Balmoral Cairns

Date 5th March 2023 Bus departs Aberdeen at 0900am
O.S. Map 44 Ballater, Glen Clova & surrounding area

This circular walk takes us into the Balmoral Royal Estate and passes 8 Cairns, Princess Beatrice’s Cairn, Prince Albert’s Cairn, Princess Alice’s Cairn, Prince Arthur’s Cairn, Prince Leopold’s Cairn, The Purchase Cairn, Princess Louise’s Cairn and Princess Helena’s Cairn.

Main Route details:- From the car park cross the road and go through an open field passing behind the visitor centre to reach a minor road. Follow this road eastwards passing the ruin of St. Manir’s church on your right. At a T junction turn right and continue to the foot bridge over the river Dee and turn right and follow the road left uphill at a sign post for Lochnagar Distillery. After approx. 200m take the road on the right into Easter Balmoral and then left to follow the road uphill for approx. 300m to NGR 262939 and go through a gate on the left. The path continues uphill through the trees to soon reach Princess Beatrice’s Cairn. Continue uphill to eventually reach the massive stone pyramid erected for Prince Albert. The inscription reads, “To the beloved memory of Albert the great and good Prince Consort. Erected by his broken hearted widow Victoria R. 21st August 1862”. From the Cairn continue on the path downhill to a T junction and turn right to soon reach a crossroads of tracks where we turn left. Continue on this track to NGR 249934 and take a minor track on the right heading North West climbing gradually to NGR 246936 and turn right to head NorthEast to reach Princess Alice’s Cairn. Continue uphill to NGR 251942 and take the path on the right and then left at NGR 253941. Prince Arthur’s cairn is reached next, a short detour off the main path on the left at approx.NGR 254943. Return to the main path and continue to Prince Leopold’s Cairn which overlooks Balmoral Castle at NGR 255945. Return a short distance and turn left and left again to climb up to the Purchase Cairn which was erected in October 1852 to commemorate the purchase of the estate by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It has a superb view down Deeside. Return on the path downhill and take the path on the left heading southwards which soon reaches Princess Louise’s Cairn on the right. Continue on the path southwards and look out for an indistinct path on the right to reach Princess Helena’s Cairn which lies about 50m to the right of the main track at approx.NGR 256938. Return to the main track and soon take the path on the left to cross a foot bridge. The path turns northwards and downhill to reach the statue of John Brown who was the personal servant to Queen Victoria. Continue on the path which passes behind some houses to reach a tarred road where we turn right to return to Easter Balmoral and retrace the outward route back to the bus.
Walking distance approx. 6.5 miles/10.5 km.

Shorter Alternative Route details:- Those wishing to do a shorter walk could miss out the climb up to Prince Albert’s cairn. Follow the above instructions for the outward route but instead of cutting off left at NGR 262939 carry straight ahead to meet up with the above route at the crossroads of tracks at NGR 256924.
Walking distance approx. 6 miles/9.5 km

Bus departs 3.00pm for Aberdeen at 5.00pm

The above notes are for guidance only and are intended as an aid to be used along with a map and compass and/or a GPS device with OS maps.
In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge today should be notified, if possible, before the emergency services are contacted on 999.
Committee member in charge of today’s walk is Alan Wallace. Mobile No 07597311049