Newmachar combines a distinctive long-distance trail with golf, local history and an unusual literary detail. The village lies on the Formartine and Buchan Way, a route along a former railway line. Anyone interested in walking or cycling will find a clear starting point here; the golf club and the Parish Church add other local themes. Birdwatching is another regional offering in Aberdeenshire.

On the Formartine and Buchan Way

The Formartine and Buchan Way is 53 miles long and follows a former railway line through Aberdeenshire. Newmachar lies on this route. The total length refers to the entire trail, not just the section near the village. The trail is suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders of all abilities, and is described as safe. This makes it relevant to different ways of getting around, without limiting the route to any one of them.

Eleven Corten steel signs mark the route along the way. Each bears a line from the specially commissioned poem “Fit Wye”, written in Doric. The award-winning local author Shane Strachan wrote the poem. The lines bring a distinctive linguistic touch to the trail markers: alongside the former railway line, you will also encounter a contemporary piece of local culture.

Two golf courses with distinct characters

The Newmachar Golf Club lies south of Newmachar. It has two mature 18-hole courses: the Hawkshill Championship Course and the Swailend Course. Both were designed by Dave Thomas. The courses have different styles: Hawkshill is a heathland course, while Swailend is a parkland course. If you are considering making golf a focus of your stay, you can compare these two clearly named options rather than viewing the club as one single, uniform offering.

The driving range has a specific feature, too: every bay is equipped with Trackman technology to track ball flight. The club is also associated with Paul Lawrie’s victory at the 1999 Open. Lawrie played there during that victory. This sporting connection adds a historical reference to the information about the courses, without conflating the two.

A church at the highest point of the village

Newmachar Parish Church is a striking landmark at the highest point of the village. It lies ten miles north of Aberdeen and a short distance east of the A947 Aberdeen–Banff Road. This makes its location easy to pinpoint, without suggesting that the road runs through the village centre. The church is a clear reference point for getting a sense of Newmachar’s character, alongside the trail and golf club.

Birdwatching in Aberdeenshire

For birdwatching in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire Bird Tours offers a range of regional experiences: from birdwatching in a local park to multi-day tours through several different habitat types. Custom birdwatching tours are also available. Between April and July, the provider can arrange puffin tours. If such a tour is important to your trip, check suitable dates in advance.

For the wider travel guide: Aberdeenshire.