Although a forest walk this circular route has plenty of open views of lovely Strathdon.
Forest tracks and paths; occasional steep gradients.
Limited (school times only) bus to Bellabeg.
Car park, Bellabeg, Strathdon.
Park in the marked car park and picnic area in Bellabeg. Begin the walk by heading past the public toilets, reaching the River Don and following it to a minor road. Turn right along the road to cross the bridge over the river. Soon it leads to the attractive and surprisingly large church. Just beyond it, turn left at a road junction.
A short distance further fork right onto a waymarked forest track, passing through a gate. After 250 there's a wide grassy turning area (the return route rejoins here from the right). Continue ahead along the left edge of the forestry, giving some fine views down Strathdon. Eventually the track enters the trees and reaches a cross-roads. Turn right here onto a grassy track which can be a little overgrown in places. Eventually it crests a rise and begins to descend.
Continue ahead until a clearer track is reached at a t-junction. Turn right here, then right again onto a narrow path (waymarker) amongst dense conifers. Continuing through the forest, look out for a blue marker post which indicates the route turns left and descends quite steeply. It then bears right to follow the line of a fence just above a minor road. Eventually it bears right again to wind uphill through the trees.
Part way up the slope the route turns left through dense spruce plantations. On the far side of this the path heads through a pedestrian gate and can become a little overgrown. There's another pedestrian gate leading out onto a junction with a narrow track. The circular walk continues with a right turn down this, but before going this way it is worth going left to eventually reach a viewpoint with a wooden seat overlooking the church and upper Strathdon. Return to the junction and follow the grassy track which leads down to the turning area from earlier in the walk. Turn left here to head back to the road and church, and the start of the route.
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