Meall Beag Forest Walk, Strathdon

Meall Beag Forest Walk is a two-mile loop through Gordon Woodlands that climbs to an open view over Strathdon. It’s short, but not a flat forest stroll: the published ascent is about 180 m, with steep stretches on rough ground. Allow about an hour to an hour and a quarter, including a pause at the plantation edge.

Start from the Forest Walks car park on the grassy track marked in several colours. Stay with yellow, ignore the red turn on the left, then take the next waymarked left and bear right up the rough track. When it joins a wider forestry track, turn right. The plantation edge opens out over Strathdon, with Ben Newe ahead.

Where the track swings left, follow yellow onto an older track climbing into denser trees. Continue straight at a joining track, then descend to a turning area and follow the forest edge. Ignore the track joining from the right, take the signed right turn onto the earlier footpath, and turn right again at the waymarked junction for the car park. The circuit reuses its short approach on the way back.

Use the Forest Walks car park in Gordon Woodlands, about 1.5 km south of the Glenbuchat Castle turn-off when approaching from Mossat; no public transport reaches the start. Expect steep, uneven ground that can be muddy, and follow yellow when other waymarks split off. Dogs can come under Scotland’s access rules when kept under proper control; keep them close and use a short lead or heel where signs ask and during the usual April–July ground-nesting-bird season. It’s an established waymarked walk, but current manager notices weren’t available, so check signs at the car park before setting out.