This pleasant waymarked walk makes a circuit around the prominent little hill of Craig Leek, on Invercauld Estate. There are excellent views up and down Deeside.
Summary
Waymarked tracks, can be muddy in places
Terrain
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1. There is a walkers car park at Keiloch on the Invercauld Estate just off the A93; a charge is payable. This walk is the longer of the two waymarked circuits from here; it begins along the tarmac continuation of the lane into the car park, and is signed as a public footpath to the Linn of Quoich. Continue along the road, passing the attractive estate houses. If the weather is clear, there are fine views of Beinn a' Bhuird ahead.
2. Continue along the private road which soon passes into the pinewoods. The huge and castellated Invercauld House can be glimpsed through the trees ahead, down to the left of the track. When a wooden footpath sign reading 'Around Craig Leek' is reached turn right onto a track leading up into the forest. After a short distance there is a waymarked junction; turn left here. This track is part of the ancient drove route to Tomintoul; in the 1700s thousands of cattle were driven this way en route to the markets in the south - and the drovers were subject to attack from the hills around. Today the pinewoods are very peaceful.
3. Higher up the pines are replaced by scattered birches, with just a few huge old 'granny pines' amongst them. Fabulous views open up back over to the left, looking towards Braemar and the upper reaches of the Dee, backed by mountains. Eventually a fork is reached; turn right here onto a smaller track climbing more steeply upwards. It passes through a gap in a drystone wall - go through this and then turn right alongside the wall. The track eventually leaves the wall and climbs over the lowest point on the heather moor dividing the hill of Craig Leek from the higher hills to the left.
4. Once over the pass, the great mass of Lochnagar comes into view, towering above its satellites. The track heads for a thin band of Scots pines before reaching a drystone wall beyond. Turn right to go through the gap in the wall and then immediately left (waymarked) onto one of the grassy tracks heading downhill. The track passes the ruins of some former houses and, beyond, a small cairn.
5. Continue down the track which comes alongside another wall and passes a large green wooden shed. You are now in the hidden glen of the Felagie Burn, separated from the more verdant Dee by Meall Alvie. The track then swings left to join another track - turn right along this. There are two small streams to cross on this section - there are no bridges but the streams can usually be crossed using stones to keep your feet dry. The track heads across the barren valley floot towards the plantation on the far side, where it joins another track. Turn right here to head back towards Keiloch. There are good views over to the right of the craggy eastern side of Craig Leek.
6. Continue on the track, passing the isolated little cottage of Felagie with its white-washed walls and red tin roof. Keep straight on at the next junction to return to the start at the car park at Keiloch.
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