Children will love the Burn o'Vat. |
Distance: short (0.5 miles / 0.8 km)
Climb: 30m, short steep parts
Difficulty: medium
Underfoot: mixed - good paths generally but slippery rocks to get into into the Vat
Estimated time to complete: 45 minutes
Scenic value: 10/10
Overall rating: 10/10
Underfoot: mixed - good paths generally but slippery rocks to get into into the Vat
Estimated time to complete: 45 minutes
Scenic value: 10/10
Overall rating: 10/10
View Burn o' Vat in a larger map
Comments: If you've got kids who like scrambling over rocks then of all the walks on Deeside this is without doubt the one for you. A good one for anyone who fancies themselves as a modern-day Indiana Jones too.
In fact, if I was showing someone around Deeside and I had one walk to take them on - this is the one I would choose.
On the down-side: the scrambling over rocks means comfortable shoes are a must. Those unsteady on their feet are not going to get the most out of it and please ensure you closely supervise over-enthusiastic children. This walk does involve clambering over rocks that can be slippery so please take extra-special care.
The Ordinance Survey / Bing Maps view of the same area. |
Route
The walk starts at the Burn o Vat car park off the B9119 between Cambus o' May and Tarland.
Start at the car park. |
Start by walking past the front of the information lodge.
From the car park walk past the front of the Information Lodge. |
Follow the path into the trees |
Continue past the toilets. |
Cross the bridge over the brook. |
Go straight ahead past the 2nd bridge to your right. |
Continue to follow the path up the valley. |
Look closely, there is a gap in the rocks where one huge boulder has fallen over two others. Look down - what is that? The rocks in the water seem to have been arranged in a sort of line through the narrow gap in the rocks. The only question is: are you intrepid enough to step onto them and see what is on the other side?
The path seems to end at a wall of tumbled down boulders - or does it? |
The Vat, "MacGregor's Cave"
The Vat was created 13,500 years ago by powerful streams of water carrying rocks and gravel towards the end of the last Ice Age.
As the ice retreated the stream became less powerful and deposited the gravel which covers the base of the vat. No-one knows how deep the gravel is and therefore how far the rock walls go down.
No-one knows how deep the vat goes underneath the gravel. |
"they come in darkness of the night down to the country, fall unawares upon the houses and goods of His Majesty's poor subjects and spoil them of their goods...to the disgrace of law and order."
All landowners were charged to hunt, follow and pursue MacGregor and his gang "and never to leave off their pursuit til they be either apprehended or put out of the country."
However it wasn't for another 22 years, in 1658 that MacGregor was finally apprehended and hanged.
Cross the bridge which is now on your left as you go down the valley. |
This time cross the bridge.
On the far side of the bridge a path leads up the side of the valley. |
At one point there are steps set into the earth. |
Turn right at the T junction. |
Take a moment at the viewing platform built on the side of the valley. |
A short distance later the path returns to the car park. |
Went there with the grandsons , well worth seeing and we all had a great day out ! Waterproofs and boots a must ! Ok for dogs too !
ReplyDeleteHi Rosie, I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteLove these beautiful views.
ReplyDeleteluton airport meet and greet parking