Dufftown – The Viking Trail

First sections good, but becoming rough. Climb of approximately 1,000 feet onto exposed hillside. When crossing golf course, remember always to give way to golfers when they are playing and beware flying golf balls

Users: Suitable for fit, confident walkers well-equipped for inclement weather only.

The first part of the Viking Trail can be done as a circular walk from the Clocktower in Dufftown Square (c. 5 miles). From the Clocktower follow the Glenrinnes Way sign up Conval Street and continue on the new footpath on the left hand side of the B9009.

After walking for about 1 mile, cross the road to join a track opposite. Follow this past a track on the right (which could take you back to link in with Conval Street) and round the z bends. Continue past a gate on the left and a bench on the right to a gate across the track. Use the pedestrian gate to get through to the golf course. Taking care only to proceed when golfers are not playing, follow a steeper, gravelled track to the 9th green, bearing right when the track forks at the end of the gravelled section.

Follow the outside of the Golf Course round in a sweep down to a small bridge which crosses a deep ditch and continue to a seat at the 9th Tee.

Follow a small track on the left side of the seat uphill thorough the rough grass, making for the corner of the boundary fence visible
above (pretty rough here for 200yds). Go through the fence at the corner, picking up the narrow (often muddy) path to the trig
point at the top on Little Conval. From the summit there are extensive views, including the hills of Sutherland and Caithness across
the Moray Firth to the North.

Bear left from here walking round the rim of the small plateau and note the remains of the Danish camp established by the Vikings after
defeating the Scots in 1009 AD and where they remained for a year until the Battle of Mortlach in 1010 when they were defeated. This is an excellent vantage point: the views of Dufftown are spectacular. Continue round the rim clockwise until the path going down is picked up on the opposite side to the approach. *

Follow this path steeply downhill between Little Conval and Meikle Conval and turn left at the bottom to return to Dufftown, picking up a well-made vehicle track. Take the track on the right through Home Farm and down to the left to reach B9009 road. Cross the road and turn left and walk for a short distance to the junction with Burn Brae where you can continue straight on to Dufftown or turn right down Burn Brae, a quiet vehicular road signposted as part of the Glenrinnes Way. Please take extra care on the road. Continue on this road, bearing left to the Kirkton of Mortlach. From here a return to the Clocktower can be made via Church Street or linked into other walks.

*The longer route is intended to follow that which the Vikings may have taken from Carron, but could be done in reverse from the base of Little Conval: turning right after the descent between Little Conval and Meikle Conval, continue until a junction (about 1 mile). Bear left, then right to Daugh of Edinvillie. From here continue straight to Birkenbush and at the junction cross right over a small bridge and immediately left down a narrow track beside Aberlour Burn, continuing past the Linn to Aberlour. If preferred continue to Speyside Way and on to Carron where the Vikings landed their longboats.

There is also a route via Burnside of Allachie on a new section of forestry track with good views to the Cairngorms.