Aberdeen Off the Beaten Path Tips by mrjemm

Just by the Bridge of Don/Brig'O Balgownie, at the end of King Street is a small wooded path around the river mouth. It is a pretty little excursion, but best of all is at low tide when seals are regularly basking on the bank.

Update! Saw a deer here this weekend too, and then driving along the coast nearby to Stonehaven, saw lots dolphins, including one repeatedly broaching.

Further update (pending a travelogue): Saw 3 deer stuck on a little island here on way to work last night! And at weekend, after taking more seal pics, an old man came up to me and said he'd thought he'd seen a body, and was going down to look- lo & behold- next day I'm told there had been one!!!

Another update: Sharks! OK, not here, but not far away- I've seen Porbeagles whilst offshore, but apparently Whites have been seen off Scotland now; see website below.

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Website: http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/22155.html

At the entrance to the River Dee and Aberdeen Harbour are two very different places to relax over a drink and maybe eats.
On the Aberdeen side, in the village known as Footdee (apparently pronounced "Fittee"), is the fancy fish restaurant called "Silver Darlings", but this is horrendously expensive, although it looks great. Over the river though in Torry, which is by reputation a rather less salubrious area, is a pub at the end of the docks called "Campbells". It has some benches outside which are great for vegging out with a Guinness (or Coke, whatever) after a cycle ride around the headland. Apparently the harbour mouth here is also a good spot for seeing dolphins, but I haven't been so lucky (here) yet, although I have been shown photos.

Watching the movements of the offshore boats and fishing vessels is interesting to me, but not everyone's taste.

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Having lived in the North end of town for about a month I wandered around a fair bit and often walked past Seaton Park. No idea why, but I never ventured in until this weekend. What I missed is surprising. The main body of the park is very pleasant with large open green areas, seperate flower beds and a decent play area for children. However what made it for me was discovering at the far side a path along the River Don, heading both directions, who knows how far. It is very pretty, very green and there are plenty of quiet spots to escape and relax even on busy days.

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As you'll see anywhere, Aberdeen's got a good beach, despite the cold's influence. However, just a few miles up the coast is Balmedie. This little village is nothing special in itself, in fact it's a quite ugly modern development mostly, but get past the housing and down to the sea and you'll find that the beach is great.

There is a decent car-park (pay & display- 50p) and then some nice dunes to walk through.

Once on the beach there's miles of sand and it's popular with Kite-surfers, so something to watch too.

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