Slorachs Wood, nr Fochabers

 ELGIN, LOSSIEMOUTH AND BUCKIE

This forestry circuit follows paths deep through Slorach's Wood. It visits Jean Carr's stone - an atmospheric spot with a haunting story - and runs close to the ravine of the Ordiequish Burn. It can also be done from Fochabers using a link path.

Summary

Forest paths; some steps and muddy in places.

Terrain

NJ341561

Grid ref

6.5km/4 miles

Distance

grade Key

Grade

170m [Profile]

Ascent

2 - 2.5 hours

Time

Bog Factor

Start

Maps

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GPS Waypoints

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Users'
reports

None to start but it is possible to link to the walk from Fochabers.
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Public transport


Slorachs Wood, nr Fochabers no. 1

1. The walk is described from Slorach's Wood car park, just over two kilometres south of Fochabers via a minor road and then a very rough final track. There is a board giving details of the walk in the car park. Begin by continuing uphill on the track through the forest plantations. At the time of writing several of the waymarker posts on this walk were missing, so keep a keen eye out for a path (clear once you've spotted it) which heads off into the trees on the left, shortly after a turning area for the track.



Slorachs Wood, nr Fochabers no. 2

2. The path soon crosses a clearing through the forest left for two lines of electricity pylons. A little further on the path forks right and then runs close to the clearing again for a time before plunging back into the trees. It comes close to the edge of the Ordiequish Burn ravine with glimpses of the mountain bike trails and a path on the far side. Continue along the clear path, soon re-crossing the pylon clearing at a higher level and winding attractively through the forest.



Slorachs Wood, nr Fochabers no. 3

3. Eventually the path reaches a large boulder - a glacial erratic known as Jean Carr's stone, with a small visitor's book placed in a cranny. Jean Carr lived in this area in the 18th century. Having been brought up by a tyrannical father who kept her chained to the house, she became a wandering gipsy after his death. She lived happily enough until the birth of her child, which was immediately taken away by the authorities and put in the care of a local nurse. Jean Carr was distraught and tried to snatch the child back resulting in her imprisonment. She never saw her child again and on learning of her son's death in the local newspaper, she became unhinged and took to trying to steal other people's children. For many years she took refuge by this stone and this was where she eventually died.



Slorachs Wood, nr Fochabers no. 4

4. The path swings left beyond the stone and then climbs up to meet a track. Turn left here and follow the track, keeping left on the main route at a fork. Pass under the pylons once again and go left on the far side. The track now slopes downhill, initially with a mountain bike route alongside on the right, though this soon cuts across and goes off to the left. Soon there is another junction, with one track branching off to the right and a mountain bike trail between it and the main track; for the walking route, turn left here onto a smaller path.



Slorachs Wood, nr Fochabers no. 5

5. The path comes alongside the northern edge of the Ordiequish ravine and follows it to the right whilst the 'Gully Monster' mountain bike trail takes a precarious route along the side of the ravine below. At a path junction turn right, ignoring the wooden boardwalk ahead. This section is waymarked with wooden green marker posts (the other posts are for bikers) as the route bears left and crosses several mountain bike trails. Ignore the red trail which loops off to the right - unless you want to extend the walk - and eventually reach a board with a map at a cross-roads of paths. Turn left here to begin the walk back to the car park. A path descends to cross the lower Ordiequish burn on a footbridge and then ascends a flight of steps beyond. It skirts the edge of the forest before forking; go left here to continue through the trees, eventually crossing the pylon clearing one final time. There is one final path junction where you turn left and then follow the route back to the car park.



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