SCO-172-Tarland-Muirton Wood-Sun Seat Circuit

Waypoints

(1) Start at Muirton Wood car-park(57.13361; -2.85162) https://w3w.co/detection.reduce.disarmedThe walk starts from a small car-park on the north-west edge of Muirton Wood, on the outskirts of Tarland. Turn left off the B9119 road as you enter the village from the Aberdeen direction. After checking out the information board about Tarland walks, take the path going into the wood. In about 120 m, carry straight on, ignoring a path on your right, and in another 30 m at a junction, veer slightly left to carry on taking the main path in a SE direction, away from your start-point.

(2) Veer left at post - approaching access drive(57.13195; -2.84482) https://w3w.co/holiday.jams.scarecrowIn about 500 m, as the path approaches the tarred west access drive to Alastrean House Care Home, veer left at a walks post to follow the path that continues through the woodland in an E direction. Soon, follow the path as it crosses the north tarred access drive and continues through the wood. (508 m)

(3) Turn left down rough road(57.13144; -2.83833) https://w3w.co/mush.define.merelyIn 460 m, at a t-junction, turn left down a rough road, passing a community composting area on your right. Follow the rough road which becomes a grassy path before crossing a wooden footbridge. Carry straight on, gently uphill on the avenue between young beech trees, with fields on either side, looking out for the 'sun seat' stone feature at the top of the incline. (969 m)

(4) Sun Seat(57.13309; -2.82599) https://w3w.co/tweaked.bleak.graduallyIn 800 m , you will have arrived at the impressive stone-built 'Sun Seat' feature. It is named as the Sun Seat both for its sunny position and the representation of the sun built into the wall behind the seating area. There are great views over the Howe of Cromar towards Tarland and Morven Hill. After enjoying the resting point and the view, re-trace your steps back down the avenue of young beeches to the wooden footbridge you crossed earlier. (1.8 km)

*Note: The Sun Seat was designed by Dave and Simon Power, and built by local stonemason, Dave Bullock, in 2009.

(5) Go left before bridge(57.13127; -2.83441) https://w3w.co/curious.gambles.estimatedIn 600 m, take the grassy path going left before the footbridge. Follow this path, with woodland on your right and open fields on your left until it meets the tarred minor road from Tarland to Coull. Go through the gate and turn left along the road for 20 m, looking out for a path and gate on your left side. (2.4 km)

(6) Left off tarred road - onto grassy path(57.12750; -2.83729) https://w3w.co/nanny.guises.servicingIn 500 m from Waypoint 5, go left off the tarred minor road to go through a pedestrian gate onto a grassy path going South. You will now be following this path for almost 2 km. In 660m you will cross a footbridge over the Tarland Burn and then turn right, heading back along the 'Tarland Way' to the village, with the Tarland Burn on your right side and open fields on your left. (2.9 km)

(7) Right over wooden bridge(57.12588; -2.85817) https://w3w.co/grinders.interviewer.tapesIn 1.9 km, you will have arrived at the end of the grassy path, where it meets the B9119 road, at Bridge Street. Turn right before the road, to cross the Tarland Burn on the footbridge. Cross Bridge Street with care and walk towards the centre of Tarland. Pass the square (or check it out if unfamiliar), before continuing through the settlement, walking on the pavement of the Aberdeen Road. (4.8 km)

(8) Right down Cromar Drive(57.12998; -2.85474) https://w3w.co/exploring.nasal.chestIn 600 m, at a left bend on the B9119 Aberdeen Road, turn right to cross the road with care and walk down Cromar Drive, passing the Golf Club on your right and St Moluag's Church on your left side. Keep walking, through the entrance to the west access drive to the Alastrean House Care Home, and back into Muirton Wood where you started the walk, looking out for a path with wooden safety bars on you left side. (5.4 km)

(9) Left off access drive onto woodland path(57.13058; -2.84843) https://w3w.co/chained.obliging.reformingIn 400 m, go left off the tarred access drive, and through a set of safety barriers,  onto a path through the trees. In about 250 m, at a junction, veer right, and then, in another 40 m, go right again, looking for a path at a y-junction going left very soon thereafter. (5.8 km)

(10) Left at post for return path to start-point(57.13230; -2.85109) https://w3w.co/tape.mornings.summitIn 300 m, at a y-junction, take the path going left which soon meets the path taking you back to your start-point at the Muirton Wood car-park. (6.1 km)

(11) Finish walk back at Muirton Wood car-park(57.13359; -2.85171) https://w3w.co/detection.reduce.disarmedIn 200 m, you will have arrived back at your start-point at the Muirton Wood car-park. (6.3 km)