Old Railway Line to the Bridge of Gairn

Starting point: Dundarroch Road, 250 metres from Ballater village centre

Distance: short, (2.5 miles / 4km)

Climb: very gentle, 60m

Difficulty: easy
Underfoot: generally a wide flat path, some parts along the river are narrower and can be muddy.
Estimated time to complete: 1 hour
Scenic value: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10 

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Comments: This is an easy walk that everyone can manage. It is almost all along a wide flat path, the uphill slope is very gentle and there are some pretty views across the valley towards Creag Ghiubhais and Creag Phiobaidh. It has the added attraction of passing what was, allegedly, the late HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's fishing lodge on the opposite side of the river. 

I've suggested taking the footpath along the river part of the way on the outward leg of the walk, marked by the green  traffic-light, and returning all the way along the old railway line, marked by the red  traffic light below. 

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Route

The beginning of this walk is the same as the beginning of the walk around the golf course. My route starts at Dundarroch Road, off Invercauld Road and a short distance from the village centre. However for real lazy-bones there is a carpark about a quarter of the way along the walk, marked on the Google map above, which you can drive to. 

Dundarroch Road

 At the end the road narrows into a footpath between two stone posts. Continue along it. 

Continue along the footpath at the end of Dundarroch Road

The footpath emerges onto Old Line Road. This is the proposed route of the railway line west of Ballater although despite a route being chosen and prepared, no trains ever ran west of the village. Continue straight ahead along Old Line Road. 

Continue straight ahead along Old Line Road

 A wide Landrover track branches right off the road. I'd suggest taking the left-hand fork which leads down to the river for now, marked by the green traffic-light on the Google map. We will return via the right-hand fork. Alternatively, for those who are very unsteady on their feet or simply short of time you might want to just take the right-hand fork, in which case you will be on a wide, flat path for the whole walk. 

I suggest taking the left-hand fork for now.

The left-hand fork leads down to a carpark by the river with some picnic tables. The path that leads left out of the carpark goes along the golf-course and is another pretty walk, but for this walk you want to take the path that leads right out of the carpark, shown below.

Take the path that leads to the right out of the carpark

This path runs along the River Dee. It is fairly well defined. Along the way are one or two benches with views of the river. 

The path runs along the river

After about 200 metres the footpath turns back towards the oil railway line, which runs to its right. Follow the footpath back up to the old railway line and turn to the left to continue along it. 

The path rejoins the old railway line

 The old railway line is a wide, well-maintained path that runs along the river. 

 After a short distance you'll come to this wooden bridge over a small gorge where a tributary stream joins the Dee (pictured, below). 

"Polvier" - Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother's Fishing Hut

Look to the left as you cross the wooden bridge. In the trees on the opposite side of the river is a quite substantial wooden hut just back from the banks of the river. This is, allegedly, the fishing hut favoured by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when she used to visit Deeside and go fishing in the river. 

Polvier, HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Fishing Hut

 A very short distance on from the fishing hut the river bends around to the left and affords you a wonderful view from the path up the valley.

After another short distance a footpath joins the old railway line from the right. The footpath leads almost straight up the bank of the hill. It joins the main Braemar Road above at the Hilton Hotel. Ignore this footpath and continue west on the old railway line.

The path leading to the main road and the Hilton Hotel -  ignore it.

Now the river bends around to the left and the path leaves it, giving you another beautiful view across the valley. The peak in the centre is Creag Ghiubhais (486 metres).

The view of Creag Ghiubhais from the old railway line.

After another 100 metres or so another footpath joins the main old railway line from the left. This footpath also leads up to the main road. Those who want to make the walk a round-trip as opposed to re-tracing their steps might want to take this path on the way back. There is a pavement at the top which you can follow back into Ballater but the walk is a bit boring so I wouldn't recommend it. Continue along the old railway line.

The path leading up to the main road, taken looking back the way you came. 

After another short distance the path forks. The left fork leads into a farm-yard so I'd recommend taking the right fork which climbs the slope. There is a marker-post here also recommending that route. 

Take the right path at the fork. 

 The path, now a footpath, leads along the front of some cottages. 

After a short distance it joins the main road. To complete the walk go up to the main road and turn left and follow the pavement along it. There is a ruined church and cemetery to your left. 

The path meets the main road.

After a short walk along the road you come to the bridge of the river Gairn, which will shortly join the Dee. The hill directly across the valley from you is "The Knock" (355 metres).

The River Gairn, taken from the bridge

Congratulations! This is the end of this walk (although for those wanting more, you are about a quarter of the way along the "Seven Bridges Walk", see elsewhere on Deesidewalks.com. You could return by walking back along the road to Ballater but the cars go past quite quickly and it's a bit dull otherwise so I'd suggest just turning around and re-tracing your steps along the old railway line. On the way back stay on the old railway line, marked with the red traffic-light on the Google map, instead of taking the footpath by the river and it will take you back to the Old Railway Line Road and eventually Dundarroch Road.