Now I am one of the most vocal opponents in the country regarding the covering of Scotland with ugly windfarms but one of the few benefits is that the construction of the Mid Hill Windfarm in Fetteresso Forest is that they did some serious work on the access roads.
The official access point to the forest for windfarm traffic is from the North but the route passes Cowie crossing at NO 76427 87376 which a number of challengers use for their last night's camp. At this point, instead of following the road North, cross the Cowie and follow the road South. This is still a very good track suitable for big logging trucks. There are a couple of steep bits on this road but presumably if you have crossed Scotland this far you won't struggle too much. The road eventually comes to a tee junction a couple of hundred metres away from the Quithel gate. NO 77306 85757. At this point you can either turn right and head down to the public road into Stonehaven past my gaff, or to avoid traffic as much as possible, turn left and then round to the right on the north bank of Annamuick Burn, follow the edge of the forest until you get to the eastern end. As you have already mentioned Elfhill I assume that is what you have already planned.
I wouldn't recommend coming out at Haugh Head NO 80638 88221. It will work but you are adding unnecessary miles to your route and will just end up walking along a quite dangerous bendy public road to get to a point which you could have got to more directly and pleasantly by staying in the forest.

Planning on the same finish myself. Thanks for the info Brian. I shall be getting the maps out tomorrow.

Hi Brain,

Thank you very much for that I think I will take you route and tweek it to go past Toucks Under the A90 at A92 join and Probably go past your front door. A wee fair bit of it is dependent on the day but I want to avoid going into Stonehaven and being tempted to finish there. I thought about finishing at the castle last year but thought as it is my first would just finish in montrose but the castle make a great finish.

I plan to camp in the forest west of Kerloch the night before I sure I will bump in to some walker if you wish to follow.

Cheers

Aaron

Aaron,
going through Touks will work, you can follow the route (apart from the underpass under the A90) on Google Streetview to see what is involved. Turn off at Tewel farm and cross the ford and over the railway line.
In terms of absolute distance it is probably the shortest route but means more tarmac. Having said that, we are talking pretty quiet roads, especially between Tewel and the A90.
There are often quite a few rucksacks going past here on the Wednesday. Certainly Dunnottar Castle is an impressive end point and once you have dipped your boots, if you fancy it, it is a very easy walk along the cliffs and down into Stonehaven for a celebratory pint or trip to the famous Bay Chipper and Aunt Betty's Ice-cream shop. You can catch an Express coach to Montrose from either Stoney or if you want to head straight to Montrose, just near the Castle or you can catch a train from Stonehaven.

Definitely worth going for fish and chips and then an ice cream. That is my plan!

http://thebayfishandchips.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/auntybettystonehaven/

There are other very good chippers and ice cream shops available (we are very lucky in Stoney on that front) but the Bay and AB are handily next to each other.
If you do get ice cream in AB, ask for all the toppings, you will be amazed, and if you have just walked all the way across Scotland you can forget about the calories.

Used to take the kids to the outdoor pool and then get an ice cream. They enjoyed the ice cream more than the pool as they didn't like the salt water!