I spent a good while looking for it!
Take the road out of Mintlaw heading for NewPitsligo..after a series of bends and about 2 miles past deer abbey you will find a road to Strichen on the right. Take that road. a Cottage called 'Auchmachar Lodge' will soon appear on the right, with a white farmhouse opposite and on top of a small hill.. turn in just before the cottage and park at the gate leading into the forest behind it. stride up the track walking straight past the two tracks to the right and left that will soon appear. the track will bend round to the left, when Drinnies Wood Observatory comes into view, you are close. a well worn track on the right will emerge. pay no attention. keep going. as the trees on your right peeter out into fields of smaller trees you will see a track on your right apparently leading around the edge of them. stop right there!. look opposite. two vaguely discernable tracks leading uphill should be visible. take the first one, not the more well worn looking one with the line of small stones where it meets the main track, but the OTHER ONE, the less worn looking one. follow it for not far until you cannot see the main track anymore. keep your eyes open, there should be a very subtle wee path through the trees on your left. follow it up the hill and you will be at the circle. just take care, and if possible do not visit it alone. this circle has stood for 4000 years, hence it commands at least a little respect.
just please bear that in mind. There are actually two ways to reach the circle, as you will see if you download my map below. however, route 2 is not to be recommended in damp ground conditions, and care should still be taken on route one once leaving the main track after seeing the observatory. note that the main stone weighs an estimated 12 tons (although I'd dispute that myself) and the stones are set on a slightly raised bank with a burial pit in the center.
