Cnoc Chalmac Circular

Ian Cordiner

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This walk starts at the side of the B976 road which is a back road from Ballater to Crathie. It starts by going down to a bridge and continues as a good Land-Rover track. The ground is fairly flat and passes through moorland and close to the River Gairn. There are wonderful views over the heather to distant hills. Eventually the track heads uphill away from the river and enters some poor grassland. Parts of the walk here are rather boggy and the paths less well-defined. After crossing some rough pasture you come to an old settlement where the remains of an old mill can clearly be seen. Another short, marshy section leads to firmer pastureland, from where the walk starts to descend. It then carries on through another couple of fields before returning to the original track which leads back to the start.

Scotland - Northeast Scotland - Aberdeenshire - Braemar and Balmoral

Features

Birds, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Moor, Mostly Flat, River, Wildlife
8/23/2020 - Briony Jones

We did this walk in late summer and found that initially the track had been resurfaced making it very easy to follow. After a few miles it became more bedded in, but still easy to follow and we walked at a steady pace, the wind just strong enough to keep the midges at bay. We enjoyed walking along but above the river and would recommend this walk to 'weekend walkers' or family groups like ourselves apart from one small stretch which has deteriorated into bog - I was very glad to have my wellies, but it still took some time to pick out a route - after rain this part of the path would have been impassable, although it would probably be possible to find another way around.

9/8/2014 - Paul Kingdom

A fairly easy and short walk with no steep bits but remote feeling and great scenery. This is sheep grazing country so dogs may need to be kept on leads.

11/14/2013 - Colin Young

An easy and very enjoyable walk with a wonderful feeling of remoteness to it! The description gives the impression it starts on the part of the B976 between Ballater and Crathie - rather than on the Crathie Gairnsheil section of that road! At waymark 9 the track shows clearly as two green wheeltracks in the sward - if in doubt aim for the old lime kiln! At waymark 10 there is the clear line of a sheep track to follow now! Unfortunately the waymarkers for 'History with Boots on' are weathered and have lost their arrows - though the posts still form a useful guide.