West Gordon Way (Suie Hill to Bennachie Centre)

Date/Time

Date(s) - 01/05/2016
8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Walk Details

Pub Stop?: Yes
O/S Map Sheet No.: 37 & 38
Grid Ref. Start: 547231
Grid Ref. Finish 698216
Walk (Miles): 12
Walk Hours: 6
Bus Time to Walk:2 hrs
Bus Time from Walk: 1.5 hrs
Departure time from walk: 4:00 p.m.

Walk Notes

Please note the bus fares have gone up by £1 for the current season. Member’s fare is now  £11 & Non-Member’s fare is £16. Annual Membership fee is still £15. It would be appreciated if the correct fare is provided on the day.

N.B. 8.00am departure from Aberdeen.

O.S.Maps 37&38 (Strathdon &Aberdeen).

Our walk today follows the Gordon Way from the Suie Hill car park on the unclassified Bridge of Alford/Clatt road through Whitehaugh Forest to the Bennachie Visitor Centre car park. The route is waymarked at intervals by wooden posts bearing the hexagonal “GW” insignia.

Kevin Williams suggested this walk and your Committee included it in our 2016 Programme. This walk is a fairly long low-level through-route, so, if any members prefer a shorter, or different walk – please indicate your intentions with your committee member in charge of the bus.

The walk commences at the highest point of the unclassified road (“old military road”) at the Suie Hill car park (NGR 547 231). From the bus, take the path NE’wards then E’wards towards Suie Cairn and then proceed over Suie Hill (415m), the N’ern shoulder of Black Hillock and Knock Saul (412m). The route then leaves the trees near the 315m mark (map spot height) and contours the southeast side of Satter Hill (363m) before descending to the B992 Whitehouse/Auchleven road below Brindy Hill (244m). Turn right on to this road and, then after about 500 yards, look for a “GW” marker post on the east side of the road. Take this path past Towmill which then climbs up round the northern shoulder of Corrie Hill and onwards over the north shoulder of Black Hill towards Hermit Seat. At a split in the path (NGR 638 224), remember to take the left option as the other one is a “dead end”. This well-defined path passes the south side of Watch Craig and Oxen Craig and continues to a split in the path (NGR 664 222). Take the right hand path (SE’wards) and soon cross the Garbet Burn, near Bruntwood Tap and then descend quite steeply to the “Heather Brig” (NGR 679 212). (You won’t recognise this area as much tree felling has taken place since we were last here). Pick up a waymarked path on the north side of the Clachie burn and walk E’wards towards our awaiting bus at the Bennachie Visitor Centre (NGR 698 217). Walking distance approx. 12 miles.

Bus departs at 4.00pm

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 Hamish Clunas

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