SCO-026-Leith Hall-Craigfall-Parkland Ramble

Waypoints

(1) Start walk at Leith Hall NTS car-park(57.35634; -2.76629)Start the walk from the National Trust for Scotland car-park at Leith House. After reading the information board, and facing Leith House, go left up the estate road towards the old stables building.

(2) Veer right for Craigfall Trail(57.35780; -2.76528)In 190 m, or so, with the old stables building on your left, veer right onto a path through the trees signed for the Cragifall Trail. The route soon crosses a narrow tarred road (an old turnpike road, once the main thoroughfare to Aberdeen) and goes through a wooden gate into Larch Wood.  (187 m)

(3) Veer left into trees away from marked trail(57.35835; -2.76503)In about 70 m from the stables, near the edge of Larch Wood, take the path into the trees that veers left along the side of the hill instead of the path marked with a yellow arrow which goes straight uphill. The path to the left will take you around and up the hill (it is the return route for the marked trail).  (256 m)

(4) Through gate onto Craigfall viewpoint path(57.35982; -2.76695)In just over 500 m, you arrive at a gate signposted for the Craigfall viewpoint. Go through the gate and follow the path through the grass with the fence close on your left side. Go through another gate at the end of the fence and follow the path as it veers left into trees.  (779 m)

(5) Left and uphill on marked path(57.36034; -2.76482)In 150 m from the first gate, take the yellow-arrow signed path left and uphill.  (932 m)

(6) Craigfall viewpoint(57.36098; -2.76301)In 170 m you will arrive at the Craigfall Viewpoint where there is a stone enclosure. There are great views of the Bennachie range to the left, the Corren Hills ahead, and the Tap o' Noth to the right.  When you are ready, carry on taking the path past the viewpoint. This path will soon start to go downhill and underneath the viewpoint. When you reach the point where you went uphill at Waypoint 5, re-trace your steps to the gate at the edge of Larch Wood (Waypoint 4).  (1.1 km)

(7) Through gate and left down fence(57.35974; -2.76692)In 700 m from the viewpoint, at the gate on the edge of Larch Wood, go through the gate and take the path on your left, initially close to the fence at the edge of the wood. Follow the path down through the wood and then across the narrow tarred road back towards Leith Hall, passing the old stables building on your right.  (1.8 km)

(8) Left off road along grassy path(57.35768; -2.76528)In 300 m, just after passing the old stables building on your right, take the grassy path on your left that goes diagonally down the hillside towards a large tree in the centre of the grassy area. Carry on past the tree and then veer slightly right towards Leith Hall. (2.1 km)

(9) Leith Hall(57.35633; -2.76451)In 200 m from the stables, admiring the architectural features of Leith Hall*, walk around the building to the front entrance, then take the short driveway back in the direction of the car-park where you started the walk.  (2.3 km)

*Note: The north wing of the house was constructed in 1650, on the site of the earlier Peill Castle. The east wing was added in 1756, and the south wing was built in 1797. The west wing, containing the entrance front, was added in 1868 to complete the courtyard. It was the home of the Leith-Hay family for nearly three centuries. [Wikipedia]

(10) Left towards Pond Walk(57.35634; -2.76582)In 100 m from the rear of Leith House, at the x-roads of estates roads near the NTS car-park where you started the walk, go left on the signed route for the Pond Walk, passing the Dule Tree* on the way.  (2.4 km)

*Note: The Dule Tree is an ancient sycamore sitting on a prominent mound and was once used as a gallows tree for those convicted under "Baron's Law". Dule is a Gaelic word meaning "grief" and suggests that the site was also once used as a place to mourn the dead of the clan. [Wikipedia]

(11) Veer left down Pond Walk(57.35519; -2.76582)In 200 m, or so, veer left off the estate road onto a path signed for the Pond Walk.  (2.6 km)

(12) Cross bridge(57.35512; -2.76405)In 100 m, or so, the path meets another estate road where you turn right and cross a bridge.  (2.7 km)

(13) Left again for Pond Walk(57.35496; -2.76393)Just over the bridge, go left off the estate road onto the Pond Walk path. This path will take you part-way around the larger of 2 delightful ponds in this area of woodland. (2.7 km)

(14) Left for Bird Hide pond(57.35357; -2.76001)In 400 m, take the path on your left signed for the Bird Hide. This takes you to a smaller pond with a bird hide.  (3.1 km)

