SCO-008-Pitmedden House-Udny Green Circular

Waypoints

(1) Start at Pitmedden House car-park(57.34195; -2.19387) https://w3w.co/clinking.jeeps.humanStart the walk at the Pitmedden House car-park*, heading south, away from the house and gardens towards the trees.

*Note: there is a charge for car-parking if you are not a National Trust member.

(2) Take yellow arrow path into woods(57.34171; -2.19394) https://w3w.co/pavilions.beaker.maskingIn 30 m, or so, depending on where you started in the car-park, take the yellow arrow marked path into the woods.  (30 m)

(3) Across rough road and follow yellow arrow left(57.34132; -2.19397) https://w3w.co/timer.flinches.mainlandIn just 40 m, or so, from entering the woods, having crossed an estate road, follow the yellow arrow marked sign left on a narrow path through the woods, with a field on your right.  (70 m)

(4) Veer left towards pond and rough road(57.34205; -2.18959) https://w3w.co/shepherds.snack.bluffingIn 300 m, at a fork in the narrow path, veer left towards the end of the pond on your left, and join the rough estate road again. Keep following it starts to turn left.  (368 m)

(5) Left off road down path at yellow arrow marker(57.34420; -2.18948) https://w3w.co/topic.year.boundingIn about 230 m, passing a small field on your left, turn sharp left at the yellow arrow marker off the estate road down a path passing between the fields.  (608 m)

(6) Veer right at yellow arrow marker(57.34412; -2.19314) https://w3w.co/lows.mills.faultIn another 220 m, or so, at a fork in the path, veer right to follow the yellow arrow marker.  (828 m)

(7) Cross A920 road and follow yellow arrow path(57.34364; -2.19773) https://w3w.co/thrashed.refusals.ignoringIn around 270 m, upon meeting the main A920 road, cross over and enter the woods again. following the yellow arrow marked path.  (1.1 km)

(8) Straight on to leave yellow arrow path for Fishers path(57.34367; -2.19936) https://w3w.co/repeating.relies.boosterIn 100 m, or so, go straight on, leaving the  yellow arrow path to take the Fishers path. Soon, there is a large field on your left.  (1.2 km)

(9) Left to leave Fishers path for Countryside path(57.34322; -2.20461) https://w3w.co/twice.saddens.bribingIn 300 m, go left to leave the Fishers path for the Countryside path. Follow it through a belt of trees as it goes past and around a couple of fields.  (1.5 km)

(10) Cross A920 road and go right passing football ground(57.33899; -2.19802) https://w3w.co/raven.adopters.towardAfter 800 m, cross the main A920 road and go right passing the Formartine F.C. football ground on your left. Head towards the t-junction ahead of you with the gates to Udny Castle estate beyond the junction.  (2.3 km)

(11) Cross road and go left for new path(57.33761; -2.19774) In 200 m, cross the busy road junction with care opposite the gates for Udny Castle North Lodge, then go left along the verge for 20 m to access a new hard-surfaced path on your right*. Follow the path for about 160 m, then turn right for a short distance at a t-junction, then go left along the access road through the trees. (2.5 km)

*Note: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GO THROUGH THE GATES AT THE NORTH LODGE. The people who live there have a right to their privacy under the terms of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and walkers have a consequent responsibility to 'Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind.

(12) Pass access drive Udny Castle and take road straight ahead to avoid it(57.33202; -2.19776) https://w3w.co/quaking.lawful.bunkersIn 600 m, or so, you will arrive at a branch junction in the estate roads, with Udny Castle* some distance away on your left side. Continue taking the estate road going straight on and veering away from the castle, as advised by the Aberdeenshire Council access sign. DO NOT TAKE THE ACCESS DRIVE TO YOUR LEFT THAT LEADS UP TO THE CASTLE AND PARKING AREA. Continue to follow the estate road into the trees as it heads towards the entrance/exit at Udny Green. (3.2 km)

*Note: Please take account of the fact that the castle is a private residence. Do not, under any circumstances, approach the castle. The people who live there have a right to their privacy under the terms of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and walkers have a consequent responsibility to 'Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind.'

(13) Walk around the square at Udny Green(57.32820; -2.20015) https://w3w.co/genetics.geese.sampleIn 500 m, after exiting from the gates of the Udny Estate at the South Lodge, enter the area of the square and village green at Udny Green. You will want to walk around the green and take in the picturesque scene. (3.7 km)

(14) Go right onto minor road towards B999 road(57.32852; -2.20018) https://w3w.co/hometown.subplot.witlessFrom the little street on the square with the well-known and popular 'Eat on the Green' restaurant return back uphill in the direction of the Udny South Lodge. Now go right onto the minor road that eventually connects with the B999 Pitmedden road. Carry on down this road, at first on a pavement, passing a new housing estate, then on the verge between fields and trees.  (4.0 km)

(15) Left through gap in wall(57.33060; -2.18540) https://w3w.co/funky.ensemble.zincIn 900 m, look out for a gap in the wall on your left. Turn into that gap and follow the narrow path along a belt of mature trees, with fields on either side.  (4.9 km)

(16) Across B9000 road and veer left towards sign(57.33740; -2.19107) https://w3w.co/serenade.gear.appearIn another 900 m you will arrive at the B900 leaving Pitmedden in the Old Meldrum direction. Cross this road with care into the Pitmedden Woods. Veer towards the Pitmedden House sign just ahead of you and keep following the track back towards Pitmedden House and the car-park where you started the walk.  (5.8 km)

(17) Finish walk back at Pitmedden House car-park(57.34196; -2.19399) https://w3w.co/clinking.jeeps.humanIn 600 m, or so, you are back at your start-point in Pitmedden House car-park.  (6.34 km)