Badvoon Forest circuit, near Ardgay

Summary

This lonely circuit to the south of Ardgay heads through both forestry and across boggy heather. The walk is well off the beaten track and offers views over the Dornoch Firth. Please respect the privacy of the residents of Badvoon House and keep dogs under tight control.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Forest and landrover tracks for much of the distance. The route is partly waymarked with red posts.

Public Transport

Bus or train to nearby Ardgay.

Start

Kincardine Old Church. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 9.5km / 6 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Ascent: 221m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH601890

Mapping and GPS

Install our App FREE
Download our route descriptions and use offline with GPS mapping

Want to sponsor this route?

Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (1)

WARNING

Part of this walk is currently closed due to forestry works - please let us know if it's reopened.

The information shown above is the latest we have. If you have an update then please email us.

Stage 1

Park at the Kincardine Old Church on the A836, and begin the walk by heading along the nearside of the road towards Argary. Take the first left, signed for Kincardine, and keep right at the junction to follow the road which soon ends at a turning area. There is no parking here. Begin the walk proper from the road end, following a track signed for the Badvoon Forest walk. It passes a farmhouse and then heads through a gate (or stile alongside), with the first of the red-painted marker posts.

Stage 2

A short distance beyond the gate, fork right onto a much more overgrown track through the heather. This descends gently into the glen of the Kincardine Burn. The very lonely house of Badvoon comes into view ahead; continue along the improved track to reach it. The house and garden are private, please respect the privacy of the residents by continuing straight past the house and also keep dogs under tight control.

Stage 3

Pass to the right of the house and immediately to the right of the barn just beyond. There is heathery section but a marker post helps lead towards a large gate and stile above the burn. Pass through the gate and follow the path along the edge of the wood above the stream. There are some good open views of the forests higher up the glen. The path eventually reaches a large, newly built forest track. The waymarked route continues across the boggy heather but the track goes almost the same way and gives much easier going. Keep right at the fork and follow the track, with the burn not far away to the right.

Stage 4

A tiny, broken footbridge marks the point where the original walk crossed to the other side of the water before continuing upstream on the far bank. Instead, simply continue ahead on the track. When it reaches an older track at a t-junction, turn left into the forest. Keep straight on at the next junction, where a track goes off to the right. There are glimpses of the Dornoch Firth down a couple of forest rides but the view becomes much better as the track eventually curves to the left downhill, passing a picnic table.

Stage 5

At the end of the forest do not cross the stile straight ahead, instead following the track as it curves to the right and passes through a gate. There follows a more open section of scattered pines, heather and sheep grazings.

Stage 6

Eventually the track leads back to where the route forked right near the start of the walk. Continue straight ahead to return to the end of the public road.

Route Profile

Report error

Let us know if you've found an error in our route, or if it needs updating.

Write walk report

Share your story and photos from this route.
£150 of Highlander Outdoor gear to win every month.

Can you help support Walkhighlands?

Please consider setting up a direct debit donation to help support the continued maintenance and updates to Walkhighlands.