This waymarked trail makes a beautiful circuit around Loch Kinord in the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. The walk is excellent for both bird-watchers and wildlife spotters, with plenty of life both on the loch and in the surrounding birch woodland.
Bog Factor
Waymarked path throughout.
Burn O' Vat visitor centre car park.
None to start.
NO429996
The walk begins from the Burn O' Vat car park (charge) off the B9119 road. There is a small visitor centre and toilets here, as well as several waymarked walks. This route, which has blue/white duck waymarkers, begins by crossing the tarmac road to the path opposite, immediately reaching a 't'-junction. Turn right along this path which runs through beautiful mixed woodland, heavily draped with lichen. The path crosses a small footbridge and then meets an old track; go straight across this; the path continues alongside a stone wall at first.
The nature reserve has some fine small forest lochs, ideal for dragonfly. Ignore the waymarked dragonfly path off right - the path passes to the left of marshy area. As the path rises towards a small stone building (a little chapel), fork left downhill (waymarked) to reach the shores of Loch Kinord. The path now runs close to the shore and passes a bench. Further on the path leads past a small wooden hut.
Continue on the path, through a gap in a dry stone wall, and further on cross a wooden footbridge. Just beyond this a junction is reached - the path on the right leads to Dinnet which is an alternative start point for the walk. To continue our circuit, turn left. Follow the waymarked path through the trees, twice passing through gaps in tumbledown drystone walls, and keeping high above the loch for a time. Look out for whooper swans as well as geese in the winter months; both spend the colder months here. Otters are resident but much harder to spot. Eventually the path slopes down towards lochside, then curves right away from it.
Bear left at the next junction (waymarked), eventually returning to the loch shores once more. The path now runs right beside the water. The small island once housed a crannog - an iron-age defensive structure out on the loch - whilse to the right is a larger island - once the site of a castle, used by King Malcolm Canmore, Edward I of England and James V of Scotland. Further on the path finally leaves the loch where a marker post indicates to turn right.
As you ascend slightly, take a look at the finely carved stone enclosed by a fence; this is a Pictish symbol stone and is thought to date from the ninth century. Continue up beyond the stone, reaching a bench and then a grassy track; turn left along this, soon This returns to the trees - ignore a path off right.
A waymarker post then indicates the place to turn left again, passing through an area of fine birches. Parts of the path run along the top of a low ridge known as an esher - a remnant from the ice age. When a turning area is reached with a cairn marking the opening of the reserve, the path continues ahead. At the next junction turn right. The route becomes a track - but turn left off this just before it reaches a road (waymarker). Finally turn right as the Burn o' Vat car park and visitor centre come into view at last.
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