Conachcraig and Gelder Shiel Loop

Conachcraig and Gelder Shiel is a roughly 14-mile loop from Crathie to Gelder Shiel Stable, Conachcraig and Caisteal na Caillich. Allow 6–7 hours for about 679 m of ascent. It is a demanding hill day, with a long track approach, boggy ground beside the river and a pathless summit descent.

Start from the Crathie car park and check Balmoral Estate access and deer-stalking advice before you go; restrictions can affect this route, especially in autumn and early winter. Pack food and water for the full loop. Dogs can accompany walkers under Scotland’s access rights; keep them under control around livestock and wildlife.

Cross the Dee by the bridge and pass Balmoral’s entrance and golf course. Follow the Royal Lochnagar Distillery road through Easter Balmoral, then climb past the checkpoint and into the forest. At the track junction turn left, ignore the branch for Prince Albert’s Cairn, and stay on the main track toward Gelder Shiel. Lochnagar comes into view as the trees thin and stays visible for much of the walk.

Gelder Shiel Stable is a bothy stop, not a staffed service. After the buildings, cross the river and follow its east bank on a narrow path that is heather-overgrown and boggy in places. After about 1.5 km it bends across open moorland to a Land Rover track. Take rubbish away and leave the bothy ready for the next visitor.

Follow the track west of Conachcraig for about 3 km to a small cairn, then climb through heather and boulders to the 865 m rocky top. Continue toward the 850 m top and pass just left of it to reach Caisteal na Caillich. The return descends northwest over pathless heather and scattered boulders to a Land Rover track. At the junction with the outward route, keep right rather than retracing the bothy spur, then follow estate tracks back to Crathie.