ROUTE 2 FOREST OF DEER CIRCULAR (21 miles) Easy to Moderate Start at the public car park next to the playing field and the "HappyPlant Garden Centre" The car park is just north of the Mintlaw roundabout on the Fraserburgh road. Starting from the car park rum right on to the main road towards Fraserburgh (take care crossing the road). Turn left down the Beech avenue (signposted "Dunshillock") past the farm on the right and at the crossroads rum right towards "Fetterangus". Keep on this winding road for just over a mile to the junction signed - "Den o' Howie". Turn first left, following this sign, and continue up the road for 0.5 mile. Turn left into the Drinnies Wood car park and go through into the wood itself. Follow the track with the observatory on the right and at the next junction turn right. Continue straight across the crossroads and bear left at the Y junction. Follow the track past the fields on the left, up a slight rise, back into the moods and through To the gate at the end of the forest. Go through the gate and past the cottage. On reaching the tarred road turn right towards Mormond Hill and the communications masts. Pass the White Cow Woods on the left (this has more offroad cycle routes) and Skillymarno Farm on the right. Continue along the road to Strichen. At the junction with the main road turn right past the entrance to the Community Park and then left before the bridge across the river. Follow this road for 0.5 mile then turn first left Oust after small plantation on the left). Continue along a long straight with a gradual climb and then through sharp left and right hand bends. Keep on the road past Grassiehill Farm and downhill through more bends to the A950. Cross straight over the crossroads (signposted "Waulkmill Fishery") and follow this road for 2.5 miles passing signs for "Waulkmill Fishery" and "New Byth/Cuminestowri" on your right. The road bears sharp left through a farm and 0.5 mile later reaches the A98 1. Cross straight over this road, past the policies for Brucklay Castle and follow the road through to Maud. In Maud cross straight over the crossroads, past the mart, and at the next junction turn left down the main road to the square. Turn right out of the square following the signs for Old Deer and the Hospital and continue around the right and left-hand bends. Join the Formartine and Buchan Way, following the sign to Mintlaw Oust around the corner from the Strichen and Auchnagatt signs) and remain on this route back to Mintlaw. Cross over the A950 (take care) to rejoin the Way and 1.5 miles later leave the route at the Mintlaw to Fraserburgh road next to the "Happy Plant Garden Centre".