Date/Time
Date(s) - 15/04/201212:00 am
Walk Details
Pub Stop?: No O/S Map Sheet No.: 37 Grid Ref. Start: Grid Ref. Finish Walk (Miles): 10 Walk Hours: 5 Bus Time to Walk: Bus Time from Walk: Departure time from walk:Walk Notes
The walk today follows, from east to west, the ridge of hills immediately to the north of both Bridge of Gairn and the village of Crathie, near Balmoral Castle. Our Hillwalking Club last did this walk on 16th March 2003, so your Committee decided it was time for a repeat of the outing, as some members had submitted this route on their “suggestion sheet” for 2012. If any member(s) should require a shorter walk, please advise your committee member in charge of the bus so that early discussions can take place with the driver.
The walk commences at Lary farm (NGR 336 003) in the valley of the River Gairn, about 2 miles upstream from Bridge of Gairn in the Dee Valley. Take the farm road NW’wards towards Inverenzie. Cross the Glenfenzie Burn at a bridge (NGR 329 007) and head south and then westwards on a good path through Glen Gairn past Balno Farm to arrive at a bridge over the River Gairn at NGR 317 004. Cross the bridge and gain the A939 Bridge of Gairn/Gairnshiel road. Turn left (S’eastwards) along this road for about 200 yards (take care here because of traffic) to where the West Milton burn comes down the hillside on your right. Take the track (NGR 319 002) which climbs southeastwards along a ridge. This path soon swings westwards to reach our first top Carn Dearg (594m). Our route heads westwards to reach Carn na Creiche (673m) before continuing westwards to the highest point on the walk – Geallaig Hill with its trig point (743m). If visibility is good, splendid views are obtained SW from here with Balmoral Castle seen below with the bulk of Lochnagar in the background. From the summit, head westwards on a good track along the ridge towards an unnamed top (601m). Do not follow this track southwards towards “The Maim” but descend the hillside, southwestwards, from this unnamed top (no path) and head towards where the Lawsie Burn runs through some trees. Follow the burn down through the trees to reach the farm of Lawsie and take the farm road leading southwards to join the B976 Gairnshiel road. Turn left down this road for about half a mile to reach the main A93 North Deeside Road, about a quarter of a mile west of Crathie Church. Our bus will be waiting in the large visitor carpark, below Crathie Church, on the roadside leading to Balmoral Castle (NGR.263 949).