Walks | North-East
Fungle Road
Start: End of minor road from Finzean Village posted Birse Woods
Description: Either a short amble in a scenic quiet glen, or a lengthy circuit on two old drove roads and some small hilltops
OS Map: #44, Ballater & Glen Clova
Multimap: Online Map
Leave Banchory on the South Deeside road (B974) signposted for Strachan - which is pronounced Stra'an for some reason. Follow the road through this small village, and on through a few small settlements until you reach Finzean Village (Fing'in). As you approach a fairly sharp right hand turn near the Western end of the village, take the left hand turning for Birse Woods. Follow this minor road for around 6 miles til it opens into a car park before turning into a dirt track.
There is plenty evidence of this glens past on view, with ruined cottages dotting the lower slopes, and picturesque little church sitting across the road from the car park. The burn is the same one that the road has followed since Banchory - the River Feugh.
Head along the track towards the farm. Keep to the left of the buildings, heading along a raised section of the field and over a rather loose hanging gate. Though not immediately obvious, there is a foot bridge hiding behind some low branches just upstream of the ford. Cross here and climb over the stile. Head towards the open glen ahead, and cross another stile. This is the Fungle Road itself, the old drove road leading from Glen Esk up to Deeside. Follow the track for a good 6 miles, until it joins another drove track, the Firmounth Road. Turn NNW onto this track, and follow it along the summits of Tampie (723m) and Gannoch (731m).
From here it is possible to drop back down to the hillside near the Burn of Auldmad to the farm at Ballochan, following a decent wide track down to near the footbridge over the burn.
If your legs are keen to continue onwards, head for the next summit on the Firmounth to the NW, the Hill of St Colm (700m). From here the terrain is wide and open, and gently drops to Craigmahandle at 574m. To the west are views over Glen Tanar towards Lochanagar and the Cairngorm range. From here, leave the Firmounth Road and strike NE towards the next, and last, high point of Hill of Duchery (554), affording good views of the undulating circuit that has almost been completed. Head down the Eastern flank of the hill and rejoin the Fungle Road to pass near Birse Castle and return to the fields above the footbridge. Follow the outward route past the farm buildings and back to the car park.