20 Amazing Green Spaces and Parks Near Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a prosperous port city, distinctively built from granite and it is the third largest city in Scotland. This post lists the best green spaces and parks near Aberdeen.

The best way to see the city is by viewing the parks or green spaces and walking along the trails.

The city is situated on the River Dee and Don and the snow melt empties in these rivers. Settlement began more than 8,000 years ago and Aberdeen’s location on the North Sea makes the city an industrial hub.

Since 1969, Aberdeen has been transformed into the offshore energy capital of Europe.

Aberdeen is situated along a sandy coastline which makes any walk highly rewarding. There is plenty of trails along the riverside, historic streets and surrounding hills.

Also, the city is not too far from the stunning Cairngorms and the picturesque Moray Coast.

Visitors can dolphin watch off the shore of Girdle Ness Lighthouse, discover the city’s finest nature reserves or relax in the tranquillity of the city’s parks. There is plenty in Aberdeen to keep visitors occupied.

Haddo House & Country Park

There are many great trail options, the paths are well-maintained. It is worth walking up to the Deer Statues and Large Urn, then across to Crathie Woods, before returning back to the lake. 

Haddo House is a Palladian-style Scottish stately home which was built in 1732 by William Adam. In the 1880s, the castle underwent restoration, leading to elegant Georgian exteriors and luxurious Victorian interiors. 

You can learn about the Gordon family who lived in the house for more than 400 years. There is an extensive art collection, with 85 paintings of Aberdeenshire castles, by Victorian artist James Giles.

Access to the house is only available through guided tours. Interestingly, the house was used as a maternity hospital during World War II, over 1,200 babies were born there.

There is a stunning chapel, and the house is surrounded by a terraced garden with a lavish herbaceous border and geometric flower beds. 

There is a Courtyard Cafe and shop where you can buy souvenirs. The National Trust for Scotland manage the site, there is a fee for parking.

Haddo House is also one of the grand mansions located in Aberdeenshire.

Haddo House & Country Park is twenty miles north of Aberdeen. It takes approximately 40 minutes to get to the country park from Aberdeen. 

Balmedie Country Park 

Balmedie Country Park is made up of beach, sand dunes, heath land and wooded areas. The areas are connected by a series of well-maintained paths and boardwalks.

The country park sits between Donmouth Local Nature Reserve in the south and Forvie Nature Reserve in the north.

Visitors can learn about shipwrecks, pill boxes and ice boxes. Also, you can visit the Sand Bothy for refreshments.

This country park leads to Balmedie Beach which is one of the best beaches on the east coast of Scotland.

Balmedie Country Park is nine miles north of Aberdeen. Located on the east coast of Scotland. Balmedie can be reached by car in twenty minutes.

Elrick Country Park

The route up Elrick Hill is excellent and varied. You can walk through a forest trail, which leads out into the more natural and open landscape of Elrick Hill.

Elrick Country Park is a ten-mile drive from the centre of Aberdeen. The country park is not far from the A90. 

Haughton Country Park

There are a lot of walking trails by the river, through the wildflower meadow and through the woods. Haughton Country Park is a lovely place to go walking, have a picnic, or do some exercise.

The views are scenic and the setting is peaceful. Also, there are accommodation options on-site.

Haughton Country Park is located in Alford, a small village near Aberdeen. The site was purchased by Aberdeenshire Council in 1970.

The nearest city to Haughton Country Park is Aberdeen. Haughton Country Park is 26 miles away, a fifty-minute drive from the centre of Aberdeen. 

Aden Country Park

Aden Country Park is a 230-acre country park in Mintlaw. It has been recognised as one of the country’s best green spaces with a prestigious Green Flag award.

The River Ugie runs through one corner of the park and a small lake is located within the park. This is a lovely place to go for a walk, run or have a picnic with friends. 

There is old ruins to walk around, beautiful big grass areas, woodland walks and a huge children’s play park. There is also a small café and Aberdeenshire Farming Museum in a semi-circular farmstead building.

The nearest city to Aden Country Park is Aberdeen. Aden Country Park is a forty five minute drive north of Aberdeen, roughly about thirty miles driving distance. 

Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve

Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve is a gem of a location. It is a beautiful, quiet place with fantastic walks and breath taking views.

There are a few signposted walks which take you into the forest or around the loch. The different walks range from thirty minutes to a few hours in length. 

The walk around Loch Kinord is great, and the path is mainly flat. One of the most popular destinations in the nature reserve is the Burn O’Vat.

Burn O’Vat is a cauldron-shaped pothole, an excellent rock formation with a river running through it. On the path from the Burn O’Vat, there is a viewpoint which has sweeping views across Loch Kinord and beyond.

