Crathie, Easter Balmoral and Cairns Circular Walk

Whether the aim of your day on the trails is to lose yourself in the wonderfully atmospheric forests near Balmoral Castle or to learn more about the intriguing lives of the royal family by visiting a series of monuments, the Crathie, Easter Balmoral, and Cairns Walk will be sure to fulfill all of your needs.

Setting out from the car park in Crathie, you will head to the south west and cross the bridge over the river Dee, before following the B976 to the south. Here, you will pass through Easter Balmoral and enter into the dense cover of the forest.

Working your way uphill to the southwest, you will begin a circuit through the woods that will take you to a number of different cairns that commemorate the significant life events of the royal family. Many of these were constructed by Queen Victoria, including the large pyramid that was constructed after the death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861. After visiting each of these fascinating sites and exploring the natural beauty of the forest, you will head back downhill and cross over the River Dee on the return to the starting point in Crathie.