Burn o' Vat and the Culblean circuit

Summary

This circular walk takes in the impressive geological feature known as the Vat, a deep, water gouged bowl that you can enter, and then rises through pleasant pinewoods and more open countryside to make a good circuit through the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.

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Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Forest paths; stepping stones at entrance to the Vat uneven and slippery and sometimes underwater.

Getting there

Start

Burn O' Vat visitor centre, Muir of Dinnet car park.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NO429996

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 6.4km / 4 miles
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Ascent: 200m (Profile)

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OL59 Aboyne

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Walk Description

User reports (8)

Stage 1

The walk begins from the Burn O' Vat car park (charge) on the Ballater to Aboyne road. There is a small visitor centre and toilets here. Start the walk by passing in front of the visitors centre and then to the left of the toilet block. Follow the waymarkers with the Vat symbol as the path descends gently and bears right. Soon the path crosses a wooden bridge and follows the water upstream. Keep straight on where a second bridge turns to the right (you'll return here after visiting the Vat). After a short while it appears that the way is blocked by large rocks. This is the entrance to the Vat.

Stage 2

To climb into the Vat, follow the stream and keeping on the right hand side, use the stepping stones to keep above the water. Care is needed and at times of very high water levels it may not be possible to negotiate the entrance. Once inside, the immense size of the water-carved bowl becomes evident. Formed after the last ice-age, the Vat has been a popular attraction since Victorian times and has a long history as a hiding place for fugitives. When you have explored the area return by the same entrance and follow the path back down to the bridge.

Stage 3

Turn left to cross the bridge and climb up the pitched steps of the path opposite. Continue uphill, following the main path until a waymarked junction is reached. The path to the right here is the route straight back to the car park - our longer walk turns left, which has no marker. The path continues to climb through the trees, high above the Burn o'Vat which is down to the left. At the signed junction at the top of the climb, beneath some electricity pylons, turn right (a left here leads through to the Cambus o' May). The path - becoming a grassy track - levels out and passes through a more open area with heather between the trees. The route then turns downhill through very pleasant scattered pinewoods.

Stage 4

After just over 2km the track descends to the glen level and emerges onto a wider track. Turn right here and follow it to reach the main road. Cross the road and go through a gap in the wall on the far side to turn right onto a grassy path which runs parallel to the road. This passes a farm and house on the right and then passes through a stone wall to enter a birchwood. Turn left at a junction, and follow the clear path as it meanders through the wood with views towards Loch Davan to the left.

Stage 5

Keep on through the wood, keeping left onto a track that is joined. Eventually a junction is reached with a more surfaced path; turn right here - after this you need to follow the blue duck and yellow celtic markers. Eventually the path emerges into a small turning area with a cairn. Cross this and follow the path opposite. At the next junction turn right. The route becomes a track - but turn left off this just before it reaches a road (waymarker). Finally turn right as the Burn o' Vat car park and visitor centre come into view at last.

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