Birse

Settlement in Aberdeenshire

Scotland

Birse

Birse is a small village located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Situated in the picturesque countryside, it is nestled within the stunning landscape of the Cairngorms National Park. The village is approximately 30 miles west of Aberdeen, making it easily accessible for both locals and tourists.

Birse is known for its rich history and charming rural atmosphere. The village is home to a small population, with a close-knit community that takes pride in its heritage. The surrounding area offers breathtaking views of rolling hills, lush green fields, and the meandering River Dee.

The village is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a range of activities such as hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. The nearby Birse Castle Estate offers beautiful walking trails where visitors can explore ancient woodlands and spot wildlife, including red squirrels and various bird species.

Birse also boasts several historical landmarks, including the 16th-century Birse Kirk, a traditional Scottish church. The village is steeped in folklore and legends, with stories of ancient standing stones and hidden treasures adding to its allure.

Although Birse is a small village, it offers essential amenities such as a local shop and a pub, providing a warm welcome to visitors. The village hosts various events throughout the year, including an annual Highland Games, where locals and tourists can experience traditional Scottish culture and sports.

Overall, Birse is a hidden gem in Aberdeenshire, offering a tranquil retreat for those seeking natural beauty, historical sites, and a sense of community.

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Birse Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.06183/-2.731592 or Grid Reference NO5596. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Bell Wood bike park

Ralph Greig

Digger's shelter

Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches

Ralph Greig

Pig ark, Haugh

A haugh south of the Dee.

Richard Webb

Log piles, Balfour Forest

Thinning in progress.

Richard Webb

Thinning, Balfour Forest

A community woodland. There are few old trees here, the area was nearly clear felled completely in the two big twentieth century wars - there was a Canadian work camp nearby in World War II. The few trees which survived the war were taken out by the great gale of 1953. The forest is now restored.

Richard Webb

Kittling Wood

The forest at Balfour, now restored after complete destruction by wartime logging camps and the gale of 1953. The track leads to a field, but there is a fine bit of singletrack continuing into the woods.

Richard Webb

Woodland, Balfour

Richard Webb

Field, Balfour

Between the house and forest. Black Hill in the background, like most woodland here was stripped of trees by wartime lumber camps and the 1953 gale.

Richard Webb

The Bimble

Single track in the very runnable Balfour Forest.

Richard Webb

Balfour Forest

Singletrack, nicknamed The Bimble through very open woodland. It is a lovely easy run on the bike.

Richard Webb

Old dyke, Balfour

Between Ballogie and Balfour in pine woods. The woodland was felled by wartime lumber camps and the notorious 1953 gale, but is now well established and thriving again.

Richard Webb

Balfour Forest

I am glad that I had the orienteering map with me, as this old, well established track is omitted from the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map. It climbs up to the south of Brown Hill, joining the road network in the former Forestry Commission woodland there.

Richard Webb

Path in Balfour Forest

While not shown on the current 1:25,000 map, this is a long established route shown on older maps and still exists on the ground. In places there are parallel gullies suggesting that this once a busy route used over a long period of time.

Richard Webb

Whitehill Wood

Eastern side of Balfour Forest, above the Canadian Road.

Richard Webb

The Canadian Road

Named after the World War II lumberjacks who felled almost everything that survived World War I. Any remaining trees in Balfour Forest were finished off by the gale of January 1953. (The one which killed thousands around the North Sea).

Richard Webb

The Canadian Road

Richard Webb

Whitehill Wood

A beautiful runnable forest, restored after destruction in the mid 20th century. It was felled in both wars and the remnants finished off by the disastrous storm of 1953.

Richard Webb

Quarry, Achnafoy

The Canadian Road ends here in a grassed over quarry. There is a gate at the far side which leads to a disused road in the forest. From here a path leads down to the Balfour to Kinminity road. Goes a treat on a bike, lovely singletrack.

Richard Webb

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Birse is located at Grid Ref: NO5596 (Lat: 57.06183, Lng: -2.731592)

Unitary Authority: Aberdeenshire

Police Authority: North East