SCO-162-Braes of Morven-Roar Hill Circuit

Waypoints

(1). Start the walk at the small car-parking area(57.12681; -2.97633). https://w3w.co/shorthand.shocked.hobbleStart the walk at the small car-parking area* at the end of the tarred road, just before the rough access road to Groddie. There is an information board for the Auchnerran Demonstration Farm** which operates in this area. Looking at the info board, go left to take a farm track, almost immediately taking a fork going left through a gate where there is another Auchnerran information board. Carry on taking the grassy track, soon passing the ruins of Balhennie croft and heading uphill towards two adjacent farm gates.

*Note: the car-parking area is 2.7 km from the A97 Dinnet to Logie Coldstone road down a narrow dead-end road signposted for Groddie. The turn-off for Groddie is 2.5 km from the Milton of Leys x-roads on the A97, heading for Logie Coldstone, or 860 m from the centre of Logie Coldstone, heading for Dinnet. There is space for about 8 cars, and the space can soon fill up on a weekend morning so our advice is to arrive early.

**Note: the Auchnerran Demonstration Farm is operated by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and aims “… to demonstrate how agricultural practices, livestock management, wildlife conservation and game management can co-exist to form an economically viable system ..”. Auchnerran occupies 1,030 acres of hill-farming land, with over 1,000 sheep. The heather moorland above the farm (covering most of our walking route). is owned by Dinnet Estate and is summer grazed by the hefted sheep flock. See: https://www.gwct.org.uk/auchnerran/about/

(2). Climb over low gate after passing Balhennie Cottage(57.12511; -2.98301). https://w3w.co/capacity.meaty.orderingIn 515 m from the start, cross over the low farm gate on the right (it is securely tied so it is easier to climb over it). . Carry on walking uphill through a field with a fence on your left side. In 80 m go through a pedestrian gate and take the indistinct path going more or less straight uphill*. After passing over a couple of boggy sections where the path is indistinct, the path soon becomes much more distinct as it steadily climbs up through the heather moorland in a broadly SW direction, getting closer to the steep grassy ravine of the Coinlach burn on your left side as you gain height. (515 m).

*Note: the main path to the summit of Morven goes right here. You may, if you wish, take this path uphill for about 80 m, then go left on a path that soon joins up with our route.

(3). Go left upon meeting land-rover track(57.11607; -3.00132). https://w3w.co/payer.hothouse.sillyIn 1.6 km, the narrow path meets a land-rover track* close to the rushing waters of the Coinlach Burn. Turn left here and take the land-rover track as it ascends over Roar Hill where there are fine open views to the south and west. (2.1 km).

*Note: turning right here is a route that takes you to a path to the summit of Morven.

(4). Left at t-junction(57.11016; -2.99428). https://w3w.co/insert.openings.foreheadsIn 900 m, at a t-junction, take the land-rover track going left and downhill. There are very good views of the Howe of Cromar and surrounding hills, with Loch Davan at Muir of Dinnet also visible to your right. (3 km).

(5). Through gate and carry on(57.11986; -2.97923). https://w3w.co/bars.showcases.imploreAfter descending for 2 km, and soon after crossing the fairly narrow Coinlach Burn on stepping stones, go through a pedestrian gate beside woodland and follow the grassy track. (5 km).

(6). Take right fork(57.12039; -2.97660). https://w3w.co/mirror.vest.tangoIn about 200 m there is a fork in the grassy track. We suggest that you take the clearer right fork track with woodland on your right side (although the left fork track through the pasture joins up a little further down the hillside). . (5.2 km).

(7). Left onto tarred road - passing Auchnerran Farm building(57.12293; -2.97122). https://w3w.co/meaty.goodnight.putterIn 500 m, after passing through a gate and walking past the rear of some Auchnerran Farm office and storage buidings, turn left onto the minor tarred road for the final section of the route, back to the car-parking area where you started the walk. (5.7 km).

(8). Finish walk back at parking area(57.12679; -2.97627). https://w3w.co/shorthand.shocked.hobbleIn 600 m, you will have returned to the car-parking area where you started the walk. (6.3 km).