Tomnaverie – A Stone Circle above the Howe of Cromar
About 2.5 miles on foot.
Tomnaverie is a recumbent stone circle on a hilltop just south of Tarland, with a wide view over the Howe of Cromar to Lochnagar and Morven.
One of the village's waymarked paths leads out to it from the square and comes back through Drummy Wood, a short round on grass and earth paths. Tarland Tearooms, on the square, is there for lunch afterwards.
- Time
- About an hour's walking, 4 km (2.5 miles), and twenty minutes at the circle.
- The path
- Narrow in places, with one short steep pull up to the circle.
- Where to start
- Tarland's square, free. For a longer stay the village asks walkers to use one of its other free car parks.
- When to go
- All year, in daylight.
- Dogs
- Under close control, and on a lead near livestock.
- Children
- Stiles to climb, so not a walk for a pushchair.
- Before you set out
- Strong footwear.
The walk
From Tarland's square, where parking is free, a waymarked village path leads out to Tomnaverie, a recumbent stone circle on a low hilltop. It was raised about 4,500 years ago round a burial cairn. One great slab lies on its side between two tall flankers, and the smaller stones ring the grass behind it.
The view is what holds people here: the whole Howe of Cromar below, Morven to the west and Lochnagar on the skyline to the south-west. The way back is through Drummy Wood, where red squirrels live, past the ruins of Scrapehard, once a small community of its own. The round is 4 km, about an hour's walking, on grass and earth paths with gates and stiles.
The hilltop is open to the wind, and from mid October to March the paths are muddy and the light goes early.
If it rains
The circle stands on an open hilltop with no shelter. On a wet day it can be seen on its own, a short uphill path from the small free car park on the B9094.
Afterwards
Tarland Tearooms
Lunch
Tarland Tearooms is on the square, where the walk begins and ends. It serves soup, toasties, paninis and a counter of fresh cakes. It's usually open from Thursday to Monday, 9.30am to 4pm, and from 10am at weekends, and shut on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Ring 01339 880132 to be sure of the day's hours. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Where to eat
Tarland Tearooms, a café in Tarland.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by Erik Blackwood via Google