SCO-064--Delgatie Castle and Woods Circular
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Photo: Alison Mackenzie, Community
Duration: 1.5 hours.
This is a pleasant walk with a very modest overall ascent amongst mature mixed woodland with some open views. On the return leg, approaching the Castle, the route passes close to an attractive trout fishery loch, edged by large broadleaf trees. To cap off the walk, we suggest paying a visit to Delgatie Castle itself, an historic tower house sitting on a wooded hillside just above the woodland walks car-parking area. The castle consists of a keep, adjoining house and two later wings. It is believed that a fortified building has stood on the site of Delgatie Castle since the 11thC, although the earliest parts of the castle standing today were built in the late 16thC. Wings and a chapel were added in the mid 18thC. The original castle and lands were seized from the Earl of Buchan after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and given to Clan Hay (later to become the Earls of Erroll). Mary, Queen of Scots, was a guest at the castle in 1562 after the Battle of Corrichie. The interior of the house was saved from destruction from dry rot by the late Captain John Hay, who acquired the building in a semi-ruinous state in the 1950s. Notable internal features include a very wide turnpike stair, painted ceilings dating from the 16thC, and, reputedly, a ghost! Today, the castle and its gardens are owned by the Delgatie Castle Trust. The castle, grounds, and Laird’s Kitchen Tea Room (recommended!) are open to the public throughout the year except at Christmas. See the following links:
http://www.delgatiecastle.com/
http://www.delgatiecastle.com/LairdsKitchen.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delgatie_Castle
https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/turriff/delgatiecastle/index.html
Our website link: https://themackwalks.wordpress.com/2019/05/29/064-delgatie-castle-and-woods-circular-aberdeenshire/
Track types
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Turn-by-turn directions
Waypoints
(1) Take path up steps from car-park(57.54486; -2.40899)Start the walk at the car-park for Delgaty Woods. Walk up the steps at the rear of the car-park and follow the path as it winds its way gently uphill.
(2) Veer left at open area(57.54305; -2.40468)In 400 m, the path having joined a forest road, veer left at the y-junction. After following the path for about 200 m go right. (400 m)
(3) Left and uphill(57.53917; -2.40107)In 700 m, at a t-junction, go left and uphill. (1.1 km)
(4) Go right here(57.53967; -2.39515)After 400 m, go right. (1.5 km)
(5) Take narrow path on left(57.53739; -2.39518)In 300 m, take the narrow path on the left that skirts along the edge of the wood, with open countryside visible on your left side. (1.8 km)
(6) Follow path out of woods to tarred road(57.53619; -2.40313)In 400 m, having passed an entrance to the woods and car-parking area, the narrow path you are on goes left to exit the woods onto a minor road. Carry on walking down the quiet narrow road, keeping to the right side to face any oncoming vehicles. (2.2 km)
(7) Right onto rough road into woods(57.53488; -2.41118)In 600 m, at an attractive rock garden by an access road junction, go right and around the vehicular gate to follow the forest road back in the direction of your start point. Fairly soon, the forest track ends at another gate and you carry on, joining a woodland path that soon passes the trout fishery loch on your left side. Keep going back to you start point at the car-park. Here, go left towards Delgatie Castle. We suggest that, as your route, you take the winding vehicle access drive on your left below the castle. (2.8 km)
(8) Delgatie Castle entrance(57.54420; -2.41211)In 1.5 km you will have arrived at the front entrance to Delgatie Castle*. The castle can be visited and we can recommend the Laird's Kitchen Tea Room. When you are ready, return to the car-park where you started the walk down the pedestrian pathway. (4.3 km)
*Note: see the following links:http://www.delgatiecastle.com/ http://www.delgatiecastle.com/LairdsKitchen.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delgatie_Castlehttps://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/turriff/delgatiecastle/index.html(9) Finish walk back at car-park(57.54489; -2.40921)In 300 m from the castle, you will have returned to the car-park where you started the walk. (4.6 km)
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