Rathen to Memsie;a circuit with 6 bridges

Grey Granite noticed a track marked 'footpath' opposite Fordafourie on the Muir Road between Memsie and Rathen, at the time the track looked very muddy so we decided to save exploration for a frosty day. This morning was crisp, cold, windless and bright, the perfect morning for walk. The track leads across open fields from the Muir Road to Mill Farm, Rathen. At the farm there is a steep descent down to the  Aucheries Burn which is crossed at the Brig o' Craigengorie. This was the first of six bridges on our walk which took us over the Gairn Burn, Aucheries Burn, the Water of Philorth and their minor tributaries. We followed a tarred lane, edged with iced over runnels and fringed with vegetation dusted in white frost. Much of the walk was over low lying countryside, it is remarkable how many more hedges and bushes there are here than just a few miles away on the more exposed land nearer the coast.

The picturesque Brig o' Craigengorie.

The bridge has a deep arch, Grey Granite was surprised that it does not seem to be a 'listed building'.

The bridge is situated in a hollow below St Oyne's Hill, the minor road to Aucheries, which we walked along has steep banks and climbs the side of the hill. There are hedges of hawthorn, the occasional ash tree, gorse and broom bushes. The gorse was, of course, in flower and we even noticed a few flowers on the broom. Flocks of small birds, mainly chaffinches were flitting about the bushes.

Rathen Church seen from the Brig o' Craigengorie

Our walk took us past the entrance to the House of  Aucheries  which, unfortunately is hidden by trees. Aucheries, then the home of John Master of Pitsligo, was a favourite place of refuge for Lord Pitsligo during the years after Culloden. Lord Pitsligo died there on 21st December 1762, aged 85. Lord Pitsligo spent the years after Culloden as a fugitive hiding in various locations throughout the area, often disguised as 'Sandy Brown', a beggar. His tennants showed great loyalty to him, risking their own lives and resisting the reward of £4,000 so that he was able to evade capture.

House of Memsie, seen from the entrance to the House of Aucheries

The House of Memsie dates from 1760, there are pavillions at each side, that on the west is a laundry, on the east are stables and a coach house. The central bay has a curvilinear-gabled chimney which reminded Grey Granite of the canal side buildings seen in Amsterdam.



Memsie Round Cairn

The gigantic Memsie Round Cairn dates from about 1700 BC and is the largest, but least distinguished looking, of the prehistoric features of Buchan. But for the Historic Scotland notice board informing the reader that there were once 3 cairns in the area it could easily be mistaken for the spoils of field clearance.

This pleasant circuit took us from Rathen to Memsie along quiet, sheltered  lanes, but since the last mile is along the relatively busy Muir Road, is probably best reserved for Sundays.