WALK, ABERDEENSHIRE - Kemnay, Fetternear & Burnhervie.

BoB · WALK, ABERDEENSHIRE - Kemnay, Fetternear & Burnhervie.

WALK SCOTLAND – ABERDEENSHIRE

Walk: Fetternear Estate, Kemnay.

Last Chance Walk

The reason this may be your last chance to walk this as there is plans to develop Fetternear Estate.
This was walked in the snow.
But you can still follow the walk.

Start: Kemnay.
Finish: Kemnay.
Time: 2 – 4 hours depending on diversions. (Allow 1 hr extra for Place of Origin)
Footware: Boots, sturdy shoes in summer or Wellingtons (Wet areas through woodland).

The walk starts off in Kemnay at the Car Park beside the Police Station (Aquithie Road).

Going out of the car park, turn right towards the High Street and the old railway bridge.

BoB

When you reach the cross roads you will be turning right, down Bridge Road.
Follow the road as it goes left, passing the Burnett Arms on the right.

BoB

Just past the Burnett Hotel, you get a good view of Bennachie, The Mither Tap and its surrounding hills.

BoB

When you reach the next junction, turn right onto Riverside Road.
Cross the bridge into Fetternear.

BoB

View from the bridge looking downstream.

BoB

From the bridge you can see Place of Origin in the distance.

[LINK to Place of Origin (PoO) at end]

BoB

Moving on, just after you cross the bridge you turn first right.
This is the entrance to Fetternear Estate.

BoB

The Fetternear Estate entrance.
Go through the gates and along the drive.
(Dogs to be kept under control please)

BoB

Walk along the drive, it can be a bit slippery when wet here.

BoB

Spotted up in the trees just after entering the estate.

BoB

Continuing to go along the drive, the River Don can be heard close by on the right.
This used to be a field on the left; it is now open and not fenced anymore.

BoB

Looking right, the River Don puts in an appearance.

BoB

Further on a tree has been cut down, these trees are getting on a bit and some have been cut down for safety.
Others have just fallen down, but all have to be dealt with.

BoB

The first turn, we go right here across an old bridge.
If you wish to see the Bishops Place as it is now then you go straight on and take the first right. (Follow the signs).
The Bishops Palace is due to be turned into a Fitness Centre.

[Link to Bishops Palace and story of renovation at end]

BoB

There are signs up throughout the estate now, so if you go to the Bishops Palace, on the way back take the Burnhervie road as we are now.

BoB

Cross the old bridge.

BoB

There is a surprising amount of small fish in this small burn.
It was carrying a bit more water than usual today.

BoB

Further along you get a view of Kemnay Academy with Place of Origin (PoO) behind it.
[Link to Place of Origin (PoO) at end]
Kemnay Quarry is to the left of the academy.

BoB

We then turn right here.

BoB

Following the signs for Burnhervie and the Shakin' Brig.

BoB

Rabbit damage on tree branches.
The bark has been stripped off this branch, this isn’t a problem in this case as the branch had fallen from a tree anyway, but they can strip them from living trees and then it can be a problem.

BoB

At the next junction you go straight ahead.
Cotton Wood is to the left if you want to investigate it.
Otherwise go straight on.

BoB

Again it is well sign posted.

BoB

As you can see, the walk is very popular, and not only with the locals.
Strange thing is you don’t meet that many people when walking as they are well spread out.

BoB

Here is evidence of grander times of the estate.
A path has steps here going through a wall, but beyond this there is no sign of where the path went.
It has been reclaimed by the woodland.

BoB

The first obstacle so far, a gate blocks the road.
This is where the road crosses a field.
Be careful here as there may be livestock in the field, so make sure you close the gate.

BoB

A polite reminder.
Please do so and not spoil it for others by leaving it open.
I have seen this happen elsewhere, it always ends with the gate being padlocked shut and people having to climb over it.

BoB

First half of the field proves hard going due to the snow.

BoB

Second half is easier going as there is some shelter from the trees.
Nearing the end of the field now, we will soon be on to a good road again.

BoB

The other gate to the field, it looks as if you are going into someone’s garden or yard.
There is a road through there, so don’t worry about it.

BoB

A sign to remind everyone it is an estate you are walking through.

BoB

As you walk past the house the road ahead goes to Burnhervie.
You do not take this road, you turn right and go down the road towards the Shakin’ Brig.

BoB

This is a surfaced road again so the walking is easier.

BoB

Crossing a small bridge, take a look over the side.

BoB

Do you think there was once a Mill or something here?

BoB

Continue down to the Shakin’ Brig.
Though it has been replaced by a new one that doesn’t shake anymore!

BoB

Cross the bridge to the other side.

Why do people have to spray paint on things?

BoB

Climb the narrow path to the road above.

BoB

At the top of the steep narrow path, turn right and walk along the surfaced road.

BoB

Looking down from the road I could see two Swans and Ducks struggling against the strong current of the River Don.
The river will now be on your right with some good views of it as you walk along the surfaced road back towards Kemnay.

BoB

After quite a while you will come to where Kemnay Quarry is extracting sand, it is the newest site they have opened up.

BoB

Sand.

BoB

Not far and you will reach the next junction, where you will turn right.

BoB

Before you walk away, have a look at the last place where they extracted sand from, it is just at the junction.
It has now filled with water and is used a lot by birds, though not many around today as it was frozen over.
The water here is very deep!
[Link at end to here]

BoB

Not far to get to a main road from there.
At this junction you need to turn right and head towards Kemnay.

BoB

You don’t have to go far to get a reminder of the last owners of the quarry (John Fyfe).
It now has new owners as we will see.

BoB

Kemnay Quarry is on the entrance into the village of Kemnay if coming from Inverurie.

BoB

Next you pass the old Lawrence of Kemnay.
They are now Lawrence of Kemnay at Inverurie!!!

BoB

Entering the village of Kemnay now and the nice area at the top of Bremner Way is the start of the village proper.
Shame the flowers are not showing, it being winter!

There is usually a very nice display of flowers here.

BoB

Oppisite this area is a small rough road that will take you up to Place of Origin if you fancy a diversion.
Go up the lane and follow the perimeter fence of Kemnay Quarry until you find one of the paths up to Place of Origin (PoO).
There is a path or road all the way up.
[Link tp PoO at end]

You can just see PoO at the top.

BoB

This junction (Bremner Way) is sign posted Kemnay Academy, it is close to the road up to Place of Origin (PoO)
Go straight on to get back to the car park and the end of the walk.

BoB

Links:
These are information links.
Some are Linked to GramlianLife forum where there is a story about one of the items mentioned in this thread.
GrampianLife is a local forum based in Alford, Aberdeenshire.

Fetternear Estate to convert Bishops Palace into a Leisure Complex

Fetternear Trust - Bishops Palace & Ruins.
(There is also a map of Fetternear Estate on the site)

Digging a hole in Kemnay - Story of the sand hole loch

Point of Origin -PoO & Kemnay Quarry Views

Place of Origin Link

BoB