The route follows the line of the Old Royal Deeside Railway from Aberdeen to Banchory, through woodland and countryside to Kincardine O’Neil and then rejoins the old line from Aboyne to Ballater, total distance 41 miles.
I completed the Deeside Way over a period of 4 days, between March and May 2014. I used buses to return to Aberdeen after each walk. It would be possible to take a tent and wild camp en-route, there are campsites at Aboyne and Ballater but since it was only March, camping was not going to be considered! Once again I made a video blog.
Day 1 (23 March 2014)
Aberdeen to Banchory (17 miles, 5 hours taken)
It was a sunny Sunday morning, Spring was in the air and it was too nice to sit about the house. I headed off down to the Duthie Park and began walking on the old Deeside line, towards Banchory.
Once arriving at Duthie Park, the path of the Deeside Way is picked up by the Polmuir Road entrance, and follows the Old Deeside Line/Cycle Route for the next few miles, passing many old stations, most of which have now been converted into homes. First up is Holburn Station (now flattened), followed by Ruthrieston, Pitfodels, Cults, West Cults, Bieldside, Murtle, Milltimber before finally reaching Culter.
Once reaching Culter, the path leaves the old deeside line and continues on a quiet country road to reach Drumoak, where there is a bus stop. That would be the first 10 miles covered but too soon to head home, I kept on towards Banchory, passing through Milton of Crathes and a randomly unexpected section of lottery funded restored railway. Crathes Castle can be visted here if there is enough time, I didn't have!
Five hours and 17 miles later I finally found myself pondering along the riverside on the outskirts of Banchory, late afternoon. Unfamiliar with Banchory, I wasn't sure if I was to continue along the river or head up to the roadside.
I hadn't seen any waymarkers for a while so decided to leave the riverside (a bad idea).
I soon found myself lost in the middle of a housing estate and had to ask several locals how to get to the town centre. If I had just stayed on the cycle route!!
Luckily I found my way into the town centre just in time for the 6:15pm bus back to Aberdeen, and what a relief!
Day 2 (26 March 2014)
I arrived in Banchory for about 12, got supplies from the Co-Op and headed back down the river side to continue the Deeside Way from where I left it. The route continues to follow the River Dee straight through Banchory, crossing the River Dee then heads up into the Blackhall Forest.
This is one big forest and I must have walked through it for about 7 miles before it finally came to an end at the Shooting Greens car park.
Unfortunately once I came out here, I had no clue which way I had heading, I didn't see any waymarkers and missed noticing the cycle route just hiding away on the right, my instinct was telling me to follow the minor road to the left... Bad Move!!
So I ended up a few miles out in the wrong direction in the middle of nowhere but with some great mountain views, time was getting on and my only option was to walk the road 4 miles into Strachen, where I could maybe jump on a bus... Ha, that wasn't going to happen anytime soon as the only bus that was scheduled to run through Strachen was the School bus early morning. So from Strachen it was another 5 miles walk on the road to return to Banchory, where I completed a circuit and caught the bus back to Aberdeen. Big fail this day!! Least it stayed dry. However, I returned some time later to try again. I successfully completed the route second time around which is when the video was made.
Day 3 (18 April 2014)
So after studying the route a little better I returned to Banchory for a second attempt at this stage. I hopped off the bus, grabbed supplies from the Co-Op again and crossed over the river Dee before ascending into the Blackhall Forest for the second time.
Upon reaching the Shooting Greens Car Park, I turned right and followed the cycle route towards the Hamlet of Potarch, following the River Dee to eventually arrive at the village of Kincardine O'Neil.
Once reaching Kincardine O'Neil I got lost again! There were no way markers to indicate the route I should be following and so ended up following the main road to Aboyne, assuming I would be able to pick up the path. I did eventually pick it up... about 5 miles later, halfway to Aboyne. I later learned that the route continues from Pitmurchie Road in Kincardine O'Neil.
It wasn't too long before I arrived in Aboyne, around quarter past 6, annoyingly just missing the bus by about 20 seconds and had to wait an hour for the next one.
Day 4 (21 May 2014)(5-6 hours taken, 14 miles approx)
Approximately 1 month later, I returned to complete the long distance route. I jumped off the bus at Kincardine O'Neil to correct where I went wrong previously. I retraced my steps through Kincardine O'Neil, turning up Pitmurchie Road. A short distance up the hill, the cycle route continues, passing through farmland to later re-join the old railway line.
Once reaching Aboyne, I stopped for a bit before continuing on towards Ballater. The path leaves from the car park beside the Victory Hall in the village centre. From there it's back onto the old line again for most of the way, passing Deeside Gliding Club Airfield, Cambus O’ May and Cambus O’ May Cheese Creamery.
Once approaching Ballater the views improve with glimpses of hills and mountains beginning to become more frequent, closing in on the Cairngorms National Park.
I arrived in Ballater at a decent time, and without getting lost again, with a cushy 15 minute wait for the next bus.
The Deeside Way was a fairly enjoyable walk which could be completed over 3-4 days with a tent, making use of campsites where available. For the more adventurous, the walk can be carried on past Ballater and into the Cairngorms.