The visitor centre at the Burn O’Vat explores the natural and cultural heritage of the reserve. Muir of Dinnet is located in the Cairngorms National Park.

The closest city is Aberdeen, which is a thirty-seven mile drive away. It takes approximately one hour to get to Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve from Aberdeen.

Duthie Park

Duthie Park was opened in 1883 and was gifted to the residents of Aberdeen by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie. Many of the original Victorian features of the park are still standing, including the bandstand, fountains and boating ponds.

The park cafe is also very popular with visitors. In the 1900s the David Welch Winter Gardens was added to the park.

In 1969, the wind severely damaged the winter gardens so it was replaced with what visitors know and love today. The Winter Gardens now house one of the most visited public indoor plant collections in Scotland.

Duthie Park is a great place for walkers, and cyclists, and for having picnics with friends. The park was recognised for being a quality green space and gained Aberdeen’s first Green Flag status in 2013.

Duthie Park is just under two miles from the centre of Aberdeen. Located on the west side of the River Dee.

Hazelhead Park 

Hazelhead is an absolutely gorgeous public green space in Aberdeen which offers a wide variety. The park is one of Aberdeen’s oldest properties and was originally part of the great hunting forests of Stocket just outside the city.

In 1319, the land was given to the city by King Robert the Bruce, as part of the “Freedom Boundary”. Then in 1920, the land was returned to Aberdeen Town Council, to create a park for the citizens of Aberdeen. 

There is something for everyone at this park, visitors can enjoy a gentle walks in the garden, walking trails in the woods, learn about local history, view lots of sculptures and admire lots of art.

Also, visitors can view the Piper Alpha Memorial and the Rainbow Garden Memorial. Moreover, there are two golf courses, a maze, a mini zoo, an Azalea garden, and a heather and conifer garden. 

Once you are finished wandering and exploring, you can enjoy an ice cream. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the sights.

Hazelhead Park is a fifteen-minute drive west of the centre of Aberdeen. 

Seaton Park 

Seaton Park is near Old Aberdeen a place of old architecture, located near the banks of River Don.

St Machar’s Cathedral is located near the park’s south gates, along with the formal arrangement of the spring and summer flower beds, this is a magnificent sight in midsummer. 

The Wallace Tower is an important feature of the park. There is a motte and a mound which dates back to the Bronze Age.

Also, the park is close to the Brig o-Balgownie, a 13th-century gothic bridge that has survived centuries of heavy use and military attacks. 

A series of 15th-century red-tiled cottages known as Cottown of Balgownie is located just beyond the bridge.

There are many great sites in this park which are good for photography. Seaton Park is a five-minute drive north of Aberdeen city centre, just under two miles away. 

Westfield Park

Westfield Park is the largest green space in the Bridge of Don area. There is plenty of footpaths crisscrossing through the grass and tree belts.

The Alex Collie Sports Centre is on site, also, there is a skate park. Westfield Park is three miles north of the centre of Aberdeen.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park was Aberdeen’s first public park. Back in 1871, the Council transformed 13 acres of grazing land into the park.

Named after Queen Victoria, the park represents the desire to improve the quality of life in an urban setting.

One of the park’s central features is an ornamental granite fountain gifted to the city, the fountain shows a variety of granite quarried in the Aberdeen area. 

The Sunny Valley Sensory Garden was inspired by Madam Isabel Murray. In 1967 it was completed and received a Civic Trust Award.

It was the park’s centenary in 1971, to commemorate this, Aberdeen’s 36 councillors each planted a tree, then a granite stone was erected to mark the occasion.

Victoria Park is a 10-minute drive east from the centre of Aberdeen. The park is a fifteen-minute walk from the west end of the city centre.

Westburn Park 

Westburn Park was laid out in 1901 on 10 hectares of land. In this park, there are outdoor tennis courts, a world championship standard bowling green, football pitches, skate ramps and a children’s cycling track.

Westburn Park is home to Westburn House, a classic mansion designed by Archibald Simpson in 1839.

In 1901, the council bought the house and the house ended up having several purposes throughout the years. Westburn Park is located opposite Victoria Park. 

Donmouth Local Nature Reserve

Donmouth Local Nature Reserve is a beach site in the historic Old Aberdeen part of the city, where the River Don meets the sea.

There are good walks south to Footdee, north past Blackdog and Balmedie Beach, or west along the river to Persley Bridge. 

This nature reserve is a brilliant place to see a wide range of wildlife including birds and seals. Also, there is a variety of plants to view in the sand dunes.

