Burn o' Vat and the Castle Trail

Burn o' Vat and Loch Kinord
Parking	Burn o' Vat has a modest car park which seems to be free.
Distance	Variable depending on which route you take but only a few hundred metres from the car park to Burn o' Vat itself and about 3 miles around Loch Kinord
Height / Ascent	<100m to Burn o' Vat and around Loch Kinord but other routes may take you up some steeper inclines
Bogginess	1 / 5
Strenuosity	1 / 5
Other Info	Good paths and signposting throughout

Introduction

It's still the middle of winter but the weather has still been pretty mild and rainy. There has been snow on higher ground but little where we are. So we had to decide where to go. Try getting up a higher hill and maybe getting stuck in snow, or trying something on lower ground. We plumped for the latter as we really didn't fancy a frustrating day of skidding around on snow and getting hardly any pictures. Mike earmarked this site called Burn o' Vat in Aberdeenshire. Technically it is classed as a 'pothole' which I thought were the things you knacker your suspension on in the road but I guess it includes bigger 'holes'. It certainly looked interesting so we decided to head north and see what it was about.

Getting There and Parking Up

We decided to get up there heading north through Glen Shee. I was a bit apprehensive about taking this route as it was belting rain when we set out and I was worried it might be pelting down snow in Glen Shee. Turned out there was hardly any snow up Glen Shee and all the roads were totally clear. Bit of a bugger for the ski industry up there but handy for us getting through to Aberdeenshire. Anyway, Burn o' Vat should be easy to locate. Get yourself on the A93 Ballater to Aboyne road and turn north up the B9119. There is a car park there for a modest number of cars and it appears to be free, and a visitor centre. Well, it should be easy to get to. We found ourselves speeding merrily towards Huntly before we realised we were on the wrong road and had to turn back. Maybe it was something in the water but we found that our map reading skills (or lack of) were especially bad this day and wrong turns were going to be commonplace....again!

Getting inside the Crack

Once parked up we waited 5 minutes for the pelting rain to stop and then headed off looking for Burn o' Vat. Near the visitor centre was a sign saying getting inside Burn o' Vat could be problematic during times of heavy rainfall. We had driven through intermittent rain storms on the way there and get hit with a notice like that. So with fingers crossed that the Vat was actually accessible we headed off in search of it.

There are signposts all around which utilise the standard vague symbolism which is commonplace around walks like this. There is a symbol of a rock with a crack in it which looks like the one we should follow so we head off down that path.

Heading along the path to the 'challenging' crossroads

As we head along the path we come to a crossroads with a signpost. One way has written 'Burn o' Vat Spur Path', the other has the cracked rock symbol. We assume the spur path is just an alternative route to the Vat so we decide to keep following the official looking symbols. So we head right across the bridge and up a small hill to reach a nice viewing platform. Well, the views were actually pretty poor because they were quite obscured by trees, but the platrform and railings were well constructed at least.

The viewing platform. You can kinda see some water and hills over the tops of the trees.

After taking in the view and admiring the workmanship on the viewing platform we headed further along the path. The area is quite heavily wooded so you can't see much beyond the path. However, as we walked on we noticed some stuff through the trees. What was it? It was the bloody car park! We had done a nice circuit back to the car and no sign of the Vat. Feeling like a couple of tubes for taking another wrong turning we decided to head back along this path to the crossroads and follow the mysterious 'Spur Path'

Once back at the crossroads we took the other turning and no sooner were we on this other path and we were faced with the entrance to the Vat. The towering rock formations stood in front of us with a narrow crack through them and a stream pouring out of it. Although the water coming from the entrance to the Vat was rushing out, it was quite shallow so getting through it across the stepping stones didn't seem too treacherous.

The entrance into the vat through the crack above. There are stepping stones but the water is shallow anyway.

Once we got a few cliched long exposure shots of the water running from the entrance we hopped across the stepping stones and into the VAT!

Burn o' Vat a.k.a The Kids Playground

Once inside the vat we were quite impressed. The towering, looming rock faces all around and a picturesque waterfall at the back. Good Stuff! So it was out with the tripods to get snapping some of those tasty long exposure shots. However, no sooner had we started shooting but we hear the noise of screaming kids behind us. Enter two adults and two kids running around wild and screaming their heads off because they like the echo. We decided to leave them to it and explore somewhere else in the area before coming back. By this time the adults had encouraged the kids to go clambering up the slippy rocks to within touching distance of the waterfall. Can you not enjoy the scene here without trying to beak your neck on the rocks?

Once of the few photos I got whilst it was quiet

The Road to Ruin around Loch Kinord

Once away from the Vat we decided to try some of the other routs in the area. From the car park there are signposted routes around Loch Kinord and along what appeared to be some kind of pictish trail so we headed off along the pictish path. The path took us through an eerie birchwood forest, or it at least it might appear errie at night.

The path through the birchwood

A small, marshy pond in the birchwood forest

So we kept following the path through the birchwood hoping that something interesting and perhaps pictish might some into sight. Eventually we turned the corner and were greeted by masses of stone ruins. Don't have a clue what they were or when they date back to but it certainly was a lot more interesting than the forest. I'm sure the visitor centre could provide a better insight.

