The Bin Forest is a short distance from Huntly and has several popular waymarked trails. This is the longest, which encircles, and optionally ascends to the summit of 'The Bin', with good views over the surrounding countryside.
Summary
Waymarked forest tracks and paths, with some ascent.
Terrain
Users'
rating
Inverness - Aberdeen bus passes start but may not stop. Nearest bus and train at Huntly,
1km from start on link path
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Start at the Bin Forest Walks car park, a couple of miles northwest of Huntly off the A96. There are a range of waymarked trails here, as marked up on the information board; this route is the longest, following the yellow and white routes. Begin up a narrow path (waymarked yellow and green) on the left side of the track; this climbs gently through densely planted spruces. When it emerges on a track, turn right but then immediately fork left up a grassier track. Soon it forks again; keep straight ahead and ignore the right branch, and further on ignore another route coming in from the right.
2. Soon the green trail - a shorter route - goes off uphill to the left; keep straight on here, now waymarked only in yellow. There are some tall blocks of Scots pine as well as spruce and larch, together with more open areas giving better views. When a bigger track is reached turn right, slightly downhill, and then left after a short distance, and left once more at another junction. The rapid-fire junctions behind, the route now follows the track as it curves round the northern side of the Bin.
3. After about a kilometre and half another fork is reached; keep left and then turn left at a junction beyond. The route climbs up the flank of the Bin to reach a t-junction. You can shorten the route slightly by keeping to the yellow markers to the right here, but to ascend to the top of the Bin turn left (white marker). The track now climbs past a picnic table before another white marker indicates where to leave the track and turn right up a narrow path through the trees. Soon it passes through a split in a huge boulder.
4. Continue up the path as it climbs to reach - and climb onto - a rocky tor on the summit of the Bin. Much of the view is obscured by the trees but there is a view to the east. Nearby is a pool known as the gallon of water; according to local legend a dousing in the pool could cure children of whooping cough. The path now continues to wind through the trees, eventually descending to reach a track. Turn right here, and go right at the next junction.
5. There are views across Huntly towards the wind farms on the hills beyond. Look out for a marker post indicating a left turn; here the route which omitted the Bin is also rejoined. Follow the yellow waymarkers down and go straight across at a track. When the path emerges at a clearing the short green route comes in from the left; turn right here and follow the track. After about a kilometre the outward route is rejoined - look out for the path heading downhill through the trees on the right and take this back to the car park.
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