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A small wooded island in the middle of a loch, hills rising beyond the trees
Aberdeenshire

Loch Kinord

A loch of wooded islands in the Muir of Dinnet between Ballater and Aboyne, with an Iron Age crannog, the site of a royal retreat and a Pictish cross on its shore.

Welcome

Between Aboyne and Ballater, north of the Dee, the heath and birchwoods of the Muir of Dinnet hide two lochs.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

The larger, Loch Kinord, is a lovely place: calm water edged with reeds and birches, bright with water lilies in summer, and dotted with small wooded islands.

People have lived around it for thousands of years. In the Iron Age a crannog was built out in the loch, oak trunks driven into the bed and stones piled round them to carry a hut above the water. Later a royal retreat stood on one of the islands, and on the north shore stands a carved Pictish cross of the 8th or 9th century.

Today the loch lies in a national nature reserve, with paths running round it through the woods, past the island views and the old stones. Geese graze the fields by the water, and the Burn o' Vat is a short walk away.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
Before you go

Free, at any time.

Paths lead round the loch from the reserve's car parks, and the Burn o' Vat visitor centre nearby has toilets.

Where
Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, off the B9119 near Dinnet.
Start
The reserve car parks, or the Burn o' Vat visitor centre.

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Did you know

A small wooded island in the middle of a loch, hills rising beyond the trees
Did you know

A house on the water.

An Iron Age crannog was built in the loch, on oak trunks driven into the bed with stones piled round them.

Water lilies scattered across a calm loch, backed by dense woodland and hills
Did you know

A royal island.

A royal retreat once stood on an island in the loch.

Two geese standing in long grass, an oak tree spreading behind them
Did you know

Two lochs among the birches.

Loch Kinord and its neighbour Loch Davan lie in the Muir of Dinnet reserve among birch woods and heath.

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Where it is

In the Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, north of the A93 between Dinnet and Ballater.

Close byDinnet.
  1. Kinord Cross Pictish StoneKinord Cross Pictish StoneA Pictish cross slab carved with knotwork on the loch's north shore.4 miles 7 min by road
  2. Two white gliders on the grass of Aboyne airfield, the Deeside hills beyond.Deeside Gliding ClubSilent flight over Royal Deeside in a two-seat glider, from the club that set the UK height record.4 miles 7 min by road
  3. Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, AboyneMuir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve4 miles 7 min by road
  4. Burn O’Vat, AboyneBurn o’ VatA round pothole chamber carved by ice-age meltwater.4 miles 8 min by road
  5. Cambus o’ May Suspension BridgeCambus o’ May Suspension BridgeA white Edwardian footbridge over the Dee.4 miles 8 min by road
  6. Tomnaverie Stone CircleTomnaverie Stone Circle5 miles 9 min by road
Directions
Rows of cupcakes topped with swirled icing and Lotus biscuits on a cooling rackCafeTarland Tearooms4.7 miles
Stone tower with turret roof surrounded by pine trees at duskAboyneTower O'EssSleeps 2 · 4.8 miles
The Boat Inn, AboyneRestaurantsThe Boat Inn5.8 miles
Shelves of floury sourdough loaves at Courie Courie.AttractionsCourie Courie Bakery5.9 miles
Glen TanarWoodendSleeps 4 · 6.0 miles
Glen TanarWest MillfieldSleeps 5 · 6.0 miles
A stone gate lodge with steep gables and green-framed windows sits beside a stone boundary wall, a planter of flowers by the green door.AboyneJoiner’s CottageSleeps 4 · 6.0 miles
A round metal garden table with two chairs stands on a lawn beside a bottle of wine and glasses, pink flowering shrubs and a green-framed conservatory behind.Glen TanarGarden CottageSleeps 4 · 6.0 miles
A sitting room with two sofas and armchairs arranged around a low table, framed prints on the wall and a lamp lit in the corner.Glen TanarButler's LodgeSleeps 6 · 6.0 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the loch, and when each is next free.

Woodend
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Glen Tanar
  • 4 miles from Loch Kinord
Free 11–14 NovWest Millfield
  • Sleeps 5
  • In Glen Tanar
  • 4 miles from Loch Kinord
Free 1–4 NovA stone gate lodge with steep gables and green-framed windows sits beside a stone boundary wall, a planter of flowers by the green door.Joiner’s Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Aboyne
  • 4 miles from Loch Kinord
Free 11–14 NovA round metal garden table with two chairs stands on a lawn beside a bottle of wine and glasses, pink flowering shrubs and a green-framed conservatory behind.Garden Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Glen Tanar
  • 4 miles from Loch Kinord
Free 10–13 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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