This circular walk takes in the impressive geological feature known as the Vat, a deep, water gouged bowl that you can enter, and then rises through pleasant pinewoods and more open countryside to make a good circuit through the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.
Summary
Waymarked forest paths; the Vat is visited using stepping stones.
Terrain
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1. The walk begins from the Burn O' Vat car park on the Ballater to Aboyne road. There is a small visitor centre and toilets here. Start the walk by passing in front of the visitors centre and then to the left of the toilet block. Follow the purple waymarkers as the path descends gently and bears right. Soon the path crosses a green wooden bridge and follows the water upstream. Keep straight on where a second bridge turns to the right. After a short while it appears that the way is blocked by large rocks. This is the entrance to the Vat.
2. To climb into the Vat, follow the stream and keeping on the right hand side, use the stepping stones to keep above the water. Care is needed and at times of very high water levels it may not be possible to negotiate the entrance. Once inside, the immense size of the water-carved bowl becomes evident. Formed after the last ice-age, the Vat has been a popular attraction since Victorian times and has a long history as a hiding place for fugitives. When you have explored the area return by the same entrance and follow the path back down to the bridge.
3. Turn left to cross the bridge and climb up the pitched path opposite. Continue uphill and turn left at a waymarked junction, following the purple marker post. The next section is a sustained climb through the trees. At the next junction at the top of the climb, beneath some electricity pylons, turn right (signed Culblein circular) and the path levels out and passes through a more open area with heather between the trees. The route then turns downhill through very pleasant scattered pinewoods.
4. Eventually the track descends to the valley level and emerges onto a tarred track, turn right here and follow the road until you reach the main road. Cross the road and turn right onto a path which runs alongside the road. This passes a farm and house on the right and then passes through a stone wall and turns left into the birch wood. Follow the clear path as it meanders through the wood with views of Loch Davan to the left.
5. Keep following the green marker posts through the wood, turning right at a clear junction marked with both green and red arrows. Turn right again at the next path junction before emerging into a small parking area. Cross this and follow the path that runs adjacent to the road. Soon the path turns down to the left into the trees and away from the road. After a short distance the path reaches the road immediately opposite the visitor centre, car park and start of the walk.
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