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| In Brief | 2. Woodland Walks | ||
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On all of these walks it is helpful to have an Ordinance Survey 1¼ inch to the mile Map and sensible footwear. Cabins have a folder containing relevant brochures Winding Walks Fochabers - OS 28 Travel west from Buckie crossroads on the A98 towards Fochabers for 4 miles. Car park on left. Well signposted. This is a Forestry Enterprise picnic area from which a choice of walks of up to 2 ½ miles, can be enjoyed, with views over the river Spey and Moray Coast from the Peeps Gazebo. Ault Dearg Picnic Place - OS 28 Located 1½miles south of Fochabers on an unclassified road. Turn left at the Fish and Chip Shop in the centre of the village and follow road out of town for 1½miles. 1 ½ mile walk, with grand views over the Spey and a birds eye view of the unique Earth Pillars. Pluscarden Abbey and Torrieston Picnic Place OS 28 Take B9010 from Elgin, then bear right after 1 mile, signposted Milton Duff and Pluscarden. The Abbey is an active Benedictine Community in a glorious serene setting, where the monks welcome visitors to their chapel and shop. Well worth a visit. On route to the Abbey you pass Torrieston Picnic Place, where a number of walks from 1 –2 miles long, stretch over and around Heldon Hill through beautiful trees to spectacular views. Quarrelwood - OS 28 Another Forestry Enterprise project in association with Moray Council. See Leaflet Folder for Quarrelwood. This wood combines evidence of pre-history and our early ancestors, with lovely walks of about 1 ½ hours duration, giving extensive views of Elgin and the surrounding area. It lies on the north side of the A96 driving west from Elgin. Loch na Bo - OS 28 A real gem! One of Morays best-kept secrets. Join A96 at Fochabers and follow through to the Lhanbryde By-Pass. Turn left signed Fogwat, on to minor road for 1 mile then turn left onto the B9103 signposted Rothes. Follow for approx. 1 mile then just after the signpost for Milltown and Strypes turn left after the stream and follow track to car park - ¼ mile ahead. Choice of walks 1 –2 hours duration around the sparkling loch and among the magnificent trees. The loch is teeming with birds. Millbuies - OS 28 Another circular walk similar to the previous one, but more popular as it is owned by Moray District Council and is well cared for. Fishing permits can be obtained. Follow instruction as for Loch na Bo. On reaching B9103 turn left, then immediately right. Follow for 2 miles then take left hand fork signposted Millbuies. Car parking, Picnic area, Play area etc. Various walks from ½ - 1hr. Leaflets describing the "tree trail" and the "plant trail" can be obtained from the warden’s office. Duff House and Alvah Bridge - OS 29 This walk combines a visit to Duff House (see Historical Interest) with a 2 mile walk each way through the historical grounds. Pass through Cullen on the A98 to Banff. On exiting the town, before the Deveron Bridge turn right, signed Duffus House, and park. After visiting the house, follow the track south past the playing fields. Through Fife Gates, enter Wrack Wood past the "Orchard"(originally Duff House Laundry). The woodland track continues above the golf course and river and on to the Old Ice House. Follow the main track to Alvah Bridge, but deviate to visit the spooky Duff Mausoleum. One can now return by a similar route, or cross the bridge, through Montcoffer Estate, past the Big House and join the tarred road that eventually leads on to the A947, by the distillery, then over the Deveron Bridge on the A98 and back to Duff house. The latter route is all of 6 miles, but mostly on good tracks. Culbin Forest - OS 27 A really special place, with a fascinating history. If the weather is fine, take a picnic and spend the whole day. It is a huge area, with many more longer walks than is shown in the leaflet, which is usually obtainable at the official car parks. What is now the forest was once rich farmland which was engulfed by sand in the 1600`s and was a virtual desert until the 20th century when the dunes were forested and the relentless invasion halted. A small village with a church was also engulfed and legend has it that the spire sometimes appears after severe storms. Unfortunately, I have never found the location, but it makes for a great day just exploring and enjoying the rich variety of rare birds, insects, plants and lichens that makes this area a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The shoreline is well worth the effort of reaching, and it is great fun at low tide, splashing across to the high sand bars, with wonderful panoramas. However if you are approaching from the Nairn end, do not venture on to the low sand bars, as people frequently get trapped there by the incoming tide, and sometimes with tragic results. The Forest is best accessed from the Wellhill Car Park which is signposted off to the right just after crossing the Findhorn Bridge on the A96 from Forres going west. Binn Hill (Cullen) - OS 29 Worth the exertion climbing this hill of 320m to enjoy the huge panorama of the Moray Firth and beyond, spread before your eyes. From the cabins, turn right at top of farm track and follow road to crossroads at top of hill, then turn left and follow this road for about a mile. Do not turn left over Hill of Maud road. Immediately beyond Braidbog farm, park on the left and follow the main track to the top. |
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