6k Run Hillside: Scenic Craigo Estate and March Bank Wood Loop

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 5.7km loop offers a refreshing escape through the scenic outskirts of Hillside, Scotland, blending paved road sections with the natural beauty of the Craigo Estate. With a manageable 70m of ascent, the route provides a gentle "hilly" challenge that keeps your heart rate up without being overly taxing, making it ideal for a steady tempo run or a vigorous morning jog. Runners will transition from the village streets out toward the serene March Bank Wood, where the terrain softens and the air is filled with the scent of Scots pine and damp earth, offering a tactile running experience through one of the area's most peaceful woodland sections.

Hillside itself is steeped in local charm, serving as a quiet gateway to the historic Craigo Estate, which has long been a focal point of the landscape north of Montrose. As you navigate the loop around March Bank Wood, you are running through a pocket of Angus history; the estate grounds once played a vital role in the local agricultural and flax-spinning heritage that defined this region in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the area is a sanctuary for local wildlife, and observant runners might spot red squirrels or roe deer darting through the undergrowth, providing a truly immersive Highland-edge running experience.