Winding Walks, near Fochabers

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This circular walk combines several of the waymarked trails at Winding Woods near Fochabers, It begins up the side of the Small Burn, passes Longhowe Loch and climbs up to the monument atop Whiteash Hill. On the descent the route visits the wooden gazebo at Peep's Viewpoint overlooking Fochabers.

Terrain

Forest tracks and paths, optional path with steps

Public Transport

Nearest bus is Fochabers, a link path joins to the forest trails.

Start

Winding walks car park (charge) off A98 east of Fochabers. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Currently 3.57/57

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the Winding Walks car park off the A98 to the east of Fochabers; there is a parking charge. The car park has many picnic tables. Begin the walk by taking the path at the far eastern side of the car park, marked for the walks in all colours - for the first half of the walk, our route follows the blue markers. Almost immediately the path forks; take the left branch (red, green and blue). The main route ignores many signs off for the winding walks off to the right - these more rugged paths stay closer to the burn. At the next junction, with a bench, keep straight on uphill.

Stage 2

The path climbs steadily through pines with the chance of seeing a red squirrel. At the next fork keep on the main path with the blue and green marker, ignoring the red route off to the right. The path passes Longhowe Loch almost hidden in the trees, with a bench overlooking the water. Keep ahead until a t-junction, now turning right (waymarked in blue only).

Stage 3

The path now climbs steadily uphill. Keep straight across at two different tracks, and look out for mountain bikers also struggling uphill, as the final section of the route is shared with them. Eventually a more open area is reached and the monument on Whiteash Hill is seen ahead. Continue to reach it; it was built as a memorial for Frances Harriet - the wife of the first Duke of Gordon. The view is quite obscured by trees, but there are seats around the base of the monument.

Stage 4

Turn right - still following the blue markers - to begin the descent, initially shared with the orange 'extreme' mountain bike route. Keep straight across at a track, and at the next junction keep straight on when the mountain bike route forks off to the left. The route renters the forest, and soon passes Ranald's Grave (just to the left). Ranald was the chief of a band of tinkers that camped here as a base for robbing wayfarers on the Aberdeen road; ultimately he was tried and executed on this very spot.

Stage 5

Continuing the descent, keep straight ahead at a very wide track. Further on, ignore the red/blue route forking off to the right, again keeping ahead. More of the winding walks head off to the right; at the second of these junctions, turn left slightly uphill with a yellow marker.

Stage 6

A path now winds two and fro through the trees, eventually emerging at Peep's View, where there is a lovely wooden gazebo with a view down over Fochabers. Keep along the path, eventually emerging at a track. Go left downhill here, and keep right at a bend to head back to the car park.

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Winding Walks, near Fochabers

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Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

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