A pleasant circuit through the parkland and farmland of Leith Hall, a stately home owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The first part of the walk around a large pond is suitable for some wheelchairs and buggies. The walk visits a bird hide and ice house.
Clear paths and tracks.
Bus from Huntly or Insch to Leith Hall gates.
Leith Hall car park.
Originally built as a tower house in around 1650, Leith Hall has been gradually extended and remodelled over the centuries it was owned by the Leith family. A typical laird's baronial property with french-style turrets, courtyard and extensive gardens and parkland, it was left to the National Trust for Scotland in the 1940s. The gardens and parkland are open year round and the Hall in the summer. There is a charge for parking, and an information board with a map of the walks. This route combines the Pond walk and the Kirkhill circuit. From the board turn right along a wide track and then soon turn left along a waymarked path next to a stream.
When an ornate bridge is reached turn right to cross it and at a junction turn left following the blue marker. Soon the pond is reached, it is man-made as part of the parkland surrounding Leith Hall. The path passes the boathouse at the far end and the Ardmore Distillery can be seen across the fields on the left. Keep left at a junction and soon a millstone is reached. Keep left again to arrive at the turn off to the left for the bird hide.
Follow this optional detour through the trees and over a bridge to reach a wooden hide overlooking another pond. In summer you are likely to see breeding pairs of mallard and moorhen and possibly spot an otter, and in winter the pond is used by overwintering mute swan, wigeon, teal and golden eye. Retrace the path back and continue around the pond following the blue waymarkers. When this emerges onto a straight track turn left - signed Ice House. The 19th century icehouse can be visited by a short detour up to the right.
Back on the track, the route soon crosses the railway line where there is a good view back to the Tap o'Noth in the distance. Follow the path through woodland - ignoring a turning - until just before a stone bridge. Turn right before the bridge to follow a path, soon crossing over a smaller wooden bridge and alongside fields at the edge of the wood. Go straight across when a track leads to a water treatment works on the right and then keep straight ahead. The path bears right, following a fence (on your right).
At a gate join a track and keep right. Soon, just before a farm gate, turn right on a well signed path back to Leith Hall. Just before the railway bridge there is a detour to the left through the gate to the old churchyard which dates back to medieval times.
Afterwards cross the railway and turn left onto the larger path. Where the track forks, keep on the right hand side to cross the stone bridge and head straight on towards Leith Hall. Turn left to pass along the side of the building to the front. Although the Hall is now closed to the public, there are toilets inside the courtyard through the main gateway.
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