Time on Feet

Route details

Starting at the car park for Balmoral castle, where there is a charge, head towards the castle grounds and turn left along the road instead of going into the visitors centre and paying to get in. Turn right off the road you’re on to head for Lochnagar distillery then, instead of going into the distillery go right and immediately left to begin the first climb of the day.

From here follow signs for Prince Albert’s Cairn, a large pyramid situated at the top of the hill, with fantastic views north over the hills. Continue down the other side of the hill to a larger forestry track and follow it right. Around 2 miles in you will reach a junction. This route goes left but you could go straight on and see a couple of cairns that this route misses before rejoining the route later, or you could return to the road if you only wanted to see Albert’s cairn.

Follow the track west, downhill, and pick up a smaller trail on the right hand side, ignoring the first one that heads right up the hill and taking the second one at 2.8 miles. This will take you past Alice’s cairn and at 3.3 miles head right to see Arthur’s cairn which has a brilliant view down over the castle. Continue to follow the path downhill, detouring to the purchase cairn and Louise’s if you wish and follow it back towards where you left the road for Albert’s cairn. There are a few trails that branch off this that may seem a faster route back but there are signs saying there is restricted access, I assume you can only get into these parts if you have paid, so avoid any issues and take the slightly longer option.

Once back at the road retrace your outward route back to your car, and head to the Tarmachan cafe for lunch.