Walking RoutesAdventures designed to suit every interest!

Walking Routes in the heart of the Highlands.

We can’t complain here at Cairngorm Bothies as there are an abundance of scenic walks nearby. The paths in the area are characterised by the finest remnants of Scotland’s native pinewoods met with heather moorland and shimmering lochs.

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Forestry & Woodland Walks

Cairngorm Bothies is surrounded by the peaceful Blelack Forest which means there are a selection of routes that start from your doorstep. You can roam for miles beneath the wind-washed cathedral pines. Tread carefully to spot our rare wildlife and do remember to scan the skyline – you may see a golden eagle or red kite. Each walk offers an array of discoveries including the Blelack House and farm, Logie Coldstone’s sandy hillock and old saw mill and the Allalogie old ruin. It doesn’t stop there either, within 15 miles of the Bothies there are numerous walks in Ballater, Braemar, Aboyne and Banchory. If successive Royals get to be themselves when on Royal Deeside then imagine how you will feel.

Hillwalking

There are 24 Munros accessible from the lodges, and some legends to be scaled including the Old Man of Lochnagar, mystical Bennachie as well as Morven, Derry Cairngorm, Beinn a Bhuird and Lairig Ghru. If you’re not a hillwalker but you want to experience those beautiful views then you’re in luck, there’s something for all levels of experience; you have over a hundred footpaths, trails and routes to choose from. Imagine how you will feel out in the crisp and clear fresh air with views for miles across great estates and heathery moors.  Here are some local walking routes and maps of the area.

Walking Festivals

Come together with walking enthusiasts from around the world at the Ballater Walking Festival in May or the Active Aboyne Festival in September.

Find out about the Ballater Walking Festival or the Active Aboyne Festival.

Blelack Walking Routes

You can see from the map that these walks can be combined or adapted in a number of ways, these walks are simply suggestions. Obviously it depends on the recent weather, but if routes are taken
to follow forestry extraction tracks you are unlikely to need wellies. It might be worth taking the below map with you.

Poldhu Wells

A circular route on established forestry roads ; takes ~ 15 minutes.  This walk can be extended to take you out on to the public road which would add 15 minutes to the duration. 

Blelack House

A circular route that takes you back either along the public road towards the lodges from the Dinnet direction; or alternatively back through an alternative forestry road thus ensuring that one didn’t need to meet up with the public road. Walk is on established forestry roads up to Blelack house and doubling back route avoids the road, takes ~ 60 minutes.

Logie Coldstone

A walk taking you up and over the sandy hillock, requires crossing the burn via a log that has been split longitudinally to make a crossing. The route follows a path which in places is fairly steep.  The secret with this walk is to keep faith that it will eventually lead to the village keep the slope on your right hand side until you meet up with the main forest road then progress up the hill again. Ultimately the route takes you out at the north east of the village and you can progress down the road between the houses, through the village and back up past the old saw mill, walk takes ~ 45 minutes.

Blelack Farm / Moss Town

An extension to the aforementioned Blelack house walk that takes up through to the other side of Blelack Estate using a quiet country road. This meets up with the main Tarland road and back along to the village of Logie Coldstone, takes 2 hours.

Allalogie

A walk, over established roads, that takes you out at the boundary of the estate culminating at an old ruin, the former croft of Allalogie. This route does entail crossing the public road. Takes 1.5 hours.