This circular walk heads around the edge of the Drummy Muir just outside Tarland. A spur ascends Knockargety Hill, site of an iron age fort and a good viewpoint.
Bog Factor
Straightforward circuit, mostly on tracks and some paths. A little boggy in parts.
Drummy Wood parking area, Tarland.
Limited service from Banchory / Torphins, week days only.
NJ476042
This walk can be easily started from the square in Tarland, or from the small Drummy Wood parking area. To reach the latter, take the B9119 south from the square but after the bridge turn right onto the minor road to Logie Coldstone. A track off to the left has a footpath sign for Drummy Wood; there is space to park a short distance along this. The walk begins by continuing along the track, with Drummy Wood on the left and the open ground of Drummy Muir slightly hidden on the right - the site of many bronze age remains. When the wood ends there are good views to the left across the Howe of Cromar.
Follow the main track as it swings right, ignoring a branch to the left. After another 500m signs indicate where the route turns left to bypass an old house; turn left when you meet the grassy driveway, and follow this until it meets a minor road. At this point a spur of the route heads off to climb Knockargety Hill before returning to this point; you could omit this by turning right. To visit the hill, turn left along the road and then right onto a track through the woods. Look out for a waymarked path which leads off to the left and then follows the edge of the wood, with good views over the Dee valley.
The path eventually rejoins a grassy track (turn left onto this) and follows it to the flat, open hilltop where there is a fence and stile. This is the site of an extensive iron-age fort but little remains for the layman to see, though the views are terrific, particularly over Deeside towards Lochnagar and to Morven. From here retrace your steps back down to the tarmac road and turn left along it.
It leads past a picturesque cottage and small caravan club site, with views over the Drummy Muir on the right. Continue past several houses to the end of the road and then take the track that heads downhill on the right, with the heathery hill of Pressendye visible ahead.
Ignore a track signed as private on the left and bear right; the track beneath the trees is wet underfoot. Eventually it heads between fields once more and finally emerges on a road. Turn right and follow this back towards Tarland, passing a larger caravan site. Soon the Drummy Wood track at the start of the walk is seen on the right.
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