Pine Tree Trail, Cambus o’May

Pine Tree Trail is a 4.3 km (about 2.7 mile) loop through the pinewoods at Cambus o’ May. It is the longest of the three marked circuits here, passing two forest lochans and three bridges. Allow about 1½ hours. Choose it for an easy-to-follow forest walk with a little climb, water views and a glimpse of Deeside from the opening ridge.

Start at the information board in the forestry car park and follow the yellow-banded posts. The path climbs along a low birch-covered ridge, with views up Deeside to your left. The first lochan sits down to the right; stay straight at the next right-hand fork, then cross a forestry track. The route runs beneath power lines for a while before entering the pines again. At a small wooden footbridge beside a stone bridge, keep straight on the yellow route; the red trail turns away to the right.

Later, turn right along a track and take the yellow-marked path to the right at the next post. The red trail eventually joins from the right; continue ahead, then bear left at the next junction and cross a wooden footbridge. The second lochan appears on your right. After the tiny stone bridge, a picnic table looks over the water. From there, turn left at the next junction and left again onto a track. Follow it toward a barrier, then turn right onto the waymarked path back to the car park.

Red squirrels, capercaillie and black grouse live in this pine forest. The route passes two small lochans, with the table beside the second one making a good place to pause. This is important ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep dogs close at heel or on a lead.

The route is rated moderate, with about 50 m of ascent. The surface is uneven gravel with some rocky and muddy stretches, exposed roots and a few steeper slopes. The bridges are part of the walk, so take care where roots and rough ground meet the crossings. The 4.3 km figure is for the whole loop.

The paid Cambus o’ May forestry car park is on the north side of the A93 between Ballater and Dinnet; start at the information board. There is a picnic area, but no public toilets at the site; the nearest are in Ballater and Aboyne. No food outlet or drinking-water point is listed at the car park, so bring what you need. If this loop is more than you want, the same car park has the 1 km Lochside Trail and 2.5 km Two Lochans Trail.