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THE BALLOCH WOOD AND HILL Location: Just east of Keith Map: Landranger 28 Permission: None required, Forestry Commission open access. This forest contains several way-marked routes, created and maintained by the Balloch Riders Access Group and the Forestry Commission. Going: Mostly forest roads and tracks, sometimes stony, firm going on the open hill with some steep climbs. Distance: Up to ten miles Access points:-
The Balloch
forest covers about 2,500 acres and has a network of forest roads so a
variety of routes are possible. Some of these are hard and stony where
there has been harvesting work recently, others are soft and fine for a
canter. At the southwest end you can follow part of Governor Caulfeild’s
military road, built about 1750, which ran from Stonehaven to Fochabers. The highlight of a ride here is the ascent of the Meikle Balloch hill which, at 365m, has tremendous views to the north. The easiest way up is to follow the grassy track from the crossroads to the south at NJ464 474; a new track also leads up from the west side but this is quite steep. From the Herricks car-park
follow the forest road uphill and turn left at the junction. Continue
along this road around the northern edge of the forest, then turn left at
the junction after you have crossed a small burn in a gully. Turn right
after a couple of hundred yards and then turn right again at the bottom of
the hill. Follow this road to the north-east corner of the forest and
after a hairpin bend to you right continue steadily uphill. Turn left at
the next junction then right at the cross roads, ( NJ 479
490)
. 50 yards north of the forestry cross-roads turn left onto a small footpath which runs next to a gully . This is a little difficult to find, but the path is obvious once you are on it. At the top of the first hill bear right and follow the contour to a break in the trees then turn left and climb through heather on open ground to the trig point at the summit. Head south along a good track along the ridge and follow into a tunnel through the trees. Turn right and follow this track downhill. At the bottom turn right onto the forest road. Almost immediately turn left then right at a cross roads after a couple of hundred yards on the old military road. Near the bottom turn right and bear left at the road junction. After a mile turn left, downhill, which takes you back to the car-park Two walkers
paths lead up to the summit from the Herricks car-park, but these are
steep and only suitable for walkers - they are waymarked as walking
routes. Do not ride up these as you will cause a lot of erosion. ( One of
them is actually quite dangerous for horses). From the
Keith showground, follow the path southeast through the trees, shortly
after you join the stream, fork right and then cross a small burn beside
the bridge. Just before the next footbridge follow a faint footpath up a
very steep slope until you join the forest road in Dunnyduff wood. After
400m fork right onto a ride and then cross a field to join the public road
a few hundred yards from the Herricks carpark at Mains of Auchoynanie. The summit of the hill is exposed and the cloud can come down quickly, so remember to take a warm coat and a carrot for Neddy. The Balloch Riders Access Group is working with the Forestry Commission to improve access for horse-riders in this forest. |
