Walking the Balmoral Estate offers the chance to observe royalty, royal history and walks through Scotland – it’s a knockout combo.
Scotland is made for walks and strolling the Balmoral Estate combines several favorite pastimes:
- exceptional walks
- a look at the Royal Victorian Heritage of Scotland and
- an opportunity for some real observation.
Hikes in and around Balmoral Estate range from guided hiking trails only available when Balmoral Castle and Gardens are open to the public, to challenging mountain and lake hikes, available year-round, weather permitting.
Ranger led tours of Balmoral Castle and Gardens
Every Wednesday from April to July, Balmoral rangers lead two-hour guided walks through the woods around the estate. The walks cover two to three miles and are included in the price of admission to Balmoral, but must be booked in advance. The rangers also lead various hiking and trekking themed events throughout the summer and fall. These range from gentle hikes to Lochnagar ascents. Hours change annually and prices vary. Visit the Balmoral Ranger Service website for more information. Or, to book a hike or find out the latest information on Ranger Walks, call Fiona at The Spittal of Muick Visitor Center at +44 (0) 13 397 55059.
Hike around Lake Muick
Loch Muick, on the Balmoral Estate at the base of Lochnagar, is surrounded by relatively easy trails and is also the start of several longer and more challenging hikes in the hills to the south and up to Lochnagar. The walk around Loch Muick is approximately five miles and passes a cabin built for Queen Victoria before a waterfall, the Glasalt Falls.
The Loch is at the head of Glen Muick, accessible to walkers, cyclists and globetrotters, off South Deeside Road near Ballater. There is a small parking lot at the end of the public road at the Spittal of Glen Muick Information Center. The center is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm and rangers are available to assist at any time, by appointment. To book a Ranger appointment, call the state office on +44 (0) 13397 55059. Walking Highlands, an organization promoting walking in Scotland has the most detailed information on walks in Scotland, including route maps from hike of the Ordnance Survey.
Take a look at their Loch Muick circuit page.
Lochnagar
Lochnagar is one of the mountains referred to in Scotland as The Munros . These are mountains that are over 3,000 feet high. The mountain was the subject of a poem, Byron’s Lochnagar , and a children’s book, The Old Man of Lochnagar, by Prince Charles.
There is an 8 mile hiking loop, up to the top of Lochnagar and back from the Spittal of Glen Muick Visitor Center. The route is moderately challenging in warmer climates, lasting approximately seven hours. From November to May, the route is generally covered in snow and ice and should only be attempted by experienced walkers, equipped and skilled with crampons and ice axes.
The cairns of Balmoral
The Cairns Balmoral were erected in the 19th century by members of Queen Victoria’s family to commemorate various events. They are often described as historical, but they are not ancient, simply family commemorations of various kinds. This hike, which is on unmarked trails and trails and is steep in places, is about six miles long. Its main attraction is that it offers good views of Deeside and overlooks Balmoral Castle. When the castle is open to the public, there are paths through the grounds to the cairns.
But, it is possible to follow the path, from a path to the left of the castle entrance, when Balmoral is closed. As always, Walking Highlands has a good description of the hike and directions. Although it rarely happens, if the royal family is in residence, they might be asked to leave the part of the walk that overlooks the castle.
