Ballater is a charming town located in the Scottish Highlands and known for its beautiful scenery. The town has a lot of easy walks that are perfect for anyone who wants to take a short walk and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There are many different walks that will take you to scenic spots.
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Ballater Walks, Trails and Circuits
If you are a keen hiker and planning a trip to the Highlands this summer, there are some fantastic trails to explore. Hiking and cycling in this beautiful region of Scotland offers some of the best experiences.
There are some great easy walks Ballater the family can enjoy. It makes for a great day out.
The Balmoral Cairns, Balmoral, Crathie
Exploring the Balmoral Cairns, Balmoral, Crathie takes just under 3 hours to complete. You get to take in several Cairns, which include:
- Princess Beatrice
- Prince Albert
- Princess Helena
- Prince Louise
- Prince Leopold
It’s a beautiful trail that takes you through a lush forest and offers a super view of Balmoral Castle at the trail’s end. It’s a lovely easy walk Ballater the whole family will enjoy.
The first part is the most challenging. It’s pretty steep, to begin with, and then it levels off. After that, it provides an easy to moderate, well-marked trail, although climbing up Albert’s Cairn is quite challenging.
You start out in the car park at Crathie. You’ll have to pay a fee.
- Length = 7.9km (4.91 miles)
- Elevation gain = 275 m (902 ft)
Cambus O'May-Torphantrick Wood Circuit
This woodland circuit is an excellent choice for families. The trail meanders along the River Dee’s south bank. Plus, the real focal point of this trail is the suspension footbridge at Cambus O’May.
The walk is a mixture of forest roads and well-maintained paths. It takes you about 2.5 hours to complete. It’s a dog-friendly walk providing they are kept on leads near livestock and public areas.
You’ll find refreshments in both Aboyne and Ballater.
The starting point is at the small car park.
- Length = 5.7 km (3.5 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 105m (344.48 ft)
Ballater-Craigendarroch Hill-River Dee Circuit
A great circuit if you are looking for a more challenging adventure in the Highlands. A shorter walk doesn’t include the Pass of Ballater section, which is challenging. The longer one takes around 3.5 hours to complete.
The walk consists of some good paths, although certain sections of the Pass of Ballater are narrow, and there are some steep drops. Plus, you’ll have to negotiate steep inclines with rocky surfaces along some sections.
It’s not a child-friendly walk because of the Pass of Ballater. However, you can avoid this by taking the shorter route. But it is a dog-friendly walk providing they are kept on leads near livestock and public areas.
Various places in Ballater offer refreshments.
The starting point is at the free car park located in Church Square in Ballater.
- Length: 7.6 km (4.8 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 261m (856.3 ft)
Ballater Bridges-Knock Castle Circuit
This circuit is a great choice when you’d like a gentle stroll through some of the most scenic areas in the Highlands. It’s 10 km (6.21) long, but the ascent is barely noticeable.
It’s a child-friendly circuit, providing they are used to walking long distances. So, not the best for very young kids but slightly older ones. It’s dog-friendly as long as they are kept on leads around livestock and public areas.
A diversion takes you to Knock Castle offering superb views and a great historical tale. It takes around 3.5 hours to complete, and the tracks and paths are well maintained. You’ll have to negotiate a stile to get to each Castle, though.
There are various refreshments options to be found in Ballater.
The starting point is in the Church Square in Ballater.
- Length: 10.7 km (6.7 miles)
- Elevation gain: 183m (600.4 ft)
Muir of Dinnet-Cnoc Dubh Circuit
This circuit provides a great walk through pine and birch woodlands for something a little more challenging. The walk consists of well-maintained paths and forest roads that can get muddy.
It takes around 2.5 hours to complete the circuit, which goes above the National Nature Reserve Visitor Centre at Muir of Dinnet. Although challenging, the views from the summit of Cnoc Dubh are exceptional.
It’s a child-friendly circuit for older kids who can cope with longer distances and climbs. However, care must be taken at Waypoint 13 because of the steep drop from this vantage point above the gorge (Burn O’Vat).
The circuit is also dog-friendly, providing they are kept on leads in certain places. This includes near livestock and in public areas.
There are various refreshments options in Tarland, Aboyne and Ballater.
The start point is in the car park which gets very busy during peak times. So plan your arrival as early as possible.
- Length: 6.56 km (4.10 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 231m (757.87 ft)
Walking, hiking and cycling in the Highlands provides a superb outdoor experience in some of Scotland’s most scenic environments. The natural wonders, wildlife, amazing coastlines, and pristine beaches have a lot to offer apart from lovely easy walks Ballater.
Plus, there’s a fantastic variety of things to do and see in Ballater’s surrounding area. Then there are the many eateries, cafés and restaurants that offer locally sourced produce. So all in all, a walking holiday in the Ballater has a lot to offer.
