This figure-of-eight walk from Nethy Bridge follows a variety of paths and passes the, well-preserved ruins of Castle Roy, a thirteenth century fortress.
Bog Factor
Waymarked footpaths, can be muddy in parts; fair amount of up and down.
Balnagowan Wood car park, Nethy Bridge.
Buses from Aviemore and Grantown.
NJ009207
Park in Balnagowan Wood car park, reached from the bridge over the Nethy by taking the road off beside the Nethybridge Hotel, and then turning left at the crossroads in Causer. The car park is on the left just after the last houses. A network of waymarked trails have been set up in Nethy Bridge; this walk follows just one of them; it has pink castle waymarkers. Another is the Riverside and Dell woods circuit; for details of the others visit the Nethy Bridge Visitor Centre just up from the village shop. Begin the walk by leaving the car park and crossing the road to reach the cycleway that runs along the far side. Turn right along this then immediately left through a kissing gate onto a path, waymarked with the Castle symbol, that runs through the woods, parallel with the back gardens of some of the houses of Causer.
Ignore any paths forking off left. After crossing a small wooden bridge keep left following the castle waymarkes. Continue until you almost reach a minor road; the path keeps left here in the woods, parallel to the road, passing through a couple of gates and crossing an old tarmac turning area. Another path joins from the left - keep ahead parallel to the road until a marker post indicates a left turn into the woods. Just after crossing the first boardwalk turn right as waymarked. The path comes alongside and eventually reaches a minor road at a stile. Head straight across the minor road onto a track, and turn right at the next track T junction (castle waymarkers indicate both left and right here - as you'll return to this point later).
After a short distance, look out for the marker indicating a turn onto a path to the left. This passes alongside an obstacle course and crosses a footbridge over the burn. Beyond, the path becomes more open as it swings left and then ascends to reach a white cottage. Turn left through a gate, passing to the immediate left of the cottage and onto its drive. Continue straight ahead to reach a road near a church. The ruins of Castle Roy seen beyond have been restored ans is worth a visit. Otherwise, turn right along a path that runs parallel to the road, giving views of the ruins of the castle across the road.
The castle can be visited by a short detour; there are beautiful poppies here in spring. Eventually the path reaches a track turning right into the woods - follow this. Ignore a turning to the left with a capercaillie marker. Instead keep uphill on the main track, which curves round to the right. After almost 1km, look out for a red arrow pointing to a small path on the right - take this path, passing through the woods close to some white cottages. As the path descends there are glimpses of the huge Aultmore house to the left. The path turns left (red marker) just before a farm gate, and instead goes through a pedestrian before heading right between a wall and a fence.
It then keeps above a bank before emerging by the white cottage reached earlier before the visit to Castle Roy. Turn left, retracing your outward route over the bridge, and keeping right onto the track. When you reach the T-junction by a chalet where you came in from the left earlier, keep straight on (signed 'Village'). At the road, bear right along the tarmac, and further on a marker indicates turn left into the woods. The path runs close to the fence of the local school - turn right at a path junction (waymarker). Pass over a tiny bridge and eventually reach the path to the school; turn left parallel to the road back to Nethy Bridge. Just before the houses, go right and cross the road to the car park at the start.
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