SCO-133-Ballater-Craigendarroch-River Dee Circuit

Waypoints

(1) Start walk at Church Square(57.04829; -3.04102) https://w3w.co/headrest.darker.tunedThe walk start at the Church Square car-park. From there, walk a short distance to the main shopping street running through the village, Bridge Street. Go left up Bridge Street, soon passing the old railway station (now a visitor centre, and more) in Station Square on your right. Keep going, as Bridge Street bends a little to the left and becomes Braemar Road (A93).

(2) Right up Craigendarroch Walk(57.05069; -3.04701) https://w3w.co/tabloid.ringers.contactsIn about 600 m, cross Braemar road and go right into the street called Craigendarroch Walk. In about 80 m, at a waymark post (see pic, below), take the path that veers left off the pavement and through a pedestrian gate towards the woodland at the base of Craigendarroch Hill (there is a waymark information sign but it is now unreadable). (592 m)

(3) Go left at paths y-junction(57.05215; -3.04677) https://w3w.co/fizzle.waltz.breakfastIn 170 m from Braemar Road, now on a woodland path, go sharp left at a waymark post to take the path going gently uphill in a W, then NW, direction. There are a number of 'pop-out' information boards to look out for on the path. (760 m)

(4) Carry straight on - passing steep path on right(57.05301; -3.05289) https://w3w.co/rejoin.snapping.hologramIn 440 m, at a waymark post, carry on, passing the steep path on your right which directly ascends to the summit of Craigendarroch. Keep following this path as it continues to gently ascend, soon passing the Craigendarroch Hotel below you. Eventually the path winds around to the north side of Craigendarroch Hill, overlooking the Pass of Ballater, and looking across the Pass to the cliffs on the face of Craig an t'Seabhaig which are popular with rock climbers. The path is narrow here, and although quite safe, is slightly vertiginous in places and may not suit everyone*. (1.2 km)

*Note: you may shorten the walk and avoid the Pass of Ballater section by, instead, turning right at this waypoint and making a direct approach to the summit, returning by the same route.

(5) Take right fork uphill(57.05877; -3.04318) https://w3w.co/jogged.elaborate.clickerAfter 1.1 km you will arrive at a y-junction. Take the right fork, on a narrow path that initially zigzags uphill. After 120 m you will arrive at a waymark post. Follow the arrow to go left here, ignoring the steep path carrying on straight uphill (this is a shortcut to the summit path you will take after Waypoint 6). Follow the path as it goes around the eastern side of Craigendarroch with some views of the Dee Valley on the eastern approach to Ballater. (2.3 km)

(6) Right and uphill - for path to summit(57.05723; -3.04361) https://w3w.co/micro.meanings.blaringIn 200 m, or so, where there is a broken bench and a waymark post for a path descending the hillside towards Ballater, go sharp right to take the path for the summit of Craigendarroch. Initially, the ascent through the trees is gentle, but soon becomes steep and rocky underfoot in places. (2.5 km)

(7) Summit of Craigendarroch(57.05562; -3.04764) https://w3w.co/fetching.plots.snoresAfter a 500 m ascent you will arrive at small (built) cairn at the summit of Craigendarroch, with a metal top-plate with information on some visible hilltops. Descending a little from the summit there is a much bigger cairn of loose stones, an information board, and a better view to Ballater village. When you are ready, facing the info board, go right past the cairn to follow the path going SW off the hilltop (this is the very steep direct path to the summit from the W side of Craigendarroch that you passed the start of at Waypoint 4). (3.0 km)

(8) Left to re-trace steps back to Ballater(57.05301; -3.05297) https://w3w.co/rejoin.snapping.hologramIn 600 m, after a steep descent from the summit, you will arrive at the paths junction and waymark post that you passed earlier in the walk at Waypoint 4. Go left here to re-trace your steps back to the street called Craigendarroch Walk, then left onto Braemar Road for a short distance, crossing over the road at the Auld Kirk B&B. (3.6 km)

(9) Right down Invercauld Road(57.05044; -3.04540) https://w3w.co/months.spirit.originalsIn 700 m, cross Braemar Road at the Auld Kirk B&B to go right down Invercauld Road. After 120 m, turn right onto Dundarroch Road (which is a dead-end for vehicles). At the end of Dundarroch Road, continue walking along the grassy lane which soon meets the junction of Braemar Place and Old Line Road*. Carry on along Old Line Road. (4.3 km)

*Note: part of the track of an intended (but never opened) Braemar extension to the old Deeside railway line. Apparently Queen Victoria objected to the planned route passing Balmoral Castle.

(10) Veer left for car-park and riverside path(57.05092; -3.05356) https://w3w.co/cheat.straddled.reapIn 500 m from Waypoint 9 on Invercauld Road, at a y-junction, take the left fork winding gently down towards a car-park and picnic spot on the banks of the River Dee. Turn left upon arriving at the riverbank and follow the riverside path back towards Ballater, with the golf course soon on your left side. Keep taking the riverside path for 2.1 km, until you arrive at Ballater Caravan and Camping Park. (4.8 km)

(11) Through opening to caravan park(57.04383; -3.04025) https://w3w.co/timeless.firm.professedAfter 2.1 km on the riverside path, go through an opening in the fence ahead of you to enter Ballater Caravan and Camping Park. Follow the internal road straight ahead of you through the Park, then carry straight on to join a riverside path with Ballater Bridge dominating the view in front of you. Arriving at the bridge, go left up, then down, stone steps. Follow the short access road up to Bridge Street and walk along the Street, away from the river and back into the centre of Ballater where you go left to return to your start point at Church Square. (6.9 km)

(12) Finish walk back at Church Square(57.04825; -3.04099) https://w3w.co/headrest.darker.tunedIn 700 m from the point where you entered the Caravan Park, you will have returned to your start point at Church Square. (7.6 km)