Around Craigendarroch

A hidden gem, mostly undemanding, but some steep sections, keep children close.

Starting point: Craigendarroch Walk, 300 metres from Ballater village centre. 

Distance:  short (1.7 miles / 2.7km) 

Climb: 50m

Difficulty: medium
Underfoot: narrow footpath, rocky and can be muddy and a bit slippy in places.
Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 
Scenic value: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10 

Key: the navy blue line is the path, the light-blue short lines indicate some other paths leading off my suggested route. A view-point and bench are also marked to help you orientate yourself. 

Comments:  Don't dismiss this walk around Craigendarroch in favour of the walk to the summit. The views over the Pass of Ballater to the cliffs of Creag an t-Seabhaig and down the Dee valley are beautiful and on the shaded north side of the hill the fauna around the path becomes almost tropical. However, the path is at times very uneven underfoot, it can be narrow and on the last part of the walk the path can be a bit unclear. 

On the Google Map above I've marked in the route I suggest in navy blue, starting out via the green flag and returning via the red flag. I've also marked in the starts of other paths that lead of the path I suggest you follow to help you keep your bearings. 

Generally there are a number of paths on Craigendarroch, especially on the east side. If you get a bit lost and find your following one that doesn't seem to fit with what I've suggested don't worry too much, it will almost certainly lead you back to Ballater before too long. 

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Route

As with the walk up Craigendarroch this walk begins at the junction between the main Braemar Road through Ballater and Craigendarroch Walk (pictured). Walk ten metres down or so down Craigendarroch Walk until you see a footpath branching off to the left (pictured below). 

The walk around Craigendarroch starts at Craigendarroch Walk

There is a sign describing marker posts around Craigendarroch which you will pass on the walk (pictured, below) but I wouldn't be too concerned if you don't see them.

After a short walk between two houses you will pass through a gate and onto Craigendarroch Hill. Immediately the footpath branches. I suggest taking the right fork although it doesn't really matter.   

Take the right fork where the foot path branches

If you've taken the right fork immediately after the gate then it will lead you a short distance up the hill and then there is a junction with a path to the left and a sign post. Take the path to the left. 

Take the left fork a short distance up the hill.  

Now the foot path heads in a steady westerly direction, around the side of Craigendarroch Hill and towards what is now the Hilton Hotel. You'll pass one or two benches by the side of the path such as the one pictured.

 The path continues to curve around the side of the hill to the west. After a while you'll come to a fork in the path with a marker post (pictured). For the path around the hill take the left-hand fork. 

To go around Craigendarroch stay left. 

The path continues to curve around Craigendarroch to the west, climbing gently. Then the path you are on is joined by another footpath from the left, that climbs almost directly up the hill from near to the Hilton Hotel. Where this path meets the main path there is a bench (pictured). Continue straight ahead continuing to follow the path around the hill. 

Near the hotel, bear to the right. 

For a period the path follows a dry stane dyke on the left-hand side (pictured). 

By now you are to the north of Craigendarroch Hill, walking along the side of the steep-sided valley known as the Pass of Ballater. As the information posts along the side of the walk tell you, this narrow valley is the result of a "flaw" in the rock that over millennia has been hollowed out to form this valley. There is good rock climbing on the northern wall. 

This side of the hill gets almost no direct sunlight and the plant-life around the path, in particular the thick-stemmed clumps of grass, is almost tropical. The sides of the hill are very steep and the ground is very uneven so take care, especially with young children, but it looks great (see below). 

Take care of young children while the path sides are steep.

The north side of the valley is formed by the side of Creag an t-Seabhaig. The almost vertical cliff-face is popular with rock-climbers. 

As you come round to the east side of the Craigendarroch the hill-side begins to level out a bit. There is an obvious fork in the path. It's very tempting to take the left-hand fork, as that one looks flatter, but don't. Take the right-hand fork which heads slightly up the hill. 

After passing Pass of Ballater take the right-hand fork in the path.

A short distance after this junction there is another junction (see below). Again, it is very tempting to assume that the right fork leads up the hill and so to think the left fork is the correct one for walkers going round the hill to take. But it isn't. Take the right fork that appears to lead up the hill. Having said that, it doesn't really matter either way but the path I suggest you take is the one that doubles back on the path you've been following so far, and leads up hill (don't worry it turns again soon).  

The path doubles back on itself, ignore the other path leading straight on (this photograph is taken from above the junction, you will approach from the path on the left of this photograph). 

Shortly after this junction you should pass a marker post which should re-assure you you're on the right path (although don't worry if you don't see it - you've probably missed it or it's fallen down.) The marker post also ensure you keep to the correct path, which turns left at this point - around the hill. 

A marker post may re-assure you you're on the right path.

Now you will come out at a beautiful viewpoint looking east across the valley of the Dee: 

There is a view east down the Dee valley towards Cambus o'May.

Shortly after that you will come out at a small clearing with a wooden bench and a marker post (see below). Follow the path round to the left, heading downhill. Note - if you can't find this bench then you've taken another path somewhere down the line - as I say - don't worry, they will all take you back to Ballater and no one path is categorically better than the others. 

(The path behind the bench leads to the top of the hill if you're feeling adventurous).

Follow the path round to the left until it emerges at a bench. 

This path will take you directly under the distinctive crags on Craigendarroch that you can see from the village of Ballater. 

Below the crags the path doubles back on itself and then back again as it descends the steep hill. 

Some kind soul has placed stone steps in the path while it is doubling back on itself:

Someone has placed stone steps in the path as it doubles back on itself down the hill. 

There is a fallen tree over the path that you should duck under.  

Here is another path branching off to the left, (where there are some large stones in the ground). Don't take this path off to the left. Continue to follow the main path as it leads down the hill. 

You can follow the path all the way down to the base of the hill and a gap between the modern houses there. This leads onto a road. Turn right on the road and it will lead you back to the start. 

However, I advise taking a path that branches right off the path, which will allow you to complete the final part of this walk through the woods.  

You can follow the path to the fence and then onto the road, but I advise turning right beforehand. 

Take the footpath to the right shortly before you reach the the fence and houses. 

Take the footpath to the right shortly before the fence and houses at the bottom of the hill. 

This footpath continues for a short distance before delivering you back to the start of the walk. Congratulations you've finished the walk around Craigendarroch!