(15) Bird hide(57.35310; -2.75776)In 150 m, or so, enter the bird hide and take in the scene from the hide. There is information about the birds you may see. When you are ready, re-trace your steps back along the access path to the hide.  (3.25 km)

(16) Veer left back onto main Pond Walk(57.35354; -2.76009)In 150 m from the bird hide, veer left to carry on taking the main Pond Walk path, with the pond on your right.  (3.4 km)

(17) Go left - signed for Ice House(57.35427; -2.76239)In 200 m, or so, the path leaves the edge of the pond and meets an estate road. Go left here, signed for the Ice House.  (3.6 km)

(18) Divert right for Ice House(57.35415; -2.76221)In just 20 m, divert off the estate road right and up a low knoll amongst the trees on the marked path for the old Ice House.  (3.6 km)

(19) Ice House(57.35403; -2.76232)In only 15 m, or so you are standing above the entrance to the old Ice House*. When you are ready, follow the path veering left back to the estate road, turning right at the road to continue following it away from Leith House and towards the village of Kennethmont. Soon you will cross a bridge over the Aberdeen/Inverness railway line. Keep on this estate road, with the railway line now fairly close on your left side.  (3.6 km)

* Note: Ice houses were buildings used to store ice throughout the year. Most were underground chambers, usually man-made, close to natural sources of winter ice such as freshwater lakes. During the winter, ice and snow would be cut from lakes or rivers and taken into the ice house and packed with insulation, often straw or sawdust. It would remain frozen for many months.  [Wikipedia]

(20) Right before bridge(57.35085; -2.75539)In 600 m, arriving at a small stone bridge over a narrow stream, go right off the estate road onto a path initially running alongside the stream.  (4.2 km)

(21) Carry straight on(57.35032; -2.75593)In 100 m, or so, at an access road behind houses, carry on taking the yellow-arrow signed path, now with a large field on your right side. Keep taking the path as it crosses an access road to a waste water treatment plant at the edge of the field and carries on around the edge of the field.  (4.3 km)

(22) Through gate and go right(57.35041; -2.76324)In 500 m, go through a wooden gate and turn right along the farm track/estate road with the field still on your right side.  (4.8 km)

(23) Turn left - avoiding downhill path to right(57.35114; -2.76411)In 100 m, or so, where a signed path on your right heads downhill for Leith House, carry on taking the wide track, turning left at that point to continue with the field on your right side. Soon the track around the fields will turn right and go downhill towards a graveyard.  (4.9 km)

(24) Graveyard(57.35311; -2.76671)In 400 m, enter the graveyard to check it out. It includes graves and a mausoleum for the Leith-Hay family. It is marked as having Commonwealth War Graves. Can you find them - we didn't!  When you are ready, move on down the path you were on. Soon the railway line is on your left, just past the end of the graveyard.  (5.3 km)

(25) Left across railway bridge(57.35309; -2.76334)In 400 m from the graveyard, go through the gate and then go left across the pedestrian bridge over the railway line. Keep following the path after the bridge as it veers left towards Leith Hall.  (5.7 km)

(26) Take left fork(57.35484; -2.76391)In 300 m, having joined an estate road, take the left fork at a y-junction and follow the track with a field on your left and trees on your right. Soon it turns right and crosses the burn, heading towards Leith House.  (6.0 km)

(27) Left down entrance drive for gardens(57.35642; -2.76588)In 300 m, having passed a yard with some outhouses on your left, at the estates road junction with the NTS car-park on your left and Leith House on your right, go left down the driveway, looking out for the path for the gardens on your right.  (6.3 km)

(28) Right off driveway to enter gardens(57.35658; -2.76732)Soon, in 70 m, turn off the driveway road in order to enter the gardens*. Take your time to explore the extensive and varied gardens before returning to the driveway and making your way back to your start-point in the NTS car-park.  (6.37 km)

*Note: the gardens are set on a south-facing slope, in stages with each sheltered by a wall or hedge and each with its own special character. The gardens contain flowering trees and shrubs, roses, fruit, vegetables and ornamental grasses. At the top of the garden, near the 18th century curved stables, is the circular "Moon Gate" leading to the old turnpike road, once the main thoroughfare to Aberdeen.  [Wikipedia]

(29) Finish walk back at Leith Hall NTS car-park(57.35640; -2.76639)Finish the walk back at Leith Hall NTS car-park where you started.  (7.2 km)