This pleasant circular from Dufftown visits a very attractive little wooded gorge.
Tarmac lanes and grassy paths. There is some ascent in the grassy gorge by the Giant's Chair and care is needed where landslips have damaged the path.
Bus to Dufftown.
Dufftown square.
The footbridge at Stage 3 is currently closed, which means it isn't possible to complete the full circular walk.
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Dufftown square is centred of the beautiful Clock-tower building, which now houses the Tourist Information Centre. If there are no parking spaces available in the square then there is more space a short distance away off Station Road. Begin the walk by heading south from the Clock-tower, following Church Street. Pass one church and ignore a couple of signed footpaths off to the left.
The road emerges at a junction opposite Mortlach Church. Parts of the building date back to the 700s but most of the present structure was built in the 1200s; there is a Pictish cross in the graveyard. Keep straight ahead along the road here, as signed for the Giant's Chair. At the next footpath sign go straight ahead again on the road - the sign indicates both a left turn and ahead as being for the Giant's Chair (two arms of a circuit). Dufftown Distillery can be seen ahead on the left before the road begins to curve uphill. Follow the road uphill, passing the warehouses of Pittyvaich Distillery. Beyond the road soon leaves the industrial scene behind and becomes an attractive country lane.
After a little under a kilometre, as the road descends, look out for a signed grassy path off on the left. Follow this round to the left into an attractively-wooded, deep little glen. The path soon crosses a footbridge. On the far side it is worth detouring on the branch path to the left to see the Giant's Cradle, an impressive pothole in the rock well above the stream. Return to the main path which ascends a little and soon reaches a tin-shed housing a bench - a refuge in wet weather. On the opposite side of the path here old railings enable a closer look at the Giant's Chair - a rock formation on the far side - but take care.
The path continues, climbs a little way from the river and crosses a bridge over a tributary beside a small waterfall. The path now climbs high across the sides of the wooded gorge; care is needed in a couple of places where landslides have damaged the path. Soon it descends, crossing another tributary bridge, and eventually reaches the level of the main burn. A bench opposite a weir offers another opportunity for a break.
The path now sticks close by the burn, with Dufftown Distillery on the opposite bank. Beyond, at the next footpath signpost, you have a choice. A left turn over a footbridge leads back to Mortlach Church and a rapid return to Dufftown Square by the outward route. Alternatively, continue ahead, running alongside a cemetery and ignoring a second footbridge which heads directly into Mortlach churchyard. At another signposted junction a path forks off right, signed for the Gordon's Cross - an alternative route if you wish to further extend the walk. Otherwise, continue ahead on the track.
Cross the next bridge over the river to reach Mortlach Distillery. Follow the road to the right which eventually leads up to the A920. Here turn left and follow the pavement back to the clocktower in the centre of Dufftown.
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