| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Group contact: | |
| When: | Monthly on Tuesdays 3rd Tuesday of the month |
This new group is an opportunity to join other members for a leisurely walk in a local park and also to learn a bit more about the park and its history.
Tuesday, 18 August - this walk in the park will take place in Ellon. We will start opposite the New Inn in the centre of the town at 10.30 am. If travelling by car there is a carpark in the centre of the town beside the river Ythan (charges apply) or parking in the streets. Buses from Aberdeen take about 40 minutes from Union Square and they stop opposite the carpark near the New Inn. The Stagecoach X60 leaving at 9,32 arrives at 10.10 and the X67 leaving at 9.47 arrives at 10.25am.
There are several walks we can do round Ellon with the initial plan being to walk up the Ythan as far as the old railway bridge then down the opposite bank back to the carpark. Then we could go downstream and cross the bridge build for the new school and back along the road. Alternatively, we could cut up off the path just a short way downstream and visit the Ellon Castle Gardens. There is a charge of £5 for entry but worth a visit to see 700 year old yew trees and remains of castle. Depending on participants and time restraints there is also a walk up the old railway to the golf course in a circuit back to the centre of town. All options are open and final decisions on the day depending on what people prefer and weather etc.
There are several cafes in the centre as well as two hotels so there are numerous options for refreshments afterwards. Bearing in mind it is still summer also remember sun screen and water.
PLEASE NOTE – attendance at group activities is restricted to Aberdeen u3a members. For joining details, please see our membership page.
Recent walks
June 2026 - for this walk, the group went to Hazlehead Park for the first time. Fourteen walkers joined the walk - some for the first time. It was a lovely day and we met outside Hazlehead Academy. We circled round the back of the existing school so that we could see how much progress was being made on the new school building. Only groundworks so far. We then followed the path up to the top of the golf courses where there was a view across the city to Tullos and beyond. A couple of members shared interesting facts about the trees and vegetation we saw en route. On descending into the park we walked through the rose garden to the Piper Alpha memorial. Finally we retreated for coffee and lovely cakes from the cafe. Another enjoyable park walk.
May 2026 - this walk started from Seaton Park and continued up the Don to the Diamond Bridge and then over into the old Crombie Mill site to view the remaining buildings which are now converted into offices and flats. We viewed the old mill stream here and had a photo shot before walking round to the Mother Earth sculpture and back along the Don to recross the Diamond Bridge and head up to the Community Hub in Tillydrone for a very welcome hot drink. The weather was not very kind to us as it rained the entire walk but everyone was dressed for the weather and did not let it hamper our enjoyment.
April 2026 - the group completed a circuit from Persley Walled Garden down the north side of the Don and after crossing the Grandholm Bridge returning up the south side back to the carpark at the garden. The weather was beautiful and we explored the history of the area which had numerous mills in the past, including Crombie Mills which produced high quality cloth and employed over 3000 people at one point, as well as older mills producing cotton. We saw a few relics including old machinery, remnants of buildings and the canals which fed water from the Don to power the mills.
The Don was rich in wild life including mallards and a variety of wild flowers such as primroses and wood anemones beginning to blossom. After the walk the group had an interesting coffee break in a sand café.
March 2026 - this walk took place on a sunny but blustery morning. A group of 10 met at the beach front and walked to Footdee where we enjoyed exploring the quaint and interesting streets as some members had not been there before. We then proceeded down to the harbour mouth where a few were lucky enough to spot a curious seal before it dived out of sight. We looked at the new statue erected last year for North Sea divers then circled round past the small playpark and north pier before returning along the beach front for a welcome cuppa.
February 2026 - there were snow showers before we set off but it turned out a lovely sunny morning and we walked from Duthie Park along the Deeside Way as far as the Auchinyell Bridge then back along the riverside. Everyone enjoyed the walk. Afterwards we had a cuppa in the Duthie Park cafe and as it was Shrove Tuesday some were tempted by a pancake!
January 2026 - the group met at Seaton Park and walked along the edge of the park towards St Machar Cathedral and on past the Wallace Tower to see the new cafe there. They then sauntered down towards the Diamond Bridge and back along the Don to view the community hydro scheme.
Returning to the park they encountered a large area of flooding at the bottom of the walk up to the cathedral.
After we had looked at the historic bridge we continued downstream finishing in the Brig O'Don restaurant for a coffee and a good chat. We shared interesting facts about the park and surrounds including its previous use as a racecourse.
