This walk involves crossing the dual carriageway twice and some walking along a minor road. Distance 3 miles. Starting at the Marine Hotel take the track south along the railway. Turn right between the fields until you come to the main A30 road. Cross with great care and follow the road up to Muchalls Castle. The road margins are grassy, with some raspberries, ferns, rosebay willowherb, meadow vetchling, creeping thistle, germander speedwell, silverweed, heath bedstraw, bird's-foot trefoil, yarrow and sorrel.
The small L-shaped castle was started in 1613 by Alexander Burnett of Leys and finished in 1627 by his son Thomas, the family associated with Crathes Castle. It has very fine plaster ceilings and a secret staircase. A chapel was included in the original design which served the Episcopalian communities of Muchalls and Skateraw. There is supposed to be a lost underground passage leading to the smugglers' cove at Gin Shore. Legend has it that the daughter of one of the lairds used the passage to meet the smuggler she loved but was drowned one night by the incoming tide. Her ghost haunts the castle as the Green Lady.
Unfortunately, the building is no longer open to the public, but was being used as a private hotel, and may well now be demolished and replaced by homes.. On the hill to the right is the site of three successive Episcopal chapels which were built after the chapel in the castle was destroyed by the Duke of Cumberland on his way to Culloden. In 1758 the minister John Troup was imprisoned in the Tolbooth at Stonehaven, for failing to mention the Hanoverian King in his prayers. So faithful were his followers however that women were known to walk all the way from Skateraw to Stonehaven to have their babies baptised by Troup through the windows of his prison.
Follow the road as it turns left beyond the castle. It is lined with meadowsweet, stinging nettles, broom, and Pyrenian lily. Rowan trees grow in the wet area. The road goes down the hill past Blackbutts.
Turn left as you reach the road towards Bridge of Muchalls. On the roadside to your left, grows tormentil with its four yellow petals. A red dye for colouring clothes can be extracted from its roots.
This road takes you past the early 18th century schoolhouse which was still in use until Newtonhill Primary was built in 1963. In 1959 it had a roll of 51 pupils and two teachers. The children would walk here from both Muchalls and Newtonhill.
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At the bottom of the hill you can still see the actual Bridge
of Muchalls, a single
arch bridge made of rubble with an empty panel space over the
keystone. It dates from
the early 13th century.
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| Facts |
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Walks around Muchalls and Newtonhill was Produced by the Wildlife Committee of the Newtonhill Allotment Association |
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