A walk · Strathdon

Ben Newe – A Hill Walk Above Strathdon

Ben Newe is a forested hill on the north side of upper Strathdon, with a rocky top above the trees.

It's a strenuous climb, and from the top the view runs all the way round, over Strathdon, into Glenbuchat and away to the Cairngorms.

The walk

The walk starts from a forest car park on the minor road that heads north off the A944 just east of the Lonach Hall, and comes back down the same way.

Forest tracks wind up through the trees first, then a path leaves the forest and climbs over open hill to the top, a rocky outcrop with a trig point and a medieval well.

Bring a picnic and a warm layer, and have lunch at the top.

If it rains

The top is open hill, so this is one for a clear day.

On the way

Doune of Invernochty
In Bellabeg, where the Water of Nochty runs into the Don, the Doune of Invernochty is a great grassy castle mound ringed by a ditch and a bank. It was raised in the late 1100s or early 1200s as the seat of Strathdon, one of the five lordships of the earldom of Mar, and was probably given up when the earls moved to a new castle at Kildrummy. It's free to visit at any time; take care on its steep sides. Park in the village car park.

Where to stay