Paradise Wood – Giant Trees, the River Don and Lunch
A few hours.
The route
Paradise Wood runs along the River Don west of Monymusk, an old wood of giant redwoods, larches and beeches planted by the Grant family in the 1700s.
Follow the riverside path among the huge trees, look for the great boulder in the river, then stop for lunch at Café 83 in Kemnay, 10 minutes' drive away. It suits families with children who don't mind a bit of mud.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The day
Monymusk
A morning in an old wood by the river, in the Don valley below the hills of Bennachie. Wander the riverside path among the giant trees, then warm up over lunch in Kemnay.
About three hoursAbout 2.5 miles on foot
Paradise Wood
The wood is about 3 km from Monymusk, up the road beside the Don known as the Lord's Throat. Its entrance is at the road end beside Paradise Cottage, whose award-winning topiary hedge is clipped into the tale of Moby Dick on one side and British birds on the other. There's room for a few cars in the wide access drive at the entrance, and nothing more, so leave the gate and the lane clear. The path runs upstream beside the river, under redwoods, larches, beeches and Scots pines planted by Sir Archibald Grant, who is said to have planted 48 million trees across his estate. Look out for the Nebbit Stane, a huge boulder in the middle of the river. The wood runs for about 2 km along the Don before it opens onto fields by Milldowrie farm; turn back there, or sooner for small legs, and return the same way. The path is muddy near the start, there are no signs and no toilets, and a pushchair won't manage it. The river is cold and fast, so keep children back from the water's edge. The wood is a protected site, so stay on the path, and keep dogs on a short lead from April to July, when dippers and sandpipers nest by the river.
10 min by car
Café 83
Lunch
From the wood it's 10 minutes' drive through Monymusk to Kemnay, where Café 83 on Station Road is the friendly village café, with soup, sandwiches, home baking and good coffee. It opens every day but Tuesday until 3pm, from 9am on weekdays and 10am at the weekend; ring 01467 207060 if you're unsure. Park free in the council car park on Aquithie Road. If it's full, the Grant Arms Hotel on Monymusk's square, which you pass on the way, serves food from Wednesday to Sunday; ring 01467 651777 first.
If it rains
The old trees give some shelter, but the path is muddy at the best of times: in heavy rain keep the walk short and go early to Café 83.
Café 83, a café in Kemnay.
Photographs by Lukasz Konc and Cafe 83 via Google