Discover Strathdon

Strathdon lies at the confluence of the waters of the Nochty and the River Don. The Don winds through Strathdon and is fed by the waters of the surrounding valleys.

River scenery and wildlife watching

The landscape ranges from low-lying fertile farmland to woodland, rugged moorland and hills. Dippers, otters and visiting ospreys are often spotted along the rivers. This brings together two different perspectives: changing landscapes and wildlife watching by the water. The animals mentioned form a distinct nature theme alongside the views of farmland, woodland and hills. If landscape and nature are a particular focus when deciding where to travel, these features offer specific clues to the character of the place.

Walking trails with different highlights

Six walking trails ranging from one to four miles give you a specific distance range for comparing routes. Descriptions of individual trails also highlight different landscapes and destinations. The walk up Ben Newe passes through woodland to open hill country and continues to a rocky summit with a medieval well and a trig point. The Bunzeach Trail is a woodland path around Tom a’ Charraigh, with views across Strathdon. The varied Roughpark Path leads from Bellabeg to Roughpark. By comparison, Ben Newe represents a route to the summit and its distinctive features, Bunzeach offers woodland and views, and Roughpark is a route between two named places. This lets you consider distance, landscape and destination as different criteria.

A bridge and a castle as historic landmarks

Poldullie Bridge is a fine single-span bridge with a semicircular arch over the River Don, dating from 1715. Glenbuchat Castle was built in the late 16th century to a Z-shaped plan. The bridge’s single arch and its shape are the main features of the bridge, while the castle’s Z-shaped plan is its defining feature. The two structures thus offer different architectural points of reference: a bridge over the river and a castle with a distinctive layout. They also differ in age: the bridge is dated to 1715, while the castle dates from the late 16th century.

Bellabeg and the Lonach Gathering & Games

Bellabeg features in two different contexts: the Roughpark Path leads from there to Roughpark, and the Lonach Gathering & Games takes place in the village of Bellabeg in Strathdon, on the A944. Bellabeg is therefore both a landmark for a walking trail and the event’s location. If the Gathering & Games is the reason for your trip, check the event dates before making plans.

Discover more destinations: St Cyrus, Lumphanan, Tarves, Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Fordyce, New Deer, Monymusk

For the wider travel overview: Aberdeenshire.