Scolty hill area trail run

This is a good quality run with a fair bit of climb along its length. The climbs are split into three sections so they don't seem so bad. The paths are all good quality with only short sections being more towards trail. Although there are areas where the views are brilliant a lot of this run is within the trees.

From the car park you follow the main dirt road which is well signposted for Scolty hill. The is a very popular walk for the locals and visitors so unusual if you get this to yourself. Just before the 1KM you reach a gate and a crossroads. For this route we head off to the left and aim to tackle the up on one of the steepest paths. If you want to take it easier on the way up the signs at the gate give you enough information to tackle a different way up.

Shortly after the gate you are heading up a steep trail path to the top of the hill and the General Burnett monument. This is as hard as it gets on this route and is only about long. You can do it.

Once out of the trees a short distance takes you to the top of the hill. It does seem to come at you all of a sudden. A spiral staircase inside the monument allows you to get to the top and take in the views across Deeside. The monument can get busy at particular times though when we have been there we had the monument to ourselves.

After the top the route down goes round Scolty hill and is a much more gradual incline than the way up was. The path this way is also much better after the first short section. This path takes you down to the crossroads gate where you head left along the path just before the gate. This follows the fence line.

The path takes you out at the Deeside way which means you are now on forest roads and it stays that way for the rest of the run. There are some spots where the views open out but generally you are in the trees. The pictures show that. Just after a left turn takes you onto a climb lasting about overall with the next being downhill. The last and smallest of the three main climbs is from to .

One more climb exists just before the car park turn but this is minor. To be honest though after the three main climbs, this doesn't feel so minor.