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Ballochbuie Forest and waterfalls, Deeside

Ballochbuie Forest and waterfalls, Deeside


Postby denfinella » Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:35 pm

Date walked: 27/05/2014

Time taken: 2 hours

Distance: 5 km

Ascent: 140m

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Deeside is well known for dozens of popular walking locations, but Ballochbuie Forest isn't really one of them. However, the waterfalls on the Garbh Allt are definitely worth a visit, and only a short walk from the nearest parking spots.


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A word of caution: the route shown above probably isn't the best way to do this walk. The eastern footbridge over the Dee comes with a high, locked gate (although only locked at one end, and the other side is accessible from elsewhere - strange). Good views downriver towards Lochnagar and its foothills though.

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Once on the south side, the walk through Ballochbuie Forest is easy thanks to a maze of forest tracks. The streams in this area looked subtly engineered though, and there are a number of dry streambeds too - perhaps flash flooding sometimes occurs here?

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Gradually uphill and the waterfalls are soon reached - a series of tumbling cascades set in a lush, rocky gorge. There's a clear path up both sides of the stream here (the eastern bank's path not marked on OS maps), so you can see the foamy waters from all angles.

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The piece de resistance is the grand old bridge, set high above the highest waterfall. This would be awesome in spate.

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Away from the rapids, it's a straightforward walk back towards the car park via Invercauld Bridge, even nicer when its all slightly downhill. Some huge fungi around, looking almost like bread (or a bottom...).

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Invercauld Bridge, although now disused, is a grand construction.

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The A93 crosses via a more recent, wider bridge slightly upstream.

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There were dozens of newts swimming around in the rocky pools by the side of the river.

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Back towards Lochnagar from the top of the bridge:

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That's it for walk photos, but afterwards we drove up to the extremely pretty Kildrummy Castle Gardens, which are just as much worth a visit:

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Beauty in Scotland isn't confined to the mountains. So much of it's only a couple of minutes' walk from the car!
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denfinella
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Re: Ballochbuie Forest and waterfalls, Deeside

Postby rockhopper » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:44 pm

have driven past it but didn't realise this was here - does look a rather interesting area for a wander - cheers :)
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Re: Ballochbuie Forest and waterfalls, Deeside

Postby Sarah86 » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:49 pm

This is the kind of day out I often enjoy, these falls look spectacular and the gardens you visited look very attractive at this time of year.
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