Drove Road to Tarland Show path on map

Start location: Boig ( NJ 472 076 )

End location: north of Chapel of Towie ( NJ 469 133 )

Geographical area: Grampian

Path type: Drove Road, Rural Path

Path distance: 7km

Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

Go north from Tarland by minor roads to Boig. Continue north on a good gravel track round the first steep hairpin bend and look for the indistinct track north at NJ477083, rising steeply from the road and winding up through bracken and conifers to the open heather moor, and to a tangle of recent tracks. Maintain a northerly direction and the correct track will emerge easily leading along the side of the hill. Reaching the forest at NJ479107, take the track slightly uphill to the left along its boundary to pick up a track passes to the east and north of the top of Craiglea Hill. Descend north-northwest towards Craigheedy Hill, and pass above and some 200m to the west of Hillside (NJ471123). There are gates and fences and some tree-planting here, which may create difficulty with following the old line. However, by climbing only one fence, one can join the Hillside access track (rough, vehicular) at NJ468126, after which it is followed without difficulty to the public road near Chapel of Towie.

Heritage Information

Tarland's market stance can be seen on maps dating back to at least the mid-nineteenth century, and although partly encroached upon it still exists as part of the village's open space. Droving routes approached Tarland from the west and the north, and to the south beyond Aboyne lie the Fungle Road and the Firmounth. As Tarland also had a feeing market and reportedly a fair too, it's likely these routes were formerly well-travelled by people as well as cattle.