THIS column is dedicated to walking and ramblers' groups from across Scotland, where they can suggest the best routes to enjoy. See the panel at the end of this story if you want to get involved.
Meikle Balloch Hill Circuit, near Keith, Moray
By Tracy Chalmers, founder of Tracy Goes Outside adventure blog
Start: Balloch forestry car park near Keith.
Distance: Four miles.
Time: Allow one-and-a-half to two hours.
Terrain: Easy with some elevation. Mainly forestry roads. Downhill section is uneven in parts.
Level: Suitable for most.
Access: Arrive by car. To reach the car park, turn up Bridge Street from Keith and follow the road until you come to a parking area after approximately two miles. The postcode is AB55 5NT.
What makes it special: A picturesque forest walk coupled with breath-taking panoramic summit views.
THE Meikle Balloch Hill overlooks Keith and on a clear day you can see the hill path from the town. It is a beautiful and peaceful walk through the forest and once you get out of the woods and among the heather, the views of Moray and Aberdeenshire are incredible.
Route: At the car park you will see an information board. To the right of the board there is a blue-marked post at the start of a narrow path into the trees. Follow this path for about 200 yards. You will come to a forestry road, take a right here and then keep on this road.
There are some nice views of the countryside through the trees as you pass along this section. After about three-quarters of a mile, there is a fork to the right; ignore this and continue on. The road does gently climb here but nothing too taxing.
READ MORE: Best walks in Scotland: Braefoot Point Circular, Dalgety Bay, Fife
READ MORE: Best walks in Scotland: The Dunnet Forest Circular, Caithness
You will pass a Scottish Water reservoir and the Balloch Quarry. Not long after passing the quarry there is a signpost for Coachford; ignore this if you wish to proceed directly on the planned route.
But, for those with the time and inclination, it is well-worth a brief detour. About 20 yards along the Coachford turn off, there is a small pond to the left where dragonflies can often be spotted.
Back on the main track, about 80 yards further on from the Coachford signpost, there is a turn to the left. Take this road and head further up the hill where it will begin to get a bit steeper. Keep on this road. There are plenty of great views on the way up where the trees have been felled.
Less than a mile along this stretch, the road will narrow as you come out of the trees and reach a fork with two paths. Take the path to the right. This will take you up to the summit and trig point where 360-degree views of Moray and Aberdeenshire await.
READ MORE: Best walks in Scotland: Glencoe Lochan, Lochaber
READ MORE: Best walks in Scotland: Bishop's Glen Circular, Dunoon, Argyll
After enjoying the views, it is time to descend. Take the path to the right. Once you are back in the woods, the path will zigzag before coming to a straight downhill section that can be quite uneven.
You will then reach a crossroads, take a left here and this will bring you back onto the forestry road. After a short stretch, you will come to the last fork in the road. Take a right which will take you back to the gate at the car park.
Don't miss: Pop into Boat ‘N’ Barn at Reidhaven Square in nearby Keith. This cafe is an excellent pit stop for soup, sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks. Call 01542 880381.
READ MORE: Best walks in Scotland: Blawhorn Moss, West Lothian
READ MORE: Best walks in Scotland: Whiteash Hill Woods and Duchess of Richmond Cairn in Moray
Useful information: Check out the Tracy Goes Outside adventure blog, visit tracygoesoutside.com and facebook.com/tracygoesoutside
Do you have a walk you would like to suggest? Email susan.swarbrick@theherald.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here