Route Summary
An easy and pleasant ramble through mature woodland and open farmland to the impressive “Sun Seat” landmark where there are particularly fine views of the Howe of Cromar and surrounding mountains.
Duration: 1.75 hours.
Route Overview
Duration: 1.75 hours.
Transport/Parking: Infrequent Stagecoach bus options. Check timetables. There is a small rough-surfaced car-park at the walk start/end point.
Length: 6.300 km / 3.94 mi
Height Gain: 83 meter. Height Loss: 83 meter.
Max Height: 180 meter. Min Height: 138 meter.
Surface: Moderate. Good, well maintained paths throughout. Short pavement section through Tarland village.
Difficulty: Easy.
Child Friendly: Yes, if children are used to walks of this distance.
Dog Friendly: Yes, but keep dogs on lead on public roads and near farm animals.
Refreshments: Options in Tarland.
Description
This is a gentle rural walk that starts and finishes in the mature pine and birch woodland at Muirton Wood on the outskirts of Tarland. However, a good part of the route is through open farmland in the fertile agricultural bowl that is the Howe of Cromar. There are fine views on all sides of the Howe, and the prominent mass of nearby Morven Hill predominates. These views, including the faraway distinctive hilltops of Mount Keen and Lochnagar, are best enjoyed from the Sun Seat, a recently built community initiative comprised of a substantial stone edifice on the hillside east of Muirton Wood, at Waypoint 4 on our route. The impressive Sun Seat is named both for its sunny position and the representation of the sun built into the wall behind the seating area. If arriving by car from Aberdeen on the B9119 try not to miss the “Queen’s View” viewpoint on your left as you enter the Howe. There is a small car-park across the road. The village of Tarland itself has a fine old Square with some buildings dating back around 300 years. Tarland is fortunate to benefit from the MacRobert Trust, associated with Douneside House Hotel, which helps to maintain a rich network of walking paths in the Tarland area that allow for all sorts of enjoyable and interesting route permutations.
For more information, see:
http://www.themacroberttrust.org.uk/
https://www.tarland.org.uk/walking/
https://www.tarland.org.uk/community/tarland-development-group/
Links:
Photos from Walk
Download Route Guide (PDF with illustrated Waypoints)
Download GPX file (GPS Exchange Format)
Access Walk on Viewranger
Access the Walk on OutdoorActive
Access Walk on OSMaps
Access Walk on Wikiloc
The Mack Walks 