This circular route explores the woods of Haughton Country Park and the banks of the River Don from the country town of Alford.
Bog Factor
Pavement, tracks, woodland paths. Complex route in the second section of woodland.
Car park in the centre of Alford (signed for the transport museum).
Alford is served by local buses.
NJ577159
The walk begins from the centre of the Aberdeenshire town of Alford; there is a good size car park behind the main street (also the parking for the Transport Museum). To begin the walk, heading to the main street from the parking by taking the alley next to the Fish and Chip shop, then turn right along the road. The road forks either side of the war memorial - keep right here. then take the next turning on the right beside the church - signed for Montgarrie and for Haughton Country Park.
Continue along this road for 500m, eventually leaving Alford. Turn right onto a tarred track signed for Haughton Country Park and Caravan Park. This leads through the attractive woodland of the country park; you can use the path that runs parallel to the left at first, before eventually returning to the lane. Keep ahead at a car park, and again at a junction - signed for campsite reception. The lane eventually leads to Haughton House - which now is part of the campsite.
Turn left along the near side of the house, entering the caravan park area. The track curves right before the house and then back left. soon reaching a junction with an old ice house on the left amongst the static homes. Take the rork right here, and then go through the gate on the left side as the track approachs the river.
The walk now follows a broad path upstream beside the River Don. It passes a wooden outdoor gym; when the surfaced path curves left away from the river, continue ahead across the grass by the river bank.
Eventually a minor road is reached beside a bridge. Turn left along the road, following it for 350m, then turn right at a junction by a house (signed Roads Depot). The narrow road passes several houses; after the last house turn left onto an unmarked path into the woods. The next section through the woods has many similar paths and following the exact route may be difficult - using our app with its mapping would be a great help. Generally keep ahead, ignoring paths on both sides, until you approach a clearing - the site of a curling pond. The pond is now usually dry; the path swings left and then crosses what was once an earth dam with a sluice gate. Beyond it a track is reached - go straight across this.
Keep ahead as before, ignoring patths off. The path soon leads over a footbridge and then up steps to reach a much larger path - the line of an old railway line. Turn right along this; it passes above the Gordon Stane where the dying Lord Gordon was said to have been lain during the Battle of Alford in 1645. Ignore steps heading off left beside a bench, and instead take the next turning on the left - at the Hamewith Halt (the path to here was once part of the railway). The path soon leads to the main road into Alford; turn left along it to return to the start.
This website and app are run by 'Walkhighlands for All' - a not-for-profit set up to serve walkers' needs.
We rely on the generosity of our users - can you help?
