SCO-116-Fochabers-Whiteash Hill-Winding Walks

Waypoints

(1) Start walk at the Winding Walks car-park(57.61279; -3.07583) https://w3w.co/popped.blocking.limitsStart the walk at the Forestry Commission information board at the Winding Walks car-park*. Looking at the info board, turn right and follow the path in a SW direction to the corner of the car-park. Down below you, on your right you will see a small reservoir/pond.

*Note: driving from Fochabers in an easterly direction, the Winding Walks car-park is on your right, about 560 m from the large A96/A98 Fochabers by-pass roundabout on the A98 road to Buckie.

(2) Veer right then left at fork in roads(57.61216; -3.07544) https://w3w.co/founders.decks.entrustedIn just less than 80 m, at the south-western end of the car-park, take the broad path veering slightly right and downhill. After passing the bollards, turn left and then almost immediately take the left fork on the forest roads. Follow this forest road as it proceeds gently uphill into the woods.  (77 m)

(3) Follow road as it veers slightly left - ignore option down and right(57.60842; -3.07092) https://w3w.co/shadows.grandest.molarsIn just over 500 m, at a junction, follow the forest road as it swings very gently left and gradually uphill. Do NOT take the track going down to your right at the junction. In about 450 m you will pass the pretty little Longhowe Loch where there is a picnic bench.  (601 m)

(4) Right at t-junction(57.61114; -3.06080) https://w3w.co/mixed.ringside.seeingIn 800 m, go right at a t-junction on the forest roads.  (1.4 km)

(5) Cross over forest road and up path to monument(57.60775; -3.05752) https://w3w.co/absent.poodle.essayIn 500 m, cross a forest road and veer very slightly left to take a path going uphill.  (1.9 km)

(6) Monument(57.60294; -3.05048) https://w3w.co/shrubbery.scarecrow.tramsIn 700 m you will have arrived at an impressive pyramidical stone monument* where there is also an information board. From here there are good views on a clear day over the Moray Firth to the Caithness Hills. When you are ready, take the path at the back and to the right of the monument (with your back to the Moray Firth). This path goes downhill in a west-south-west direction. The first section of this path is used by mountain-bikers so may be muddy. Keep going downhill, ignoring an extreme mountain bike trail on your left.  (2.6 km)

*Note: Built in 1887 as a memorial for Frances Harriet Grenville, wife of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond and Gordon.

(7) Ranald's Grave(57.60205; -3.05774) https://w3w.co/requires.shapeless.distortsIn 500 m, just off the path on your left, you will pass a curious cairn of stones known as Ranald's Grave.* After checking it out, carry on downhill.  (3.1 km)

*Note: Reputedly, Ranald's Grave. Ranald was apparently a "king of tinkers" and the stone cairn marks the spot where he was summarily executed in his own camp for highway robbery. The cairn is on a hillside above the Old King's Highway road between Aberdeen and Inverness.

(8) Cross forest road and carry on downhill(57.60260; -3.06547) https://w3w.co/innovate.caused.reshapingIn about 500 m from Ranald's Grave, at a x-roads and clearing, go straight over the x-roads and carry on walking gently downhill.  (3.6 km)

(9) Carry straight on here(57.60453; -3.06733) https://w3w.co/reinvest.ordeals.nightlifeIn 300 m, where there is a sign for the Winding Walks on your right, carry straight on, on the forest road.  (3.9 km)

(10) Left for Peep's Viewpoint path(57.60682; -3.07306) https://w3w.co/collapsed.tonight.swanIn another 400 m, at another Winding Walks sign for a path going right, take the Peep's View path on the other side, going left. To emphasise, GO LEFT HERE!  (4.3 km)

(11) Peep's viewpoint(57.60880; -3.08077) https://w3w.co/sagging.empire.jumboIn 700 m you will arrive at a wooden gazebo (sadly, fenced off when we visited, March 2020), From here, there is a fine view over nearby Fochabers (Peep's View). When you are ready, carry on taking the track as before.  (5.0 km)

(12) Carry straight on for Winding Walks path(57.60922; -3.07506) https://w3w.co/giggle.translate.budgetedIn 400 m you will meet another forest road where there is a Winding Walks sigpost. This time, cross the road and follow the Winding Walks arrow on the signpost. You are now on a narrow path that zig-zags right then left to descend into the Winding Walks wooded gorge, heading in a northerly direction back towards your walk start-point. Eventually, the path meets the forest road again, close to the car-park. Turn right here and soon you will be passing the small reservoir/pond below you on your left, and re-tracing your steps through the car-park to your start-point.  (5.4 km)

(13) Finish walk back at car-park(57.61278; -3.07595) https://w3w.co/popped.blocking.limitsIn 500 m you will have arrived back at your start-point in the Forestry Commission Winding Walks car-park.  (5.9 km)