WHAT a lovely April we have had -dry and sunny, cool (very cool if in the shade) but such a treat for all walking groups. Some days were as bonny, if not bonnier, than in the summer. Long may it last.

The Dee-ciders have had good walks lately. One in particular was new to me and that was the walk from Glentanar. You don't have to be a hill-walker for this one as I am sure most folk would manage. It is the Wilcebe Road and Rob Smith in his Twenty-five Walks of Deeside' sums it up perfectly. This walk is all about finding the 'Seven Wells' - a super family day out with the kids, like a miniature treasure hunt. Go through the car park and, beside a water trough, there's the first well, which bears the inscription 'Ceud mile failte' - as all Aberdonians will know means 'A hundred thousand welcomes'. What an inspiring start. All the wells have the initials WCB from the name of eccentric 19th century laird, William Cuncliffe Brooks - 'Wilcebe' and an inscription on every well, some blunt, some humorous.

Find a narrow path with a sign pointing to 'Juniper Viewpoint',

where one can see down the glen. Retrace your steps to the main path, go past Belrorie House and you    are    on    the 'Wilcebe Road'.   By this time you will have found four wells -keep your eyes open for granite ones with inscriptions and initials.

Well 5 is just at Dinnet Bridge (across the river) but continue along the B976 and you have a magnificent view of Dinnet. Further along this road you will come to Well 7 then it's back to the Wilcebe Road, which leads to the car park.

What a man this William Cuncliffe Brooks must have been. Obviously he had plenty of money to employ craftsmen to carry out his whims. His initials are seemingly all over the estate - on seats, walls and stones. A real treasure hunt of a day for any kids but do they want to do that these days? We, the Dee-ciders, are still the kids of yesteryear.

Jean Duff