Chapel of Garioch between Bennachie and Cultural Heritage

Chapel of Garioch combines the landscape of Bennachie with impressive traces of Scottish history. The village lies at an elevated position on the ridge of a range of hills forming the foothills of Bennachie. This makes it possible to plan a trip that combines nature experiences, short walks and explorations of cultural history.

Bennachie: Trails for Different Types of Days

The Bennachie Visitor Centre is located in Chapel of Garioch and serves as a starting point for exploring the Bennachie forest and hill range. From there, a trail leads to the rocky granite summit of Mither Tap. The summit is home to a Pictish fortification and offers impressive views. Those who prefer a quieter day can choose a gentle walk through the forest.

Another option is an easy-to-walk trail through open woodland. Along the way, it passes the ruins of houses and fields belonging to the Bennachie colonists. This allows the landscape and settlement history to be experienced together, without requiring every traveller to choose the same type of outing. For families with different interests, this balance between summit, forest and historical traces can be precisely what makes the area appealing.

Castles, Churches and Stone Monuments

The remains of Balquhain Castle lie in the vicinity of Chapel of Garioch. Parts of a square, battlemented tower house have survived; it probably originally dates from the 15th century. Balquhain Castle is also associated with an event from 1562: Mary Queen of Scots spent the night there before the Battle of Corrichie.

The Chapel of Garioch Parish Church also features distinctive architectural details. It is made of roughly dressed red granite ashlar and has original Gothic glazing with wooden tracery. The Maiden Stone is also located nearby. Its south side is covered with intricate ornamentation, while the north side features paired Stafford knots.

Mains of Balquhain and the Landscape Around the Village

The remains of a recumbent stone circle measuring approximately 21 m in diameter are located at Mains of Balquhain. It probably originally consisted of 12, or possibly 14, stones. Nine remain today, five of which are still standing. The stone circle also includes a 3.1 m-high white quartz monolith.

At Balquhain Castle, upright walls and earthworks have survived on a paddock and pasture area at an elevation of approximately 95 to 100 m above sea level. These sites give a stay in Chapel of Garioch a special historical depth: alongside the expansive landscape, tangible evidence from different periods takes centre stage.

Chapel of Garioch as a Base for Accommodation

If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, Chapel of Garioch may be an interesting base if you would like to combine days of walking and exploring the forest with cultural monuments. The Bennachie Centre can be reached from Chapel of Garioch via the signposted road after approximately 2 miles (3.2 km). For planning purposes, the key factor is therefore the desired mix of outings and quiet days: Mither Tap appeals to those seeking active pursuits, while woodland trails, the church, castle ruins and the stone circle offer different focuses.

Those who do not want to limit their accommodation search to Chapel of Garioch can also include other places in their personal selection. Possible additional search terms include Banff, Aberchirder, Monymusk, Pitmedden, Insch, Lumphanan, St Cyrus and Mintlaw.

For the broader travel overview: Aberdeenshire.