Donmouth has been a local nature reserve since 1992. Donmouth Local Nature Reserve is two miles north of Aberdeen city centre.

Den of Maidencraig Local Nature Reserve

In 1992, Den of Maidencraig announced a local nature reserve. A fascinating site with grassland, wetland and ancient woodland habitats.

There is a wide variety of wildlife and a nature reserve is an excellent place for birdwatching, pond dipping and general wildlife spotting. 

There are well-maintained paths, some are tarmac and some are boardwalks, with lots of information boards and good signage. Also, visitors can admire beautiful meadows covered in wildflowers.

Den of Maidencraig is a ten-minute drive west from the centre of Aberdeen, approximately four miles away. 

Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve

Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve is a lovely place to go for a walk. The area is roughly 34 hectares big, it is owned by Aberdeenshire City Council and it has been a nature reserve since 1994.

Scotstown Moor is a ten-minute drive north of the centre of Aberdeen. 

Kincorth Hill Local Nature Reserve

This is a local nature reserve which contains an extensive area of gorse scrub, heathland, young coniferous and broadleaved woodland. The site is well-signposted and panoramic views across the city are on offer.

Kincorth Hill Local Nature Reserve is one of the best green spaces and parks near Aberdeen.

Visitors will be able to see Peterhead in the north, Lochnagar to the southwest, and the mountains of Deeside in the west. Kincorth Hill is located three miles south of the centre of Aberdeen. 

Johnston Gardens 

In 1936, the gardens were gifted to the city, previously they belonged to Johnston’s House. Stunning and well-kept sites which have explosions of colour.

Johnston Gardens is described as a lush site with streams, ponds, waterfalls, rockeries and a variety of flowers. It is a super peaceful place and it is relaxing with the birds chirping away in the background. 

Within the gardens sits a memorial which commemorates the 16 men that are sadly lost in the Super Puma helicopter crash in the North Sea on 1 April 2009.

This park is the perfect place for a gentle stroll and photography. Johnston Gardens are located on the west side of Aberdeen, almost four miles from Aberdeen city centre.

Kirkhill Forest

This is an absolutely beautiful place that is worth coming to. Kirkhill Forest is the place to enjoy the grandeur and peace of a mature forest.

The walking paths are wide and well-maintained. This is a unique, quiet spot you can go to enjoy nature.

Kirkhill Forest is one of the best green spaces and parks near Aberdeen. The views are stunning, on a clear day you can see Aberdeen and the North Sea. 

Make sure to climb Tyrebagger Hill, crowned with a folly known locally as the Tappie Tower. Kirkhill Forest is a twenty-minute drive from the centre of Aberdeen, just off the A96 and west of the airport.

It is recommended that this forest is only accessible by car. 

Torry Battery and Girdle Ness

Girdle Ness is the headland that guards the southern side of Aberdeen harbour. The Tory Battery was built in 1860 to defend the harbour.

At the mouth of the harbour, dolphins frequently visit and can be viewed from Girdle Ness. There is a café at the Greyhope Bay Centre at Tory Battery.

The short walk goes round the lighthouse and Tory Battery, and offers the best views of the sea. 

Auchmill Nature Trail

A lovely mile walk between the road and the rail line. There are lots of trees, wildflowers and berries.

The nature walk is five miles northwest of Aberdeen, only a fifteen-minute journey in the car from the centre of Aberdeen.

Other Parks and green spaces in Aberdeen include:

How many parks are in Aberdeen?

There are 14 public parks in Aberdeen in total. Also, there are countryside parks, nature reserves, trails and 3,000 acres of publicly owned accessible woodlands.

In Aberdeenshire, there are six country parks and four Local Nature Reserves to explore. Also, there is one National Nature Reserve within driving distance from Aberdeen.

What is the oldest park in Aberdeen?

The oldest park in Aberdeen is believed to be Victoria Park. Victoria Park was Aberdeen’s first public park.

Back in 1871, the Council transformed 13 acres of grazing land into a park. Named after Queen Victoria, the park represents the desire to improve the quality of life in an urban setting.

Final Note

This post lists the best green spaces and parks near Aberdeen that you can visit. There is a wide variety of places to go all around the city.

Local nature reserves, national nature reserves, country parks, and nature and city parks are all suggested in this post. 

The green spaces and parks near Aberdeen have amazing views of the surrounding Aberdeenshire and along the coast of the North Sea. The suggestions above are great ideas for exploring, a place to go to exercise or to relax. 

Join the Deeside Tourist Route or the North East 250 to discover the best sights in Aberdeenshire. There are many great parks and green spaces in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.