Loch of Blairs to Branchill by Romanch Loch

Date/Time

Date(s) - 02/04/2017
8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: Yes
O/S Map Sheet No.: 27
Grid Ref. Start: 020549
Grid Ref. Finish 089524
Walk (Miles): 10
Walk Hours: 5
Bus Time to Walk:2.5 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 2 hrs
Departure time from walk: 3:30 p.m.

Walk Notes

O.S.Map 27 (Nairn).

N.B. 8.00am departure from Aberdeen.

Our walk today takes your Club into Morayshire to visit the Altyre Woods and Newtyle Forest walks, south of Forres. Graham Sangster and Frank Kelly both suggested this walk and your Committee included it in our 2017 Programme.

There are many paths in these forests, so please go with someone who can read a map and navigate properly.

The walk is a through-route, 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 just south of Loch of Blairs (NGR 020 549) at a forest road. Head NE’wards for approx. 250m to a path junction, where we go right and eventually E’wards towards Altyre House (do not go to Altyre House). Keep heading S’wards, ignoring tracks going SW’wards at NGR 026 529 and tracks going NW’wards to Blairs Home Farm, to soon reach approx. NGR 028 545. Head E’wards for about 500m to a T-junction . Turn right here and head SE’wards, ignoring a path (NGR 037 541) going E’wards, to eventually reach NGR 042 537. Turn right at the next T-junction and cross the dismantled railway line. Go straight ahead at the next track junction (S’wards) and walk approx. 750m to the next junction of paths at approx. NGR 042 529. Go left here and head firstly E’wards then S‘wards towards Phorp (do not go to Phorp). Enter the Newtyle Forest, and head E’wards towards Romach Loch, ignoring paths to the left and right going N’wards and S’wards. Walk along the wide track on the north side of this loch for about 1.3 km, ignoring a track at NGR 072 522 on your right side, as this leads down to the loch. The path takes a sharp right hand turn at about NGR 080523 & approx 100 meters or so further on turn off left at NGR 089521 to find the track which is well hidden in the trees as it has not been in use for some years & is overgrown. You will have to detour round parts of the track due to the undergrowth blocking the way. Continue E’wards to Branchill, where our bus will be parked  at short layby (NGR 088 5249), ignoring a track on your right going S’wards (NGR 086 522).

Walking Distance approx. 7.5 miles

Bus departs at 3.30pm.

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.

Your committee member in charge is Gilbert McCurdy

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