Abernethy Forest and Lyngarrie circuit

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Abernethy Forest is the largest area of natural pine forest in the UK, directly descended from the ancient Caledonian forest. Follow a riverside path before a section on a quiet minor road gives fabulous views to the Cairngorm mountains. Old paths lead across the strath to the isolated house at Lyngarrie before the route leads back through the magnificent pinewoods.

Terrain

Mostly minor road and good forest tracks with a short section of rough, boggy path with a burn crossing which can be deep after very wet conditions. Livestock on the open section of the route and nesting birds in the forest, so any dogs must be kept under close control.

Public Transport

Bus to Nethy Bridge.

Start

Nethy Bridge. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is parking at Nethy Bridge visitor centre just up the road from the shop (voluntary charge and toilets). Start the walk by taking the riverside path opposite the community centre. The path drops down to the river and follows it upstream. The River Nethy was once used to transport felled trees to the River Spey and on to the sea at Spey Bay. Ignore a path off right and continue straight ahead following the river bank. Near a house the path emerges at a track. Turn left and continue until a green footbridge is reached to your left. Cross this (signed Lettoch Trail) and, on the far side, take the path straight ahead up to a road.

Stage 2

Turn right along the road (still following 'Lettoch Trail' signs, passing houses at first but soon reaching pinewoods and then open countryside. Although tarmac underfoot, the lane is very quiet and gives excellent views towards the Cairngorms on a good day, with Bynack More particularly prominent. Continue past Lettoch; ignore the Lettoch Trail sign off left and instead bear right to continue along the road over the bridge. The road then leads past Laggan of Clachaig farmyard to eventually reach the end of the tarmac, with a small parking area on your left. Turn right here, following the public footpath sign for 'Faesheallach and Abernethy Forest'.

Stage 3

The following section of the walk is grazed by livestock and has ground-nesting birds until early summer, so keep your dog on a lead or under very close control. This old right of way follows a track at first. After 250m it leads through a gate, and there are attractive small lochans on your left. Pass the woodland on your right, then soon afterwards - as the track bends left - leave the track and cross the two dilapidated stiles over the fence on your right. On the far side, follow a rough path / tussocky track, following the fence line on your left.

Stage 4

After 450m the fence turns left; leave it and follow the path as it slopes downhill. When it meets an old grassy track turn right along this. When this forks ignore the faint track left and instead continue on the grassy track along the top of a bank with old pine trees. Continue for 100m or so until an old track forks left steeply downhill. This emerges at a flat grassy area with telegraph poles; bear left slightly, stepping carefully over a boggy burn with a line of trees, generally following the telegraph poles. On the far side cross the grassy field on a faint path to reach a wooden footbridge over the River Nethy. Cross this, turn left briefly to avoid a boggy area, and then right, keeping the right edge of the field. Don't fork left towards the house at Lyngarrie, instead following a path up the bank, to join the access track to the remote house. Turn right here along the track, going through a gate into the forest.

Stage 5

Abernethy Forest is the largest surviving remnant of the original Caledonian pinewoods, and is home to some of our most charismatic mammals and birds including red squirrels and crested tits. It's also home to important populations of wood ants - you may notice their nest mounds beside the track (please do not disturb them). After 450m a t-junction is reached - turn right along the track here.

Stage 6

After just over 1km through the pines there's another junction - ignore the track ahead here, instead staying on the larger track that curves left and heads downhill. After another 500m another t-junction is reached - this time, turn right. The route eventually leaves the forest and becomes a quiet minor road, passing the Dell of Abernethy which was the base for BBC TV's Spring/Autumn and Winterwatch programmes. Continue along the minor road back through the village to return to the start.

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Abernethy Forest and Lyngarrie circuit

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Terrain

Public Transport

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