Some of the stone structures along the trail

The path then took you on to an old stone circle which was once a pictish round house. After that the path headed down to the banks of Loch Kinord. Although the walk along the Loch was pleasant enough there wasn't really any mind-blowing views or amazing photo opportunities.

The banks of Loch Kinord

After a stroll along the banks of the Loch, the path turned back inland and took us to the site of an ancient carved stone with a celtic cross before taking us onto a nice sit down bench situated under a solitary tree. After that it wound back to the car park so we decided to have another go at photographing the Vat.

The cross carved into the ancient stone

A sit down under the tree. I'm sure it looks verdant and leafy in the summer

VAT Return

After the pleasant walk around the Loch we decided to try the Vat again. On returning to the car park, the screaming kids were getting ready to head home thankfully so, fingers crossed, the Vat might be empty. Sure enough, we headed back into the Vat and we were the only ones there, so once again it was out with the tripods to get snapping. Once we got a few shots we decided to get a selfie of us on the rocks. So we set up the camera, popped on the timer and sat posing on the rocks. No sooner had we sat down than this couple comes strolling in. Im sure they must have enjoyed seeing our self-indulgent photo shoot. Anyway, the girl looked like she was setting up to take a fair few photos and the guy went bounding up the rocks next to the waterfall obviously trying to show off to the girl (good luck), so we decided to head off again and leave them to it.

Us looking well shifty

So, once back at the car we concluded that we had had our fill of Burn o' Vat and Loch Kinnord. We decided to head further afield and see what else the area had to offer. This part of Scotland seems to be littered with historic sites so we thought we would hit up a few old castles before the sun went down.

Kildrummy Castle
Parking	A car park which was shut when we got there so we had to dump the car at the roadside. Check Historic Scotland's website for opening times
Distance	<1 mile from the car park to the site
Height / Ascent	Flat ground all the way
Bogginess	1 / 5
Strenuosity	1 / 5
Other Info	Good paths throughout

Getting There and Parking Up

The site is located off the A97 running between Glenkindie and Mossat and is well signposted and easily visible from the roadside. There is a car park but it was closed when we got there. Not sure when it opens or if it charges but this info could be found through Historic Scotland. We left the car by the roadside and entered the site through a small gate next to the car park which seems to be set up for walkers.

The Medieval Marvel

Once we dumped the car near the entrance to the site we headed on in not really sure what to expect. To say we were pleased with what we found would be an understatement. Although very ruinous, there is still substantial amounts of the building remaining alluding to it's considerable size. The site also has plenty of information boards detailing the castle's history and signposting the various parts of the building. Beyond the ruins is the castle gardens. They look mighty impressive but were gated off. I assume they are accessible when the place is officially open.

The entrance to he castle ruins

What was once the toilet in the prison area

The sprawling ruins of the castle

So after getting our fill of this fascinating site we decided to find another castle and see if it could match the quality of this.

Craigievar Castle
Parking	A large car park which seems to be open all year round
Distance	<1 mile from the car park to the site
Height / Ascent	Flat ground all the way
Bogginess	1 / 5
Strenuosity	1 / 5
Other Info	Good paths throughout

Getting There and Parking Up

The site is located off the A980 running between Lumphanan and Bridgeton and the entrance is well signposted. There is a large car park that seems to be open 24/7. According to the information board there is a charge for entry of an unbelievable £12.50 for adults (it is the National Trust after all). Not sure if that is for entry to the whole site or just inside the castle itself. Anyway, it was all closed up so we were able to walk around the outside of the castle for nothing.

The Fairytale Castle

We parked the car and headed towards the castle. It sits practically adjacent to the car park so we didn't have far to walk. We were actually a bit surprised by what we saw. A very well maintained pink castle. How delightful! Traditionally, most rendered buildings would have been coloured, usually subtle pastel shades such as this. This is something that has been lost over the years but more and more restoration works are putting this traditional coloured render on the buildings rather than the usual white we have come to expect in modern times. Anyway, history lesson over! Credit to the National Trust for doing an excellent job of restoring and maintaining the building which I assume is why it carries such a high entrance fee. Supposedly this castle was the inspiration for Disney's castle logo. They don't seem visually too similar but Craigievar Castle certainly has that fairytale aura to it.

So we had a quick wander around and took some snaps and decided in the fading light that was enough for today and headed home.

The enchanting? castle

One of the handle details on the door to the garden. Looks a bit like........

Heading Home - Reflection

It was a good day out. Certainly plenty to see and photograph at all three of the places we went. Although this part of Scotland doesn't have much awe-inspiring natural scenery it is compensated by the wealth of historic sites which seem well preserved and maintained. It would certainly be worth coming back up here an exploring even more of these sites.

Worth a visit?

If you are in the area it is definitely worth checking all of the places out. There is plenty to see for people of all ages at each of the sites. It may be worth visiting the castles when they are open to the public if you want full access to everything they have on offer.