A short walk from the village of Fyvie to the neighbouring castle and grounds, including a lochside path with ducks and other wildlife and flowering rhododendrons in the spring.
Bog Factor
Minor road, woodland path, waymarked estate paths
Fyvie.
Bus to Fyvie.
NJ763377
Fyvie is situated between Old Meldrum and Turriff off the A947. There is a car park in the village opposite the Co-op which is reached by turning onto the B9005. From here walk uphill passing the war memorial and keeping left here. Take the next left turn to follow the country road which leads to Fyvie Castle. Keep an eye out for a gap in the beech hedge to follow a woodland path, though if you miss it you can just continue on the road until the entrance gates and then bear right.
The woodland path heads down to a road, with the castle entrance gate just off to the left. Cross the road and follow the track opposite, soon forking left to cross the outflow of the lake following the yellow marker arrows. Cross the castle driveway and continue on the path running just above it, which eventually gives first views of the large, rose coloured, castle. Eventually it recrosses the driveway again and continues by the lochside.
This crosses another track and several paths - head through a metal gate into the castle gardens. Turn left, following the path through the Rhymers Haugh Garden and keeping to the left of the car park. The path eventually leads up to an ornate gate with the castle beyond. Go through the gate and up the driveway to the castle.
Fyvie Castle dates back to the 13th century although it has had many additions since. It is said that the five families to own Fyvie; Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon and Forbes-Leith, each added a tower to the magnificent Scottish Baronial fortress. Robert the Bruce held an open air court here and Charles I lived here as a child, and the castle is said to be haunted by at least two ghosts and it boasts an indelible blood stain. The castle itself is open during the summer and is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The gardens and grounds are open all year round.
Head around to the left to pass the front of the castle. Note the massive steel bands holding one of the towers in place, and the ornate stone carvings. At the far side is the tea-room for a welcome stop. After visiting the castle, retrace your steps back to the car park, then head around the left edge of the parking. On the left are the walled gardens which date back to the 18th century and have been redeveloped as a garden of Scottish fruits and vegetables.
At the far corner of the car park turn right along the treelined path along the bottom end. This leads up a few stone steps to a small gate and path heading to another ornate gate. Go through this and across the track to continue on the yellow waymarked lochside walk. The water is popular with ducks, geese, swans and other wildfowl. Follow the clear path alongside the water, passing the boathouse and then a birdhide before reaching the road near the castle entrance gates.
Here retrace the outward route back up through the woods and along the minor road to the centre of Fyvie.
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