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My first circuit clockwise round the new Westhill Orbital Trail, guided by GordonC, who had previously explored it by foot and bike. The trail joins up various dog walks and established trails round the outside of Westhill. Many established by walkers out for their "COVID exercise". GordonC took the photos....
A glorious day, so Maria accompanied us on the bit starting on the Brodiach Road from the end of Taylors Farm road, then round the Lawsondale playing fields.
- The first leg round Lawsondale playing fields
- Way markers on the Lawsondale section
We said cheerio to Maria at Westhill drive then diced with death to get across the Drive at the roundabout to the safety of the Pelican crossing over the A944, then up past the Skene medical group, down to Prospect Road through the industrial site. A path takes one round the front of Sub Sea 7 then through to Peregrine road by the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue base and truck loads of kit houses parked on the road, to the Peregrine Road entrance to Carnie Woods.
Left into Carnie woods and through to the other side. At the exit to the W side of Carnie woods, a gate at the car park leads to the path alongside the road up to Mason Lodge. Turn right and cross the A944 to the roundabout, then left again up Broadstraik Road, then once more Left onto the road through Strawberry field, exiting on the Old skene road near the Westhill Community Church and Green Pastures cafe.
Turn left, pass the church then turn right up the path alongside the Broadshade houses. At the top, a path leads behind the houses to a gate into the golf course.
- The path along the top behind Broadshade towards the Golf Course
The path turns left in the golf course behind the bund alongside the 5th Tee, then round the back of the 5th tee to meet the golf track that runs behind the 6th green and 8th Tee.
NOTE:- At this point, walkers should observe "radio silence " to avoid disturbing the golfers playing these holes.
Continue through the Golf Club car park and then down the road to Westhill Drive. Turn left at the bottom of the road to pick up the old track into Sclattiebrae on the right. (, The path is a bit guttery in places but there is an alternative through Meadowlands.)
Just before Sclattiebrae,( to avoid disturbing the folks there ) we entered the field on the left through a couple of old gates and followed a farm track round the edge of the field to gain access to the public road at the entrance to South Craigston.
- Approaching South Craigston from the field track
The public road is followed over the hump and down to branch right round the back of Kinmundy House and thence left down past Taylors farm to the starting point on the Brodiach road.
- Along the back of Kinmundy House on the home stretch
A grand walk on a braw day.
We passed a few others exploring parts of the route plus a few "exercisers" out for a run.
A great asset for the Westhill folks, but needs to we utilised with some sensitivity for householders and golfers en-route..