Ballater Walking Festival - Keiloch To Linn Of Quioch - Moderate Walk - Bridge Street

KEILOCH to LINN OF QUIOCH & QUEEN VICTORIAS PICNIC COTTAGE (with optional wild swim (dook) at the end).
Moderate Walk

Depart from Green Hut Ballater at 9:30am by bus. Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Approximate Distance 17km
Approximate Ascent 400m
Approximate Walking Time 6-7 hours
Landranger Map no. - 43

DESCRIPTION
Starting at Keiloch on the Invercauld Estate, the walk meanders through pine forests on very good tracks, with great views of the Dee Valley to Braemar and the Cairngorm mountains beyond. We will reach a small shelter, known as the Fog House, which takes its name from the heather originally used to thatch its roof. We will continue our route through the Invercauld Estate towards Linn of Quioch with fantastic views of Braemar and its recently restored castle. On arrival at Linn of Quioch, we will visit Queen Victorias picnic cottage, which has been sympathetically restored, with an enormous picnic table, handcrafted joinery and exceptional stonework. From here, a 5km loop, which was damaged by Storm Frank 10 years ago, has recently been reinstated. The path follows Glen Quioch through regenerated pine forests, where we can admire the clear waters, waterfalls, granite pools and tranquil beauty of the Quioch Water below. We will return to the picnic cottage, where there will be the opportunity for anyone who wishes to have a dook in the water beside the Punch Bowl, a glacier-carved hole in the rocks. The current can be strong here, so care must be taken, especially if there has been heavy rain.

TERRAIN
Good paths, rough in places, with a few stone stairs on the Glen Quioch loop.