Fochabers Circular, taking in the Earth Pillars and Jean Carr’s Stone.

This Tuesday walk is planned using local bus routes to get to the Start Point, however cars can meet up at the walk start point.

Bus 35 leaves Elgin Bus Station @ 09:45, arrives at Fochabers Square @ 10:10.

Those travelling by car, please make sure you are there in good time to get ready to meet the bus.

Circular walk going via Jean Carrs Stone and the Earth Pillars which has great views of the surrounding county side.

Mainly on good hard forest track with a short distance on narrow heather track.

The stone is a large conglomerate boulder left from the ice age I million years ago and has probably lain here more or less unnoticed until the arrival of Jean Carr in the 18th century.

The story goes, although only pieces remain, that a young girl named Jean Carr was, to quote a sentence from old records, “Fan she wis a lassie, she was chained in the hoose by her father, an fan he dee’t, Jean said there wis two prisoners relieved.”

After this she fled, took to the open road and led the life of a gypsy, becoming a familiar figure in the area between Banff and Fochabers.

She led this happy life under the stars until the birth of her child. The local authorities snatched the child and housed it for safety with the village nurse. In an attempt to recover the child Jean tore at the thatched roof of the nurse’s home, only to be arrested and put in jail. After this incident the child was never seen again and Jean, now childless took to helping herself to other people’s, becoming a known nuisance in the local towns. At night Jean would seek the shelter of the great rock.

Please contact Nick B 07541 841298 if you have any questions. Please leave a message remembering to leave your name and contact telephone number.

Please Note: The Start and Estimated Finish Time shown below can vary due to conditions on the day.