Invkin one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Invkin here.

Walked this route on a Saturday afternoon.

After leaving the train station continue on the main road through Inverurie, and take the Keithhall turnoff

Continue on under the railway bridge and the Bass of Inverurie is on the left. Short detour off track but worth a climb for the views if you have time.

Shortly after this the pavement runs out, and you need to continue on the roads. The narrow bridge over the Urie (and the next bend) are slightly difficult to negotiate, and need a bit of care with frequent cars travelling in both directions.

Most of the cars take the Keithall B993 so once you turn off at the junction marked Balbithan, the road changes to single track and there is very little traffic.

Continue on the road past Kinkell churchyard, and through the yard of Ardmurdo farm. Tarred roads finish here but the farm tracks are well defined.

Leave the farm tracks at NJ790185 and follow a faint tractor track through longer grass until reaching NJ795180.

**Unfortunately, this is where the route becomes a problem**
Densy burn is a significant ditch in between the fields. It is lined with fences on both sides to keep cattle out and is generally overgrown. There isn't an acceptable place to cross the burn here. Had a bit of a search upstream and downstream and the construction of fences / overgrown nettles etc. are making it difficult to find a suitable place to cross. Can't recommend crossing here.

Persevered with the remainder of the route to find out if there are any other issues along the way. There is a very dense section of trees on the other side of the burn that can't be walked through. One of the fields either side would have to be used before picking up the farm track on the Balbithan side.

Such a shame because if it wasn't for the burn crossing this would be a lovely route.

Alternative options:

1. Scan along the length of the burn to see if there is an opening / bridge anywhere for tractors to cross. Possibly one at NJ793180?

2. The local authority have created a shared use path from Inverurie to Kintore. This is the most straightforward route for walking and cycling.
It runs alongside the dual carriageway on the eastern side. I have walked it in both directions.
Although it was purpose built and does the job, it can feel uncomfortably close to 70MPH traffic in places.
Having said that, it is used daily by many walkers and cyclists in each direction.

3. Another option would be to continue on the B road that passes in between Heatherwick and Hogholm, rejoining the original route at East Balbithan (this route is popular with local cyclists.) I walked back to Inverurie this way and it was quite pleasant with very few cars.

4. The final option would be to skirt the fields along the river and come out at Kintore golf club. This option would also have a few burns to cross and this route is not currently used by local walkers. Although, the local angling club have a style over the fence near the golf club house to gain access to the river (but it's not clear how far along the river they walk).

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