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The Bunzeach Trail walk at Strathdon
A walk · Strathdon

The Bunzeach Trail – A Forest Round above the Don

About 4 miles on foot.

Bellabeg car park, StrathdonStartKirk Hill viewpointWhere you turn

Strathdon is the upper valley of the River Don, and Bellabeg is its main village, where the Water of Nochty runs into the river.

The Bunzeach Trail starts there, crosses the Don to the spired kirk on the far bank and makes a long loop through the forest behind it, with views over the valley where the trees open. A short side path climbs to a viewpoint on Kirk Hill.

Time
About two and a half hours: the National Park's Bunzeach Trail, a 6.5 km forest circuit from Bellabeg, with a short side path to the Kirk Hill viewpoint. A moderate walk with long climbs.
The path
Minor roads to reach the forest, then firm and grassy forest tracks and rough, unsurfaced paths; long, moderate climbs and several gates.
Where to start
The village car park at Bellabeg in Strathdon, beside the public toilets.
Set off
From November to January, set off by 12.30pm to be back in daylight.
When to go
All year in daylight. From November to January set off by 12.30pm.
Dogs
Close by, and on a lead where a sign asks.
Children
Long climbs and rough paths, with a stretch on minor roads: not one for a pushchair.
Before you set out
Follow any forestry signs on the day.

The walk

The walk starts from the village car park at Bellabeg, beside the public toilets in the middle of the village. The Cairngorms National Park gives the Bunzeach Trail as a 6.5 km circuit and allows two and a half hours. Minor roads lead over the River Don to Strathdon's kirk, a church with a tall spire that was built on the south bank in 1853. Close by, a short side path climbs Kirk Hill to a viewpoint over the village and the valley, and the park recommends it.

The main loop is a long round through the forest, on firm and grassy tracks and rough, unsurfaced paths. The climbs are long and moderate, with several gates to open and close behind you and views over Strathdon where the trees open. Boots are best on the rough paths. Keep dogs close, and on a lead wherever a sign asks.

The single-arched Poldullie Bridge, built in 1715, is a separate short walk from the same car park, two miles there and back. From November to January, set off by 12.30pm.

If it rains

It's a forest walk, so a shower won't spoil it, but the rough paths turn slippery and the viewpoint goes in low cloud. The park's Poldullie Bridge path is the short choice from the same car park, two miles there and back on minor roads.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    Chapelton6 miles awayChapeltonSleeps 6Home Farm6 miles awayHome FarmSleeps 6Dalgrassick6 miles awayDalgrassickSleeps 4Greenstyle6 miles awayGreenstyleSleeps 6
Find out more

For further reading, before you go.

Photograph by EUAN MACKINTOSH via Google