, easy and safe. One of the scenic highlights at the Linn, is the “Punchbowl”, an extraordinary, comma-shaped, water-carved hole in the otherwise flat rock formation. Reputedly, in past times, the Earl of Mar, and his hunting parties, would toast their success after a hunt, by supping from a punchbowl supported by this stone feature. This spot was also popular with Queen Victoria, who had a small lodge built (now in poor repair) above the Linn. From this spot it is possible without too much effort or jeopardy (although the path is in poor condition in places), to walk upstream 450 m to a more conventional, but no less attractive, waterfall. The Linn of Quoich is on the Mar Lodge Estate, owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It is made up of more than 29,000 hectares of a quintessential Highland landscape: heather-covered moorland, Caledonian pine forest, towering mountains and the Quoich wetlands, home to wading birds and otters. Within the estate there are 15 Munros. It is the largest National Nature Reserve in the UK. 1 Waypoints (1) Start the walk at the Linn of Quoich car-park (57.00171; -3.45534) https://w3w.co/stowing.finest.version Start the walk at the National Trust for Scotland Linn of Quoich car-park, which is almost 6 km east of the more popular Linn of Dee car-park on the C1M minor road to Allanaqoich, on the Mar Lodge Estate*. With your back to the car-park, go left along the narrow road. *Note: The Mar Lodge Estate is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It is made up of more than 29,000 hectares of a quintessential Highland landscape: heather-covered moorland, Caledonian pine forest, towering mountains and the Quoich wetlands, home to wading birds and otters. Within the estate there are 15 Munros. It is the largest National Nature Reserve in the UK. (2) Sharp left up narrow path by Caledonian Pinewood info board (57.00226; -3.45410) https://w3w.co/measure.directs.sparrows In about 100 m, leave the road and turn sharp left up a narrow path through heather and young pine trees, passing by the Caledonian Pinewood info board on your right side. (97 m) (3) Right at paths x-roads (57.00241; -3.45973) https://w3w.co/salary.tragedy.smoke After a gentle ascent of 350 m, turn right at a paths x-roads amongst the heather. (461 m) 2 (4) Left and down to riverside (57.00458; -3.46021) https://w3w.co/gestures.thinker.aunts In less than 300 m, just after entering a wooded area above the Quoich Water, turn left onto an indistinct path that quickly takes you down to the riverside where there are good views of the fast- flowing small river. Turn right at the riverbank and make your way along a narrow riverside path towards the pedestrian bridge ahead of you. The unusual flat rock structures force the water flow into narrow channels and you will soon come upon the Linn of Quoich 'Punchbowl'* itself, a naturally carved hole in the rock shaped like an enormous comma! (see photo below). *Note: Reputedly, in past times, the Earl of Mar, and his hunting parties, would toast their success after a hunt, by supping from a punchbowl supported by this stone feature. Photo of 'The Punchbowl': 3 (5) Linn of Quioch Punchbowl bridge (57.00426; -3.45913) https://w3w.co/gems.backed.parade In about 125 m, you will arrive at the Linn of Quioch Punchbowl bridge. As you approach the bridge, with the water running fast through a narrow channel in the rock, make your way back up onto the main track, turn left and step onto the bridge. After you have enjoyed the spectacle below you on both sides, complete your crossing of the bridge and turn left to follow the path up-river, passing the now dilapidated Queen Victoria's Picnic Lodge building* above you on your right. *** The path from here to the next Waypoint (the waterfall) is mostly OK. There is one section where the narrow path is bare and slopes towards the river that may not be suitable for everyone. If you feel uncomfortable in tackling this section or at any other point, please stop and re-trace your steps. *** *Note: This spot was popular with Queen Victoria, who had a small 'picnic' lodge built (now in poor repair) above the Linn. Photo of Queen Victoria's Picnic Lodge: 4 (6) Waterfall (57.00658; -3.46392) https://w3w.co/inflict.ghost.trout In 450 m you will have arrived at the beautiful Linn of Quoich waterfall. *** The route from here to the next Waypoint at the upper bridge, 1.5 km away, is extremely arduous in places due to riverbank erosion. DO NOT UNDERTAKE THIS SECTION UNLESS YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED WALKER who is prepared to scramble down and up the eroded riverbank gripping on to branches and heather for support. The path is also unclear in places, and there is a fast-flowing burn to cross on irregular stones. If in doubt, re-trace your steps back to the walk start-point from here. *** If you have decided to continue onwards, keep going upstream on the increasingly indistinct path. (1.3 km) (7) Cross bridge (57.01183; -3.48211) https://w3w.co/investor.baseballs.persuade In 1.5 km, despite the wonderful scenery all around you, you may be relieved to arrive at the upper pedestrian bridge on the Quoich (this is a relatively new bridge, its predecessor having been washed away during flooding following Storm Frank in 2015). Cross the bridge and take the path going right (there is a steep muddy path going straight ahead which we don't recommend). The preferred path soon takes a sharp left and ascends to a good estate road. Go left here, to follow this scenic road, between mature pines, back towards your start-point, with the river below you on your left. Eventually, you leave the trees behind and are walking through a section of heather moorland, with the impressive hilltop of Morrone ahead of you in the distance. (2.8 km) (8) Veer left down path back to start (57.00247; -3.46014) https://w3w.co/unsigned.farm.youths In 1.8 km, veer left and down a path, passing Waypoint 3 on your outbound route, going downhill back to your start-point in the car-park. (4.6 km) 5 (9) Finish walk back at car-park information board (57.00168; -3.45528) https://w3w.co/stowing.finest.version In 500 m, you will have arrived back at your start-point in the car-park. (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 Outdooractive Access Walk on Wikiloc 7.