This walk explores the countryside to the east of Keith, passing through attractive decidious woodland and visiting a waterfall.
Roads with pavements, good paths through woods, muddy at times, mostly waymarked.
Regular buses to Keith on Inverness - Aberdeen route.
Reidhaven Square, Keith.
Start from the square in the centre of Keith - Reidhaven Square - where there is ample parking and the main bus stop. The town centre and shops are mainly down Mid Street to the north but this route begins in the opposite direction turning left at the roundabout as you enter the Square from the A86, to follow Mid Street southwards. When it reaches large grassed showground turn left, soon reaching and crossing the busy A96 with care. Follow the road off on the opposite side, soon reaching a fork - keep right here.
Follow the road and just after the last house on the left ('Innisfree') take the path on the left uphill. Keep right at the fork and follow the path through lovely mature woodland. It runs parallel to but well above a larger track down to the right. Further on the path comes close to the A96 and then comes down to run alongside the Den Burn.
After passing a seat, the path begins to head uphill, reaching a signposted junction - turn right here, following a path down to a green bridge over the burn. The wide path continues to follow the Burn upstream as it enters Dunnyduff Wood. Eventually a signed junction is reached near a metal bridge.
To see Tarnash Falls, cross the bridge - the falls are down on the right, best seen from the foot of the steps. After viewing the falls return over the bridge to the path junction and turn right (signed Dunnyduff) to head up steps; above these the path zig-zags uphill for some time.
At the junction at the top turn left over a bridge and then keep straight on, ignoring the track on the right. After a small bridge the path swings right to remain just inside the woods. Keep on the well made path, going straight ahead at a cross-paths.
Soon a viewpoint with a seat is passed on the left - here there is a good view over Keith with the prominent dome of St. Thomas's Chapel visible.
The route continues through the trees, eventually descending steps to reach a track. Turn left downhill, passing a small parking area and then reaching a minor road. Turn left and follow the road briefly until it bends left, then continue straight ahead onto a grassy path. This is a little overgrown - if the grass is wet you may prefer to stay on the road. Otherwise the path emerges back onto the road where the Burn of Drum runs under the Bridge of Dunnyduff. Turn right to follow the road uphill to the outskirts of Keith, following the signs for Keith Square to return to the start.
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