Duthie Park and the River Dee

Explore Duthie Park and then head out of Aberdeen along the banks of the mighty River Dee. Rough fishermen's paths lead out to Cults from where the much more straightforward return walk heads back to the Park along the line of the old Deeside railway.

Terrain

Busy road crossing out of Duthie Park. Anglers' paths alongside the Dee are surprisingly rough going and can be overgrown when the bracken is high. Return is along cycle path.

Public Transport

Buses to Duthie Park

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Start

Duthie Park, Aberdeen. Map and directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 11.5km/7 miles
Time: 2.5 - 4 hours
Ascent: 63m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NJ941043

Maps / GPS

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GPS Waypoints - QUO 2
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Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

There is a large car park along the southeastern edge of Duthie Park, which is well signed; the park is also served by buses. Begin the walk by veering right uphill just after the huge slides, but before the canoeing loch. The park, covering 44 acres, was donated to the city by a Miss Duthie in 1880. The central area is a vast green space with a Victorian Bandstand; keep the green area on your left as you walk around the park to pass in front of the David Welch Winter Gardens. This series of glasshouses is well worth a visit; the various zones include an arid area with the UK's largest collection of cacti, as well as impressive tropical and temperate zones. Continuing round the park, the Rose Mountain is also off to the right - it includes 120,000 rose plants. Keep left, curving around the central green, with a series of ponds which are being redeveloped on your right.

Stage 2

Take the higher path that climbs over the water features and leave Duthie Park via the gates at the southwest corner. You now need to cross to the far corner of the roundabout to reach the banks of the Dee. First cross the pelican crossing directly ahead and then very carefully cross the very busy A945. A tarred path then slopes down to the river and follow it upstream. Continue along this until the Bridge of Dee, and then leave the path to walk under the nearest arch of the bridge. This may not be possible if the river level is high.

Stage 3

You are now on a path mostly used by fisherman; it is rough underfoot, close to the water in places and can be overgrown in high summer. It sticks fairly close to the river, keeping out of sight of the factories and warehouses above. After around 1.75km it crosses a boardwalk and leaves the river briefly to head round an inlet in the woods - the OS map suggests this isn't possible with a wide tributary, but in reality the path soon rejoins the Dee. After almost another kilometre take a path off to the right away from the river, heading through a tunnel of broom.

Stage 4

As the path emerges keep low to the right of some reservoir buildings to emerge through a pedestrian gate onto a tarmac lane around Inchgarth Reservoir. Follow this round to the right. After three quarters of a kilometre the tarred road slopes uphill slightly left - keep straight ahead at this point across a grassy area between shrubbery. At the far end of this another tunnel path leads through the bushes and out onto a road. Turn right and go straight ahead at a crossroads, heading uphill onto Primrosehill Avenue. This curves to the left to reach a T-junction; turn right here, and just before the road passes under a high rail bridge take a path up on the left that climbs to reach the old railway line.

Stage 5

Turn right along the course of the railway, now a tarred cycle path. The old Deeside Line once stretched from Aberdeen up the Dee as far as Ballater; a planned extension to Braemar was blocked by Queen Victoria who purchased the necessary land to prevent what she thought would be an infringement of her privacy at Balmoral. The line now provides easy walking for the 4km back to Duthie Park. It passes under three road bridges and over two more - including the fine new Holburn Bridge which was opened in 2004 as part of making the route available to walkers and cyclists. At the end of the cycleway a tarred path leads down to the right. Go through the gates into Duthie Park, and straight ahead to return to the start.

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Route Profile

Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is each walkers' responsibility to check it and navigate using a map and compass.