The City of Aberdeen and its neighbouring coast and inland countryside boasts a vast array of walking opportunities, including many less visited gems. The city itself reveals a different aspect when explored on foot, leaving time to examine buildings and sculptures usually hurried past.
With so much of the county facing the North Sea, the coast provides a handsome selection of routes taking in sandy dunes, rugged cliffs and natural arches, ruined castles and endless wildlife-watching spots. Inland, the fertile rolling farmland provides a gentle introduction to the foothills of the Cairngorms where heather moorland and rocky granite tors provide spectacular views over the whole county.
This guide features 40 shorter walks exploring the city, market towns, coastal villages, woods, cliffs and moors which make this area so diverse and rewarding for the walker.
Aberdeen
Granite City - 3.25 km
Footdee and the Aberdeen Harbour - 4.75 km
Old Aberdeen and the beach - 8 km
Girdle Ness - 3.75 km
Hazlehead Park - 4.5 km
Duthie Park and the River Dee - 11.5 km
Tyrebagger sculptures and Elrick Hill - 4.25 km
Kirkhill Forest and Tyrebagger Hill - 6.75 km
Stonehaven and the Mearns
Stonehaven to Dunnottar Castle - 5 km
Inverbervie to Johnshaven - 7.5 km linear
St Cyrus beach and cliff circuit - 5 km
Drumtochty Forest Trail - 2.75 km
Clachnaben - 9 km
Deeside and Upper Donside
Scolty Hill - 3.25 km
Banchory to Crathes Castle - 8.25 km linear
Ley Way and Crathes Castle - 6.75 km
Mortlich circuit from Aboyne - 10.25 km
Tomnaverie and Drummy Wood - 5 km
Pressendye - 14 km
Morven - 8.5 km
Glenbuchat Castle and ridge - 13 km
Ben Newe - 3.75 km
Bunzeach Trail from Bellabeg - 6.75 km
Formartine and the coast
Balmedie dunes and surf - 2.25 km
Ythan Estuary and Forvie Sands - 5.75 km
Collieston to Old Slains castle - 4.5 km
The Bullers of Buchan - 4.5 km
The Forest of Deer - 6.5 km
Ellon and Ythan riverside - 4 km
Haddo House circuit - 3.5 km
Fyvie Castle Forest Walk - 4.5 km
Garioch and Huntly
Millstone Hill Trail - 4.75 km
Mither Tap - 6 km
Oxen Craig and tops of Bennachie - 9.25 km
Hill of Dunnideer - 1.1 km
Leith Hall - 3 km
Huntly Castle and River Deveron - 4 km
Clashmach Hill - 7.25 km
Tap o'Noth - 5 km
The Buck of Cabrach - 4.6 km
