recommended route
SCO-001-Stonehaven-Dunnottar Castle Circular
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Photo: Alison Mackenzie, Community
Duration: 2.5 hours.
This a gentle walk through a variety of pleasant and interesting environments. Starting and finishing at the picturesque harbour and old town area of Stonehaven, the route progresses through mature broadleaf woodland, then on a country lane through mixed farmland, with the final section on a cliff-top path with wonderful coastal views. The focal point of the walk, in the mid-section is, of course, the spectacular views of Dunnottar Castle, a world-wide attraction evidenced by the many foreign visitors. Walkers on this route may, optionally, visit the castle (website link: https://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/). In the woodland section, the route passes an odd and interesting architectural curiosity – the Shell House, provided as an amusement for the children of the landowner, 200 years ago. In the later stage of the cliff-top section, the route takes you to the top of Black Hill and the Stonehaven War Memorial. This is a unique and particularly thought-provoking structure in the form of a ruined or unfinished temple (see the information board for background) that sits on a striking location overlooking the bay and the town in one direction and the rolling farmland, hills and forests of the Mearns on the other.
Our website link: https://themackwalks.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/001-stonehaven-dunnottar-castle-circular/
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(1). Start walk at Stonehaven harbour(56.96078; -2.20345). https://w3w.co/greyhound.sprinter.profiledStart walk at Stonehaven harbour, outside the RNLI Lifeboats base. From there, head up the High Street, passing the Old Clock Tower building on your left. Carry straight on when the High Street meets the A957 main road.
(2). Cross main road and carry on(56.96175; -2.21247). https://w3w.co/resonated.mash.innovatorIn around 570 m, cross the road with care at the point where it bends sharp left. Carry on down Dunnottar Avenue, passing the Invercarron Resource Centre on your left. (570 m).
(3). Left up Carron Gardens(56.96162; -2.21416). https://w3w.co/brain.rinses.broachedIn just over 100 m, turn sharp left up Carron Gardens. (678 m).
(4). Veer right and up path through woods(56.96037; -2.21599). https://w3w.co/means.enacts.sheepishIn just over 200 m, veer right and up a path through the woods, passing a sign for Dunnottar Woods on your left. (900 m).
(5). Left and down at y-junction(56.95731; -2.22006). https://w3w.co/accusing.flips.juicyIn about 400 m, walking through the woods, go left and down at a y-junction of paths. (1.3 km).
(6). Pass Shell House(56.95558; -2.22153). https://w3w.co/barks.best.kilowattIn 200 m, having checked it out, pass the "Shell House" and carry on. (1.5 km).
(7). Left and up old access road(56.95470; -2.22248). https://w3w.co/fewer.lost.woesIn another 200 m, or so, go left and up an old road (once an access road to the nearby walled garden - now a plant nursery). towards the main A957 road. (1.7 km).
(8). Right along verge on A957 road(56.95402; -2.22070). https://w3w.co/cape.rejoiced.admiringlyIn 100 m you arrive at the A957 main road. Go right along the path at the verge of the road. (1.8 km).
(9). Cross main A957 road and up country lane(56.95279; -2.22333). https://w3w.co/prepare.friction.dumpsIn 200 m, cross the main A957 road with extreme care and proceed up the very quiet country lane. (2.0 km).
(10). Right at t-junction(56.94600; -2.20586). https://w3w.co/mule.removers.skillsIn 1.5 km, arriving at a t-junction, go right for a short distance (100 m, or so). , passing an old lodge-house and the main gates for Dunnottar Castle. (3.5 km).
(11). Left to access gate and down path to castle(56.94554; -2.20601). https://w3w.co/sanded.instincts.excusingIn 100 m, or so, go down and left a short distance to pass through the pedestrian access gate to the path leading to Dunnottar Castle. Carry on down this wide path towards the coast and the castle. (3.6 km).
(12). Left along clifftop path(56.94590; -2.20075). https://w3w.co/crank.runs.discloseIn 300 m, go left along the clifftop path. Do not take take the path going downhill to the castle entrance unless you wish to make a (paid). visit to the castle. (3.9 km).
NB: adult visitor prices, Summer 2018, are £7. Link to website: https://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/). (13). Left up path to war memorial(56.95571; -2.20151). https://w3w.co/circling.nudge.toolkitIn 1.3 km, walking along the clifftops, go left and through the gate to ascend to the unique and thought-provoking spectacle of the Stonehaven War Memorial. There are also wonderful views from the top of the Black Hill on which it sits. An information board explains its history and purpose. When your visit to the memorial is finished, return to the clifftop path, turning left at the gate to continue your return to Stonehaven. When the path meets the old coastal road to Stonehaven carry on downhill. (5.2 km).
(14). Veer right down path to harbour(56.95815; -2.20419). https://w3w.co/rationing.curries.vandalismIn 700 m from the War Memorial waypoint, just after a fine viewpoint of the harbour, veer right and down a path to the harbour area. (5.9 km).
(15). Right down Wallace Wynd(56.95977; -2.20456). https://w3w.co/windows.boomed.dumpsAfter 200 m descent, go right down the narrow Wallace Wynd to the harbour. Turn left here to make for your start point, passing the Marine Hotel and Ship Inn on your left. (6.1 km).
(16). Finish walk back at harbour start-point(56.96077; -2.20337). https://w3w.co/greyhound.sprinter.profiled In 100 m, you are back at your start point opposite the RNLI base, at Duthie's Well. (6.2 km).
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