This easy walk leads through the different habitats of Scolty Woodland. It is possible to detour to climb Scolty Hill part way round.
A straightforward waymarked route on forestry tracks and paths, no steep sections.
Buses to Banchory.
Scolty Woodland carpark, southwest of Banchory.
To reach the Scolty Woodlands car park from Banchory take B974 south and once over the Dee turn right and follow the signs to the car park. This route follows red waymarker posts. From the car park follow the waymarked track heading west and very soon turn left onto a narrower path through the conifer trees. Bear right at a junction with another path and after a short distance ignore a path going off to the right.
The path forks but rejoins soon to follow a stone wall uphill. When it reaches a track turn right to follow this level section. After passing an area of felled trees on the left, tall conifers are reached again, here branch left onto a smaller path. The path goes through a wooden gate and soon reaches the junction where the path to the left leads to Scolty Hill. Detouring here to follow the white waymarkers to the tower at the top of the hill will add about an extra 40 minutes to the route and a fairly steep climb.
If continuing on the red route keep straight on and straight on again at the next junction (turning right here is a short cut back to the car park). Eventually a kissing gate is reached which leads to a smaller path through native woodland.
The route reaches a T junction with a forestry track, turn right here and right again at the next junction. At the next fork turn left still following the red markers and then look out for a path branching right near a bend. Follow this into the trees alongside a long-redundant field boundary. Turn left at the corner and then right to go through a gap in the next wall and keep left at the next fork to return to the car park.
Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands.
