Scolty hill area trail run
Length
17.7 Kms
Elevation gain
538.9 m
Max elevation
290.3 m
Difficulty
***
Rating
***
Type
Loop
Route id
549
Main road
0 Kms
Country road
0 Kms
Dirt road
14.7 Kms
Dirt path
2 Kms
Trail
1 Kms
1
0
Route summary
The Scolty hill area trail run route is a trail run within North & Grampian. The loop covers a distance of 17.66 Kms ( 10.97 miles )
and has an elevation gain of 539 m ( 1768 feet )
.
Description
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
1 Kms
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
4 Kms
a left turn takes you onto
a climb lasting about 4 Kms
overall with the next 4 Kms
being downhill. The last and smallest of the three main climbs is from 13 Kms
to 14 Kms
.
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.
Route directions
Kms
1
Start directly from the car park
0
2
Head past the gate up the main path
0.1
3
At the gate turn left
0.7
4
At the marker take the small path on the right heading uphill
0.9
5
Keep on the path heading up hill
1.2
6
Top of Scolty - follow path straight on
1.6
7
At the larger path turn left
1.7
8
At the tee turn right
2.5
9
Keep on the main path
2.9
10
Back at the gate, turn left along the path beside the fence
3.5
11
Take road heading right
4.1
12
Turn left at the tee, sign posted as Deeside way
4.3
13
Keep on main path
4.8
14
Keep on main path
6.1
15
Take the dirt road on the left headingup hill
6.5
16
Path turns to the right
6.9
17
Take the fork to the right
7.2
18
Take main road, slightly to the left
8.6
19
Turn right at the tee junction
9.9
20
Take the left down the hill
10.1
21
Take the path on the right
10.6
22
Follow the path to the right and uphill
11.8
23
Keep on main path as it heads up hill
14.1
24
Turn left at the tee, following signs for the car park
14.4
25
Road bends to the right
16.3
26
Turn left at the tee heading back to the car park
17.2
27
And you are back at the car park
17.7
Car park area
Heading from the car park towards Scolty
Car park area
First of several information signs
Car park area
Lots of spaces but does get busy at weekends
Car park area
Dirt road out of car park towards Scolty
Path junction at gate
Well sign posted, take a left.
Path junction at gate
Different routes up the hill
Path junction at gate
The path on the left from the gate
Path junction at gate
After the hill and just before the gate this is the path on the left to take
The upwards trail
Path becomes more of a trail on the up
The upwards trail
Small signpost marks start of trail climb. Head off main path to the right
Starting to come out of the trees
Path is quite narrow in parts but good quality
Starting to come out of the trees
Looking back towards Banchory
Top of Scolty
View from the top of the tower towards Clachnaben
Top of Scolty
Top of the tower looking down the Dee
Top of Scolty
Just short of the top, looking back
Top of Scolty
Just short of the top, looking forward.
Top of Scolty
From just outside the tower
Top of Scolty
Taken from the top of the tower, towards Banchory
Top of Scolty
From the hill top
Top of Scolty
Looking back at the tower. General Burnett's monument
Top of Scolty
Path through the heather from the tower
Top of Scolty
The path that took us to the top
Path round the side of Scolty
Good running paths with gentle slopes
Path round the side of Scolty
Rocky part of the path
Path round the side of Scolty
Nice grassy part of the path
Into the woods
To the left of the main gate
Into the woods
Good quality paths
Into the woods
Short section with lots of tree routes. Watch out
Deeside way
First marker for the Deeeside way
Deeside way
The Deeside way seems to be all up in parts
Forest paths
Dirt roads and trees
The river Dee
The Dee appears between the trees
The river Dee
Dee through the trees
More forest roads
The roads can get a little slippy in patches
More forest roads
Running into the late evening sun
Open space
Some open countryside
And back into the trees
Rather pleasant running
And back into the trees
Heading back to the car park
Out in the open again
Open countryside
Evening time
As the sun starts to go down, there's a wee bench to take it all in