Strathdon offers visitors several ways to experience the area: its river landscape, walking trails and historic buildings. Its location at the confluence of the Nochty and the River Don is particularly notable.

Rivers and landscape

The River Don winds through Strathdon and is fed by the waters of the surrounding valleys. The landscape ranges from low-lying fertile farmland to woodland, rough moorland and hills. Dippers, otters and visiting ospreys are often spotted along the rivers; wildlife sightings naturally vary. The river is therefore both part of the landscape and a reference point for wildlife watching. Visitors interested in nature can take in the changing terrain as well as the wildlife along the water.

Walking trails and their different destinations

The six walking trails range in length from one to four miles. They also differ in the landscapes and destinations described. The walk up Ben Newe passes through woodland to open hill country and a rocky summit. There you will find a medieval well and a trig point. The well adds a historical touch, while the trig point is a surveying marker; both are located at the summit. The walk therefore combines changing scenery with two distinct features at its destination.

The Bunzeach Trail is a woodland path around Tom a’ Charraigh, offering views over Strathdon. The Roughpark Path is a varied route from Bellabeg to Roughpark. By comparison, Ben Newe is chiefly about the summit scenery, the Bunzeach Trail about woodland and its views, and the Roughpark Path about the route between Bellabeg and Roughpark. This makes it possible to distinguish the trails by their scenery, views or destination.

Castle and bridge

Glenbuchat Castle was built in the late 16th century to a Z-shaped plan. Poldullie Bridge is an attractive single-arched bridge with a semicircular arch over the River Don, dating from 1715. The two structures offer different architectural points of reference: for the castle, the Z describes the layout as seen from above; for the bridge, the semicircular arch draws attention to its single span. This makes it possible to compare a castle’s floor plan with the shape of a bridge arch. The dates also offer different historical reference points: the late 16th century and 1715. Both the architectural forms and their dates are therefore informative for an architectural comparison.

The Lonach Gathering & Games in Bellabeg

The Lonach Gathering & Games takes place in the village of Bellabeg in Strathdon, on the A944. If you are planning your trip around this event, check the date in advance for your intended travel period.

Discover more destinations: Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Port Elphinstone, Kemnay, Aboyne, New Deer, Fordyce, Logie

For the broader travel overview: Aberdeenshire.