Route Summary
A gentle stroll that mixes town, and seaside, woodland and park, to create a hugely stimulating all-round experience. At every turn on the trail, history rubs shoulders with the natural environment in a uniquely pleasant and memorable way.
Duration: 2.5 hours.
Route Overview
Duration: 2.5 hours.
Transport/Parking: First city buses and Stagecoach country buses stop near to Old Aberdeen. Free public car-park at start/finish of walk.
Length: 8.35 km / 5.19 mi. Height Gain/Loss: 104 meter.
Max Height: 23 meter. Min Height: 2 meter.
Surface: Moderate. A mix of tarred pavements , hard-surfaced and sandy paths. The circuit is suitable for off-road mobility scooters, but only with diversions at various points. See guidance at Waypoints 6, 11, 14, and 17 [in red].
Difficulty: Easy.
Child Friendly: Yes, if children are used to walks of this distance.
Dog Friendly: Yes, but keep dogs on lead on public roads.
Refreshments: Cafe/takeaway snack options in the Old Aberdeen area.
Description
This is a very varied and interesting urban and seaside walk which enjoys a wide range of visual perspectives, architectural periods and styles, and natural environments. The route takes in notable features in the deservedly award-winning Seaton Park, and provides a taster for some of the main highlights in the historic centre of Old Aberdeen and its ancient university, including St Machar’s Cathedral, the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, the Old Town House, and King’s College. In a change of scene, the mid-part of the walk heads over the King’s Links golf course, possibly the oldest course in Scotland, to the grand sweep of Aberdeen Beach, before meandering through a section of the Donmouth Local Nature Reserve at the mouth of the River Don. On the return leg, after a riverbank section, our route then crosses the impressive arch of the Brig of Balgownie, perhaps the oldest bridge in Scotland, before returning to Seaton Park on a woodland path high above the gorge of the river. On an historical note: “The area known as Old Aberdeen is a hidden wee gem – uniquely in Scotland, you can visit a medieval cathedral, a late medieval bridge, a 15th century college, and the fifth oldest university in the world, all in this one spot! Old Aberdeen is one of the oldest parts of the city and was originally an independent town from Aberdeen from 1499 to 1891, and it retains a wonderful sense of history and place. There is an intriguing mix of architecture and street planning, ranging from medieval to fine examples of Georgian and Victorian buildings.” Thanks to: Aberdeen City: Old Aberdeen Trail: https://bit.ly/3Fjw7EL See also: https://visit.oldaberdeen.org.uk/
Links:
Photos from walk
Download Route Guide (PDF with illustrated Waypoints)
Download GPX file (GPS Exchange Format)
Access Walk on OutdoorActive
Access Walk on OSMaps
Access Walk on Alltrails
Access Walk on Wikiloc
The Mack Walks 