Morrone Birkwood
Minimum Time: 2hrs 15mins
Ascent: 500ft
Difficulty Level: 2 - Medium
Directions:
From Point head back towards the village for 350yds (320m). Turn left past a large larch, and keep left down to a car park (Point A). Cross down to the River Dee. Turn right, downstream, between the river and a fence. Continue along the riverbank to where the Clunie Water flows in (Point B). Follow the bank over a slippery stone flood barrier and head upstream beside the Clunie. The path becomes quite narrow and awkward, particularly if trodden by cows. After 0.75 mile (1.2km), a footbridge leads across to a car park opposite the Invercauld Hotel (Point C). Turn right towards Braemar village centre. Just before the bridge, Balnellan Road leads in a few steps to the ruins of the Old Braemar Castle. But this route takes the lane on the left just after the bridge, signed to the golf course. After 0.75 mile (1.2km) it crosses a cattle grid to a track on the right (Point 5). Follow Walk 23 up to the viewpoint indicator (Point 2). Bear left to rejoin the main track ahead; in 50yds (46m) it bears left and contours through birchwood with juniper. After a mile (1.6km), the track reaches a gate with a ladder stile alongside (Point D). Donât cross into the plantation ahead, but turn sharp right on a small path with a âCircular Routeâ waymarker. It stays close to the plantation fence for 100yds (91m), then bears right for the same distance. Now it bends right again and passes a damper area on the right, which is grass not heather. Opposite this green patch, two smaller paths turn up to the left. They so in join together at the top of a low knoll and continue down towards the Dee across slabs of bare rock (Point E), a fine viewpoint and picnic place. Continue down a slight spur, passing a small pool in the trees on the right, then bearing right. The path now runs level, with the Dee Valley down on its left. Soon the main âCircular Routeâ path rejoins from the right and you cross another stream with stepping-stones. The path is wide and clear now to a kissing gate in a deer fence. Further on is a track junction (Point F) near the duck pond. Go straight on here to return to the car park.
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