Capercaillie walk to Donview Car park

 

This walk climbs over Bennachie from the north to the south side of the hill. You will pass Watch Craig (493 m) and then descend, along the March burn, down to Birks burn. The woodland on the east side of March burn is managed to encourage Capercaillie. The walk circles the bottom of Millstone hill and finishes at the Don View car park.

You can view a map of the Bennachie trails from the 'what's of interest' panel on the right of this page.

How to get there:

Capercaillie walk to Donview Car park can be started from Back O'Bennachie Car Park in Bennachie. Oyne, Insch, and Chapel of Garioch are the nearest towns or villages.

Follow the A96 north from Inverurie for approximately 10 miles. At the 'Oyne Fork', turn left onto the B9002 which signposted to Insch. After 3 miles on this road, and after passing Oyne village, turn left up to the Back O'Bennachie Car Park (sign posted Back O'Bennachie Car Park 1 mile).

OS Grid Reference: NJ 662 245

Mammals: Look out for red squirrels and roe deer usually seen early morning or dusk. We have information about Red squirrel and Roe deer

Birds: Look in the woodland and along the woodland edges for birds such as great tits, coal tits, blue tits, chaffinch and warblers. This walk is called the capercaillie walk as the pine wood and parts of the open heath are ideal habitat for these birds. There are very few birds now present on Bennachie. On the open hill look out for meadow pipits ( see photo) and red grouse. We have information about Capercaille

Insects and reptiles: A variety of different insects seen both in the woodland and on the open hill.

Habitats: Walk through larch woodland, open hill and close by the march burn. The march burn area is an excellent mixed habitat of some mature Scots pine and broadleaves. We have information about Pinewood