There were 26 walkers on today’s walk, 20 decided to do the main circular walk while the remaining 6 opted for the shorter low level walk along the river Gairn. The weather was dry but a cold wind meant we had to wear extra layers to keep warm. Good views of a snow capped Lochnagar were enjoyed throughout the day. The walkers on the shorter walk enjoyed lunch out of the bitter wind at a ruin at Daldownie before returning on the same path. We passed several ruins of old croft buildings from a previous era and saw geese feeding in the fields. The cold wind resulted in walkers returning before the scheduled departure time with the last few walkers arriving as the first shower of the day arrived. We enjoyed an extended refreshment stop in Ballater before Dennis, our driver got us safely back to Aberdeen.
Fiona