Creag Choinnich – A Short, Steep Hill Over Braemar
About 2.2 miles on foot.
Creag Choinnich is the small, steep hill that stands right over Braemar, and it gives you a real taste of hillwalking in a single morning.
The path climbs through pine and heather to a rocky top with the whole of upper Deeside spread out below, then it's back down for lunch in the village. It suits anyone fit and steady on their feet, older children who walk well, and dogs.
- Time
- One to two hours up and back, plus about six minutes each way from the car park.
- The path
- Short, steep climbs with some steps; narrow, rough and rocky in places, though usually dry.
- Where to start
- The council's Balnellan Road car park in the middle of Braemar: 31 spaces and 3 disabled, free with a voluntary charge by RingGo or PayByPhone (location 985531), public toilets beside it; the Mews car park in the village is free.
- Set off
- The path leaves the east end of Kindrochit Drive, about 500 metres' walk from the car park.
- When to go
- Open ground at all hours in daylight; from November to February start up by 1pm. The Bothy opens every day from 8.30am.
- Dogs
- On a short lead or close at heel, above all from April to August, when birds nest on the ground.
- Children
- Steep and rocky near the top: for older children who walk well, kept close on the rocks.
- Toilets
- Public toilets at the Balnellan Road car park; none on the hill.
- Before you set out
- From November to February start up by 1pm to be down before dark. The rocks are slippery when wet.
The walk
Park in the council's Balnellan Road car park in the middle of Braemar, which is free with a voluntary charge by RingGo or PayByPhone and has public toilets beside it. From there it's about 500 metres, six minutes' walk, east along Kindrochit Drive to the gate where the path climbs into the wood. Creag Choinnich means 'mossy hill', and the Braemar Gathering's hill race runs up it.
The path goes up and back the same way, 2.5 km there and back to the top at 538 metres, and the Park Authority allows one to two hours for it. It's short but steep, with some steps, and narrow, rough and rocky in places, though usually dry. From the top the whole of upper Deeside opens out: the village below, Morrone across the valley and, in clear weather, the granite tors on Ben Avon.
Wear boots with a good grip, and keep a dog on a short lead or close at heel. The rocks are slippery when wet, so save it for a dry spell and turn back if the cloud comes down. From November to February start up by 1pm to be down before dark.
If it rains
Leave the climb for a dry spell: the rocky path near the top is slippery when wet, and in cloud the view is gone. On a wet morning walk the River Dee path from the village instead, or go straight to the Bothy.
Afterwards
About 3 min on foot
The Bothy Braemar
Lunch
Lunch is back past the car park, a few minutes' walk away on Invercauld Road by the bridge over the Clunie Water, at the Bothy, the café joined to Braemar Mountain Sports. It opens every day from 8.30am and serves breakfasts, brunch and lunch with its own cakes and bakes. Dogs are welcome, and there are seats outside over the water. If it's full, Gordon's Tea Room, over the bridge by the Fife Arms, serves soup from noon to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Darroch Learg in Ballater, 13 miles away.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Edward Brunton via Google