Gight Woods Circular (from Methlick)

Date/Time

Date(s) - 06/03/2016
9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: Yes
O/S Map Sheet No.: 30
Grid Ref. Start: 857372
Grid Ref. Finish 857372
Walk (Miles): 8
Walk Hours: 4
Bus Time to Walk:1.5
Bus Time from Walk: 1.5
Departure time from walk: 2:30 p.m.

Walk Notes

Please note that the bus fares have been increased by £1. It would be greatly appreciated if walkers brought along the exact fare on the day.

OS.Map 30 (Fraserburgh).

N.B. 9.00am start from Aberdeen.

Today, we are in Aberdeenshire, to walk beside the River Ythan and visit Gight Castle. This ruinous castle was built in 1560. The Gordon lairds who owned the castle, all died violently until Catherine Gordon, the 13^th laird, wed Jack Byron, who eventually gambled away the estate. Catherine and Jack were the parents of Lord Byron.

Graham Sangster suggested this walk and it was included in our 2016 Programme.

This walk is a circular one, so members who require a shorter or different walk – please indicate your intentions with your committee member in charge of the bus.

The walk commences in the village of Methlick (NGR 857 372) where we walk NW’wards for approx. 1.6 miles, through the forest, alongside the River Ythan, to a split in the path (NGR 842 392). Take the left option and continue through the forest into open ground, where your route swings SW’wards to again reach the edge of the forest (approx. NGR 829 387). Continue through the forest, to an indistinct path on your right at approx. NGR 819 389. Take this path which soon reaches the “Otter Footbridge” over the River Ythan. Cross this bridge and follow the footpath which meanders uphill in zigzags to eventually cross a footbridge at “Whisky Pot”. Your onwards route follows the top wall of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Gight Woods Reserve to soon pass on your left the ruins of a bothy and afterwards the “Old Doocot”. Descend steeply on this path with the River Ythan on your right and continue E’wards to eventually reach, and go through, a kissing gate at the ruins of Gight Castle. Follow the path E’wards across a grassy pasture to pass through a kissing gate into Badiebath Wood. Follow the path NE’wards through the wood, passing the old stone gate posts, into open ground. The route crosses a stone bridge over a burn and goes right at a split in the path. Continue along this path to eventually reach the B9005. Do not join this metalled road. Turn right down a wide path between fields to soon cross the River Ythan on a substantial bridge and continue slightly uphill to reach your incoming path. Go left on to your incoming path and walk back to the bus parked in the centre of Methlick. Walking distance 8 miles

Bus departs at 2.30pm.

In the event of an emergency arising, the person in charge of the outing should be contacted, if possible, before the police are contacted.

Relevant telephone number for Grampian police is 0845 600 5700 or 999.

Committee member in charge today is (Graham Sangster

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