When I was a student I would take time for myself between studying so that I had time to relax and unwind from the stress of it all. My favourite thing to do was go for a long walk, with friends or family and of course my little dog Lucy. On today’s post I am sharing the best walks in Aberdeenshire, hoping to offer some inspiration to you!
Depending on where you live in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire, there are places you can go for a quiet afternoon stroll. Up my way (Buchan area) there are some lovely remote places I like to go to, and at the end of my walk, I love going for a coffee and a cake. Here are my top 3 places to go in Aberdeenshire:
Aden Park, Mintlaw
My number one place is Aden Park. It has so many fun things to go all year round! You can go camping, feed the ducks at the pond, go to the landscape gardens, have a barbeque, take your dog to the agility park, visit the agricultural museum, see musical performances, take a look round their shop and café and most importantly visit the fairy garden. I usually take a walk around the peaceful scenic forest with Lucy; you may come across various fairy houses during your walk, which makes it even more magical. Sometimes you might come across wildlife animals like deer, ducks and squirrels. Just make sure you’ve got your dog on the lead so that you don’t disturb them. After my walk I usually head straight for the café where I can get a coffee and a delicious home bake.
Pitfour Lake
This beautiful lake is the perfect destination for a nice walk! I love walking round the lake, taking in the atmosphere, watching the swans and the ducks swim around peacefully. The lake is connected to Aden Park so if you fancied a longer walk you could keep walking and that means you can visit both places. At the end of your walk, you can head over to the Saplinbrae for a lovely pot of coffee to warm you up! The staff are always so friendly and there is almost always a space left beside the fireplace.
The Railway Line
If you are ever up for a long walk one day I suggest you walk the railway line. It has various routes and runs from Dyce to Peterhead. You can stop at various places depending on how long you want to walk. The route goes as follows : Dyce – Udny Station – Ellon – Auchnagatt – Maud – Longside – Peterhead. Seem like a long way and it is, but there are cafes and transport at each destination to take you back or rest.
I usually walk from Peterhead to Mintlaw and stop off at the Country Park Inn for some lunch before heading home. It is a long walk but you see so much of the countryside and depending on the weather it can be a glorious walk!
So those are my three favourite places to go but you might not be able to reach them, there are however places nearer the city that you can visit for a walk.
Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle is surrounded with beautiful gardens and is a great place to go for a walk with friends. Nature spotters will be delighted as there is an array of wildlife going around. Take a walk around and take in the beautiful scenery.
Lock Muick
A gloriously scenic freshwater loch situated in the Balmoral Estate. If you are a fan of photography, take your camera, you will be capturing lots of beautiful pictures here. You can spot Red Deer and other wildlife dotted around the loch.
Aberdeen Beach to Footdee
Aberdeen Beach is most famous for its golden sand and is a very popular destination for walkers, surfers and windsurfers. You can walk end to end from the harbour to River Don, there is also a lovely little village called Footdee (pronounced Fittie) which is a famous tourist spot. You will often see dogs running around enjoying the beach or people just sat on the benches watching the waves. It’s a really nice place to go for a romantic walk. If the weather is colder you can always shelter in one of the lovely cafés they have along the beach front for a coffee and some cake.
Bennachie
If you fancy a bit of trek and like exploring then you will love Bennachie! There are several levels for you to take so you don’t have to go straight to the top. The scenery is beautiful and there is always plenty of wildlife going about. Make sure to take a flask of coffee or tea and something to snack on as it could be a while if your final destination is the ‘Mither Tap’.
So there you have it! Hopefully, some of you will get to visit these places! It is the perfect excuse to clear your head from any uni stress!
Katie
Related Blogs: My top things to do in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire!
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