Windy Hills, Woodhead near Fyvie
Date walked: 22/10/2023
Time taken: 2 hours
Distance: 5.8km
As this walk is not on the Walkhighlands site and is a little out of the way I thought I would make a walk report on it. It should take most people a little less time as I have quite a stubborn dog accompanying me. There are some issue which I will note with it but for the most part it is a nice quiet walk where you can often forget that you are sandwiched between fields.
You start off at a carpark accessed via a bumpy track at NJ793390. I would do this route clockwise but you can easily do it the opposite. You will be greeted by a forked path with an information board.
Left is the standard way of proceeding.
However due to attempts at blocking access to the pond area I often go to the right which leads to a place called School Croft as indicated. If a wire fence blocks the path either walk around it or just use the left fork as shown above.
Before reaching School Croft take the path to the left, this will take you to the pond. It is a bit overgrown at times especially in the summer but the area is quite nice with a variety of wildlife including in recent times some geese.
Since Storm Arwen there have been some attempts to block access to certain areas of the site which is unfortunate but should not put people off as it is a nice area to enjoy a walk. Just ignore any signs or obstructions you find.
At the exit/entrance to the pond at the West side you may find one such obstruction. If it is too much to clear then some others have made a small path through the tree line further to the left.
The way was clear but unfortunately I did go a week later and someone had blocked it again. It is unfortunate.
Once clear of the pond you can proceed along the path keeping to the left. This will take a walk around the outskirts of the woodland. The path is usually quite clear here.
Storm Babet had left a little surprise but a little more surprisingly was to discover on my trip a week later that it had been cleared.
You will come to a fork beside a plaque commemorating one of the Queen's milestones. Take the left hand path until you come to some remnants of Storm Arwen. At this point you will turn to your right and follow the path back East. You may find the odd fallen tree but for the able bodied it should not pose an issue to navigate.
Carrying on you will come across a large fallen tree, beyond it is three fallen tree trunks to climb over. These can be avoided by going to the right. Beyond this the woods are quite nice and immersive.
As you proceed on the walk staying to the left you will come across some signs and and obstructions telling you to take an alternative route. Ignore these and go over the left most one. You will find further a further barrier that has some fallen trees behind it. I take a path to the left of this sticking to the right of the two. These are pretty much deer trails until it rejoins the old path.
The path is quite easy going leading to a recently felled area. This has a small bench for enjoying the view of fields if you want to. I include a hastily stiched together panorama of it.
Following here you can choose to head back to the car park or as I did turn left till you reach a small area with parking for two. Here you will cross over to the next area of woodland.
Although it is possible to go straight on here, it can be flooded easily so it is easier to head to the right and stay on the southern outskirts of the woods.
From here you will basically stay on the right till you reach the main road at NJ807399. If doing the route counterclockwise you may at this point see a sign saying "No Public Access". Ignore the sign.
Walk along the main road into Woodhead until you come to a junction for Fetterletter with a sign indicating a "Share Space". After this the walk is simply following the road until NJ795386 where you will turn right and carry on till you cross the road back to the starting point.
You start off at a carpark accessed via a bumpy track at NJ793390. I would do this route clockwise but you can easily do it the opposite. You will be greeted by a forked path with an information board.
Left is the standard way of proceeding.
However due to attempts at blocking access to the pond area I often go to the right which leads to a place called School Croft as indicated. If a wire fence blocks the path either walk around it or just use the left fork as shown above.
Before reaching School Croft take the path to the left, this will take you to the pond. It is a bit overgrown at times especially in the summer but the area is quite nice with a variety of wildlife including in recent times some geese.
Since Storm Arwen there have been some attempts to block access to certain areas of the site which is unfortunate but should not put people off as it is a nice area to enjoy a walk. Just ignore any signs or obstructions you find.
At the exit/entrance to the pond at the West side you may find one such obstruction. If it is too much to clear then some others have made a small path through the tree line further to the left.
The way was clear but unfortunately I did go a week later and someone had blocked it again. It is unfortunate.
Once clear of the pond you can proceed along the path keeping to the left. This will take a walk around the outskirts of the woodland. The path is usually quite clear here.
Storm Babet had left a little surprise but a little more surprisingly was to discover on my trip a week later that it had been cleared.
You will come to a fork beside a plaque commemorating one of the Queen's milestones. Take the left hand path until you come to some remnants of Storm Arwen. At this point you will turn to your right and follow the path back East. You may find the odd fallen tree but for the able bodied it should not pose an issue to navigate.
Carrying on you will come across a large fallen tree, beyond it is three fallen tree trunks to climb over. These can be avoided by going to the right. Beyond this the woods are quite nice and immersive.
As you proceed on the walk staying to the left you will come across some signs and and obstructions telling you to take an alternative route. Ignore these and go over the left most one. You will find further a further barrier that has some fallen trees behind it. I take a path to the left of this sticking to the right of the two. These are pretty much deer trails until it rejoins the old path.
The path is quite easy going leading to a recently felled area. This has a small bench for enjoying the view of fields if you want to. I include a hastily stiched together panorama of it.
Following here you can choose to head back to the car park or as I did turn left till you reach a small area with parking for two. Here you will cross over to the next area of woodland.
Although it is possible to go straight on here, it can be flooded easily so it is easier to head to the right and stay on the southern outskirts of the woods.
From here you will basically stay on the right till you reach the main road at NJ807399. If doing the route counterclockwise you may at this point see a sign saying "No Public Access". Ignore the sign.
Walk along the main road into Woodhead until you come to a junction for Fetterletter with a sign indicating a "Share Space". After this the walk is simply following the road until NJ795386 where you will turn right and carry on till you cross the road back to the starting point.
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-
AHillTooFar
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