Nature trails

Start in the main car park. 

Walk up the short, steep hill, past the map and information stand on your right. 

Turn left and follow the road, which takes you to the castle and then down past the castle lawn. 

When you come to a fork in the road, take the track on the left, which curves around the south end of the formal lawn and walled garden.

Continue down this track until you meet the large red squirrel statue, marking the formal start of this trail. 

Turn right onto the trail and pass the statue on your left. 

At the end of this short length of trail, turn left onto an earth trail. This area is noted for red squirrel activity so keep your eyes open and ears listening for the sudden scurry and clatter of a squirrel in a tree! 

The trail now follows the field boundary, taking you past mature horse chestnuts and oaks, with stunning views south across the River Dee to the hills of south Deeside. 

Continue along this trail until the entrance drive comes back into view, at which point a waymarker will direct you right, curving round a field and a small stand of young Scots pine trees. 

Continue down the small hill, being careful of exposed roots and stones, and head into a woodland of mature and young oaks. 

This trail continues and opens up into a wide forestry ride with tall Scots pines and larches on either side. 

There is a choice here to take the small track right to visit the wildife hide only 50m away and look for red squirrels and woodland birds – or continue round to the left following the forestry ride, listening for the chatter and clicks of nesting grey herons in spring, until it meets the Heron Trail on the entrance drive, where you turn right. 

Immediately after turning right onto the Heron Trail, a waymarker will direct you across the entrance drive – take care to check for traffic before crossing.  

The trail then heads down a short slope onto the banks of the Mill Pond. There are benches here that offer a perfect spot to enjoy the tranquillity of the pond or look for the flash of a fish jumping in summer or the buzz and flick of a kingfisher in autumn and winter. 

You will soon meet a large timber bridge crossing the spill way of the pond, and the trail then continues up a gentle slope on the east bank. 

When directed, climb the short 20m section onto the higher trail marked by tall redwood trees and Douglas firs. 

Turn left and follow the trail downhill until you meet a long boardwalk on the banks of the Coy Burn. 

Cross this boardwalk, enjoying the unique character of the wet woodland here, dominated by old and twisted alder trees. 

Continue on the trail and at the next junction take the right trail continuing to follow the Coy Burn. This natural trail has many large roots and stones, so take extra care when walking. 

You will eventually meet a short footbridge, followed immediately by a large timber bridge crossing the Coy Burn. 

Turn right after crossing this bridge and continue along the trail until you come to a second long section of boardwalk. 

Cross this boardwalk, and then take the flight of timber and earth steps up onto a wide trail amongst tall Scots pine. You will now have great views of the Coy Burn as it winds its way through the woodland, following a natural meandering route. 

Continue along the trail, which follows the curves of the burn. Eventually the trail pulls away from the burn, entering into woodland with pine, birch and broom. 

You will arrive at a small stone culvert, which you cross and continue along the trail under larch trees with open views over the field and woodlands to your left. 

When you reach an old low stone building, take the trail to your right that follows a low stone wall for 50m. At the end of this section a large wooden otter statue will be on your left. 

Continue past this on the wide earth track and then take the trail to the left down a short slope back under the cover of tall mature oaks. 

Cross a short wooden footbridge then continue on the trail, which rejoins the wide track, taking you past the Wild Wood play park and up a slope where you meet an access track. 

After checking for traffic, cross this track, pass through the fence and follow the earth trail as it climbs a gentle slope among a mixed woodland of conifers and broadleaf trees. 

This trail is winding and becomes narrow in sections where it squeezes through gaps in stone walls and past large trees. 

Continue along this trail and it will emerge into a more open woodland of Scots pines, and broaden slightly. Again, this section has many roots and stones exposed. 

After 200m the trail starts to slowly descend as it approaches the dense cluster of tall Sitka spruce conifers, where you take a sharp curve to the left, descending an exposed boulder face. 

The trail continues to curve left, crossing a small timber walkway. At this point, you are back into open Scots pine and larch woodland. 

Take a sharp right turn at an oak tree, curving around an exposed rock face. Looking right, you will see the regenerating woodland mixed with birch, gorse, broom and Scots pine. 

Continue along this trail until you meet a wide forestry track. 

At this junction, turn right following the forestry track downhill. On a clear day you may have a glimpse across Banchory from this point. 

After 100m, a waymarker directs you left off the track and back onto an earth trail. 

Follow this short section, crossing a low and small timber walkway. 

At the end of this section you rejoin the West Drive, where you turn left and continue up the gentle slope. 

A waymarker will direct you right off the West Drive, just past a bench on the right. 

Follow this and descend towards a short timber boardwalk, and then take the short trail towards the yew trees. Take a moment to look at these yews, appreciating their adaptability to cling onto the exposed boulders, where roots curl and grip the nooks and crevices. 

At this point, descend the short set of timber and earth steps, and at the bottom turn left through tall oaks. 

Follow this short section of trail back onto an access drive and turn left until you meet a cross junction at the wooden pine marten statue. This is the end of the Red Squirrel Trail! 

From here, you can follow the drive on the right back to the castle. 

If you wish to explore the castle or walled garden, pop up to the gift shop for entrance tickets or to buy a memento of your visit. 

If you are feeling peckish after your adventure on the Red Squirrel Trail, the café is opposite the shop.