For someone like me, who does not drive, it can be quite hard sometimes to get to places to hike or walk, especially during lockdown, when I can’t take public transport and I have to stay within the city. I have been missing hiking and travelling so much lately but luckily Aberdeen has so many beautiful places to go that do not require a car or public transport and you can really immerse yourself in nature. Within an hour’s walk or less, I found myself in some new places surrounded by nature and felt so relaxed and even forgot that I was still in a city. I usually take my own food with me as there are plenty of spots to sit down and enjoy a picnic. Plus the views are absolutely stunning!
Tollohill woods - 1 hour from Union Street
RGU, River Dee and Cults - 1 hour from Union Street
Old Aberdeen - 35 minutes from Union Street
Torry Battery - 40 minutes from Union Street
Kincorth Hill (The Gramps) - 1 hour from Union Street
1. Tollohill Wood
Across the river from the Robert Gordon University campus, Tollohill Wood is a great place to escape the city and enjoy peace and quiet. It’s about an hour’s walk from Union Street. You can get there by walking by the River Dee towards Bridge of Dee. Once you cross the bridge, turn right onto Leggart Terrace and continue walking for around 10 minutes until you see on the left side a sign that says “Farm shop” (I didn’t seem to find the street’s name). From here it’s uphill for around 15 minutes and then you’ll spot the wood entry.
There’s multiple paths that take you around and plenty of big rocks under the trees to sit on for lunch. You can also walk up to the monument located within the forest and from there you can see some amazing views of Aberdeen City.
2. RGU, River Dee and Cults
Depending on where you live, you can start this walk either from Union Square and walk down to the river from there or at the Robert Gordon University campus. I definitely recommend exploring the campus first as it is definitely one the most beautiful ones I’ve seen and it’s a great place to take photos.
No matter where you start from at the river, as long as you just follow the River Dee past the university, you will find yourself surrounded by trees, flowers, the river (obviously!), ducks (sometimes seals too), and then some beautiful fields. The whole trail is surrounded by nature and has some stunning river views.
You will also see a reservoir, and the old St. Devenick's Bridge, which is not accessible to walk on but still interesting to see. When you get to a golf course, just continue walking on the trail until the golf course ends and you see a field of cows and then turn right. You will end up in a little forest and will see signs that lead to the main road of a village called Cults. It has some super cute and pretty houses as well as shops and a pub.
You can either walk back from where you came from or walk through the village instead. Public transport is also available from there, with plenty of bus stops on the way.
3. Old Aberdeen
One of my favourite areas in Aberdeen. It’s about 35 minutes walk from Union Street and there’s so much to see.
Once I arrive in the area, I always start from walking around the cobbled streets and admiring all the pretty houses and buildings. The University of Aberdeen is absolutely stunning and it just feels like you are in Hogwarts. Make sure to also check out the Sir Duncan Rice Library as it has a very unique design. Some other places you will come across are the Powis Gate, King’s College, the Old Aberdeen Town House Museum, and Cruickshank Botanic Garden.
As you continue walking towards St. Machar’s Cathedral, you will arrive at Seaton park, one of the city’s largest parks.
The River Don runs through the edge of it and there’s so many different paths that you can take to explore this beautiful area. My favorite part is walking down the path that is parallel to the river and relaxing in the shade at the riverbank. All you can hear are the birds singing and the waters of the river. It’s just so peaceful and I’m always so surprised at how close to the centre it is, yet so quiet and no cars can be heard.
Then continue walking towards Brig o' Balgownie. You will see signs that point towards it. This is a beautiful 13th century arch bridge with cobblestones and is surrounded by the cutest and prettiest cottages. When standing on the bridge you get some stunning views of the River Don.
If you continue walking, you will go past more insta-worthy houses and then end up at The Bridge of Don, a five-arch granite bridge. From there you can spot seals and can either walk back to the centre or take a bus (plenty of buses go past) or you can continue your walk towards the Donmouth Nature Reserve (this can also be a separate walk/day out).
4. Torry Battery
This is about a 40 minute walk from Union Street and you can go any time of the day but I would definitely recommend going for sunset. When the dolphins jump out of the water, the golden light reflects off them and it’s one of the most beautiful scenes to witness.
I usually start about an hour before the sun is about to set so I can have time to walk there and have about 20 minutes to watch the dolphins and then enjoy the sunset and views.
To get there, you can walk down Market Street all the way to Victoria Bridge in Torry. Once you cross it, turn left onto Sinclair Road and continue walking onto Greyhope Road until you reach Torry Battery. I usually sit on a bench or on a concrete block overlooking the harbour and the lighthouse. I find that there’s a better view of the dolphins and the city skyline from higher up rather than down at the sandy bit.
Make sure to dress up warm because even on sunny warm days, it can get windy up there and it may be quite chilly.
5. Kincorth Hill Local Nature Reserve - The Gramps
Kincorth Hill or known locally as the Gramps, is a must for anyone living in Aberdeen. The views are incredible with different paths passing through grass as well as woodland. Part of the path is quite steep but most of it is flat and easy to walk on.
To get there, it’s about an hour’s walk from Union Street. You can walk by the river, down from Union Square, and then cross the bridge on Wellington Road. From there, continue on that road to Altens, and then you’ll find the hill in the Kincorth area.
I usually spend a couple of hours walking around and enjoying the views, and then I continue walking towards the Coastal Trail near Cove. From there I walk towards Torry Battery which takes a few hours. The coastal views on Aberdeen Coastal Trail (North Sea Trail) are incredible and it’s so worth the walk. From dramatic cliffs to cute cows and sheep, the walk back to Aberdeen is stunning. Once I get to Torry Battery, I usually stay for sunset and watch the dolphins. And then, I walk back to the centre. Or you can leave the coastal path and Torry for another day if you’re just looking for a short walk up Kincorth.
