Wildlife Walk - Gight Woods
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 4.8 kms | 02:00 (hrs:mins) | 80 metres | Explorer 426: Banff, MacDuff & Turriff |
Description
Follow forestry track down through Badiebath Woods until the first kissing gate. Pass through this gate and cross the field towards ruins of Gight Castle (Byron's ancestral home). The entrance to Gight Woods is about 20 minutes walk from the car park. Go through the reserve kissing gate bearing right and follow the footpath.
For a short walk, when the path branches off, carry straight on down towards the river and Hagberry Pot bridge and return back the same way. For a longer walk, take the right branch where the footpath splits, heading towards the upper slopes of the reserve. On the right is the derelict dovecote and at the top before the footpath bears left are the ruins of Corbies Craig bothy. Some way along this leg, the path drops down to Whisky Pot Bridge, before climbing up stone steps. Further along, the path starts a slow and winding descent down towards the river and Otter Bridge.
Turn left over the bridge and follow the waymarked trail down river, leading to Hagberry Pot Bridge. Cross the bridge and climb the path to complete the circular walk. Return to the car park by retracing back to the castle, across the field and along the forestry track.
Access Info
Gight Woods are situated in a remote location on steep land sloping down to the River Ythan, about 27 miles/43.2 kms north of Aberdeen, 2 miles/3.2 kms upstream of Methlick and 3 miles/4.8 kms east of Fyvie, lying off the B9005. The starting point for this walk is the Forestry Gate car park on B9005 Methlick to Fyvie road.
Additional Info
Parts of the walk may be muddy following wet weather. Just up from the bridge, remember to look out squirrels using the high-level squirrel rope bridge to cross the river. Gight Wood is a Scottish Wildlife Trust site, to find out more about the Wood please visit www.swt.org.uk
More Info
Gight Woods are set on the steep, south-facing slopes of the Ythan river valley in Aberdeenshire and are a great place to find out more about Birds, Butterflies and Insects, Flowers, Fungi, Plants, Trees and especially Red Squirrels.
