Craigdendarroch may be a small hill, but it has a big place in the affections of Ballater folk. Its oakwood-clad flanks are steep making its ascent an enjoyable but arduous little walk. The views are superb.
Clear path, very steep at times, also passes above steep drops.
Ballater is well served by buses running between Braemar and Aberdeen.
Ballater Tourist Information / Old Railway station.
The walk begins from the car park in front of the restored railway station in the centre of Ballater. Turn right along the main road in the direction of Braemar; follow it past the old church (now a hotel) and other fine stone buildings, turning right at the footpath sign short distance beyond onto Craigendarroch Walk. A short distance along the line another footpath sign indicates the path off to the left into the oakwoods. The path slopes up to the right behind the houses; turn left at the red marker post.
The path now climbs very steeply between the fine old oak trees in a series of zigzags; above this section, the ascent is more gradual as the path skirts round the slopes to the left. Craigendarroch is now a National Nature Reserve and is famous for its oaks; until the 18th century the oaks were coppiced and used to make cartwheels. After a few hundred metres a signed junction is reached. The path continuing ahead makes a complete circuit around Craigendarroch and is an alternative route; our option is to turn right to make the ascent (signed 'The Top').
The ascent is quite sustained so take it easy. The oaks are gradually replaced by Scots pines and then birches, whilst the path becomes increasingly rocky, with steps in places. Near the top a huge cairn is reached with an interpretative plaque and a superb view of the grid-iron streets of Ballater as well as down the Dee. The wooded hill with the mast opposite is Craig Coillich - used for the hill race in the Ballater Highland Games.
A short distance further is the true summit with a bench and a viewpoint indicator showing the hills in view in all directions. If the weather is clear, however, most eyes will be drawn to Lochnagar; from here the view looks straight into its magnificent northern corrie and cliffs. Continue from the summit to soon reach a red waymarker post and the start of the path down the far side of the hill.
The path descends quite steeply and meets the path running round the hill at a bench (still high up). You can quickly return to Ballater from here by turning right as indicated by the waymarker, but if you turn left there is still more to see. Soon the crags across the Pass of Ballater come into view; the path descends in a series of zigzags before again traversing left on the level. The Pass was formed along the line of a natural fault, and was carved out in the ice-age by a glacier; today it carries a road that bypasses Ballater and both sides are exceptionally steep; take care of the drop on your right!
The pines soon give way to oaks once more as the slope eases and the path passes a couple of benches. The junction where you turned earlier to ascend the hill is then reached; go straight ahead to retrace your steps back to the start of the walk and central Ballater.
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