Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Bridge of Alvah – Duff House loop from Macduff

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Bridge of Alvah – Duff House loop from Macduff

Moderate

4.5

(11)

hikers

Bridge of Alvah – Duff House loop from Macduff

03:17

12.0km

180m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 6, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

6.10 km

Bridge of Alvah

Highlight • Gorge

This bridge, constructed in 1772 for the Earl of Fife, stands on a spectacular site, south of Banff, where the Deveron forces its way through a rocky gorge 27 ft wide. Although of modest span, the crown of its arch is 55 ft above river level. The bridge, with a large chamber in the west abutment and asymmetric form, has similarities to earlier military bridges. It now carries a local access road.

Tip by

8.29 km

Fife Mausoleum, Duff House

Highlight • Monument

Still in fairly good condition.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8.81 km

Duff House Ice House

Highlight • Historical Site

This is how food was stored three hundred years ago.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

9.59 km

Duff House

Highlight • Monument

Duff House was intended as the chief seat of William Duff, Lord Braco (later 1st Earl Fife). The astute businessman and politician wanted not only to succeed, but also to be seen to succeed.

Architect William Adam rose to the challenge by designing an ambitious baroque mansion. Work began in 1735, with elaborate carved details mostly produced in Adam’s own stoneworks in Queensferry.

Work stopped in 1741, long before the interior was finished. Copies of Adam’s original plans for the house hang in the study. These show the grand curved east and west wings that were never built.

A bitter five-year court case found in favour of Adam. But he died before he could recoup the debt owed to him. Lord Braco felt so let down by the result that he never slept a night in the house. It was left to his heirs to complete the work.

Tip by

9.97 km

Duff House Royal Golf Club

Highlight • Structure

Although golf is supposed to have been played in Banff for 400 years, it was only in May 1871 that organised golf was conceived when the then Banff Golf Club was formed at the Banff links. The Banff Golf Club continued in existence with varying degrees of success until 1924.

The Duff House Golf Club came into existence following a gift of land to the towns of Banff and Macduff by the then Duke of Fife following his concern at "the want of ground for golf and other recreational sports." The original course in its present location was laid out in 1909.

Tip by

10.7 km

View of the River Deveron Meeting the Moray Firth

Highlight • Beach

Stand on the bridge and look north to see the mouth of the river. Turn around and cross over the road for an equally outstanding view of the river flowing towards you.

Tip by

11.6 km

Macduff Cross and Ship's Anchor

Highlight • Monument

Category B listed granite cross incorporating small carved plaque at apex, inscribed narrow slabs as arms mounted on square tooled granite plinth. Carving on apex depicts a figure on horseback and bears the arms of the Earl of Fife. Dated 1783 but incorporating earlier fragments. The cross bears the inscription, on 2 panels one on either side: Macduff Cross. Rebuilt at Macduff by the Earl of Fife, 1783 when the town was constituted a Royal Burgh by George III. May it flourish, increase in number and opulence, ----- while it's inhabitants gain the blessing of life by industry, diligence and temperance." The words on the inscription are taken to refer to the fact that a stone was taken from the ancient Macduff Cross in Fife and built into the Macduff one, to form some sort of symbolic connection between the ancient and modern bearers of the name Macduff.

It's adjacent to a large fixed tine iron anchor with wooden crossbeam from a sailing ship.

Tip by

11.7 km

Macduff Parish Church

Highlight • Viewpoint

A tour of the cemetery reveals history. There is also a viewing point next to it.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

12.0 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.66 km

2.09 km

1.63 km

361 m

270 m

Surfaces

6.27 km

3.37 km

1.88 km

312 m

193 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (80 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Saturday 11 July

17°C

10°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Easy

4.7

Bow Fiddle Rock & Portknockie Coast loop

00:49h

2.99km

40m

Hard

Fort Fiddes & Aberdour Beach loop from Pennan

05:35h

19.3km

500m

Easy

Delgaty Castle & Wood loop from the castle car park

01:26h

5.33km

70m

Moderate

4.7

314

Bow Fiddle Rock – Bow Fiddle Rock loop from Portknockie

02:04h

7.78km

80m

Easy

4.8

261

Bow Fiddle Rock – Bow Fiddle Rock loop from Cullen

01:48h

6.76km

70m

Moderate

4.9

Gardenstown Harbour – Downie Bay Viewpoint loop from Gardenstown

02:55h

10.4km

220m

Hard

4.5

Bow Fiddle Rock – Bow Fiddle Rock loop from Rathven

05:13h

19.8km

180m

Moderate

4.7

Sunnyside Beach – Tony Hetherington Memorial loop from Sandend

02:55h

10.7km

160m

Moderate

4.9

Old Portsoy Harbour – View of Portsoy Coastline loop from Portsoy

02:36h

9.64km

120m

Moderate

4.5

Bridge of Alvah – Duff House loop from Macduff

03:17h

12.0km

180m

Moderate

4.8

Sunnyside Beach – Findlater Castle loop from Cullen

02:45h

10.00km

160m

Moderate

4.7

Bridge of Alvah – Temple of Venus loop from Banff

03:54h

14.3km

210m

Bridge of Alvah – Duff House loop from Macduff

Bridge of Alvah

Fife Mausoleum, Duff House

Duff House Ice House

Duff House

Duff House Royal Golf Club

View of the River Deveron Meeting the Moray Firth

Macduff Cross and Ship's Anchor

Macduff Parish Church

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️