This is the longest of three circular waymarked trails through the pinewoods at Cambus o' May. The walk offers views up Deeside, passes two attractive forest lochans and offers the chance to spot woodland wildlife.
Good forest paths and tracks throughout.
The car park entrance is passed by buses between Aberdeen and Braemar.
Cambus o' May forestry car park.
There is an information board in the car park giving a map of the three waymarked trails here; this route follows the longest, the Pine Trail. The route is waymarked by yellow-banded posts. All three trails begin up the path which climbs up into the trees between the posts. This first stretch of path runs along a low, birch-clad ridge and gives some views up Deeside to the left.
Down to the right is an attractive tree-fringed lochan. Ignore a path turning off to the right, instead keeping straight ahead (yellow and red markers). Further on the path reaches a track - go straight across here.
The path now runs along beneath a line of pylons before plunging back into the pinewoods. After crossing a small footbridge with a stone bridge beside it, keep straight ahead (ignoring the red route turning off to the right). Eventually the path emerges onto a track; turn right along this. Follow the track, keeping ahead at a junction where another track goes off left. When a yellow marker post is reached turn right onto a path once more.
At another junction the red route joins back in from the right; keep ahead. Bear left at another junction, crossing a wooden footbridge. Soon the route passes another attractive lochan - seen on the right. After crossing a tiny stone bridge there is a picnic table overlooking the water. Continuing the walk, turn left at the next junction and then left again onto a track. Keep ahead along the track until it approaches a barrier - turn right here onto the waymarked path which leads back to the car park.
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