Bridge of Don Paths Around North Aberdeen
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Ian Talboys Scotstown Moor and Donmouth Local Nature Reserves van Eeden Karen Scotstown Moor Donmouth Local Nature Reserve Scotstown Moor, also known as Perwinnes Moss, Andy Coventry contains the remains of a children’s camp from the The reserve consists of sand dunes and mudflats that early 20th century where children from the industrial form part of the small estuary of the River Don. city were given access to the country side. There are also large remains of a Second World War radio The rich feeding brings in a wide selection of wading direction finding station. The name Scotstown means birds, gulls and terns especially in spring and autumn. a place where English was once spoken; with Gaelic and Pictish becoming out dated, English was the main One of the most common is the sanderling a bird language of the area. Danestone as a place name Otter Heron which feeds on the tideline running along the sand. means ‘the stone’ which marks the boundary of the Dean’s lands, the Dean being a senior official of Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve is a popular site Both grey and common seals can be seen hauled out St Machar’s Cathedral. for joggers and walkers with or without dogs. on the sands or on the island above the road bridge. The southern part of the site is a Site of Special Brig o’ Balgownie Scientific Interest chosen for its wetland plants. It is Ian Talboys home to the rare black bog rush as well as familiar Built between 1314 and 1318 by Richard Cementarius, species such as sundew, cotton grass, marsh cinquefoil, the first provost of Aberdeen, the Brig o’ Balgownie ragged robin and northern was for centuries the only march orchid. route to the north out of Aberdeen. Byron during his In the spring the song Ian Talboys childhood in Aberdeen was of a number of Warbles familiar with the bridge van Eeden Karen can be heard including and he refers to the salmon Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, pool below it in his poem Blackcap and Whitethroat. Don Juan. The setting is appropriately dramatic and Romantic with the open estuary to the east and the Above: Scotstown Moor Top: Northern Marsh Orchid Willow Warbler tree-lined gorge to the west. Brig o’ Balgownie Prehistory Blackburn B999 Aberdeen Dyce Airport B997 A90 We know from historical A96 A90 Bridge Mike Chalmers R on of Don iver D A956 RIDGE OF ON findings that people have Bucksburn B D been living in this area for at least 10,000 years. Kingswells ABERDEEN Paths around North Aberdeen A90 Findings include: Westhill A944 • A single stone remains from a Cults A90 A93 Dee A956 Neolithic stone circle Milltimber River at Dubford; Cove • A Bronze Age stone ‘cist’ burial was found during house building at Scotstown; and How to get there • A new Bronze Age site has recently been discovered at Murcar. A956 Danestone – First Bus Service 1 Red Line Ashwood – First Bus Service 2 Red Line Dubford Park and Ride Service 40 Seaton Park Tillydrone – First Bus Service 19 Hillhead of Seaton – First Bus Service 20 Seaton Park was once the central part of Seaton Estate, which dates from the 17th century. The park, focused Aberdeen Cycle Map round the now demolished Seaton House, was home to www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/cyclemaps a horse racing course in the early 20th century. Today a Second World War pill box can be found on a north For more information contact: facing bank next to St Machar’s Cathedral. www.firstbus.com Tel: (01224) 650000 www.aberdeencity.gov.uk – search for cycle map Seaton Park offers a range of habitats for wildlife. The short cut grass attracts pied wagtails hunting for Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service insects. Along the river there are feeding opportunities (01224) 897400 for grey heron stalking fish from the bank, dipper Aberdeen Greenspace Trust Limited: perching on rocks, hunting for caddis larvae and www.aberdeengreenspace.org.uk goosander diving for fish. Station House Media Unit (shmu) www.shmu.org.uk Photographs as credited courtesy of River Don SURF Aberdeen Project. Main cover picture: David Brazendale. Top row pictures left to right: Andy Coventry, Kirsty McAbery, Mike Stephen, Sinclair Laing. Karen van Eeden Karen Above: Seaton Park Top: Persley Walled Gardens Ian Talboys Scotstown Moor and Donmouth Local Nature Reserves van Eeden Karen Scotstown Moor Donmouth Local Nature Reserve Scotstown Moor, also known as Perwinnes Moss, Andy Coventry contains the remains of a children’s camp from the The reserve consists of sand dunes and mudflats that early 20th century where children from the industrial form part of the small estuary of the River Don. city were given access to the country side. There are also large remains of a Second World War radio The rich feeding brings in a wide selection of wading direction finding station. The name Scotstown means birds, gulls and terns especially in spring and autumn. a place where English was once spoken; with Gaelic and Pictish becoming out dated, English was the main One of the most common is the sanderling a bird language of the area. Danestone as a place name Otter Heron which feeds on the tideline running along the sand. means ‘the stone’ which marks the boundary of the Dean’s lands, the Dean being a senior official of Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve is a popular site Both grey and common seals can be seen hauled out St Machar’s Cathedral. for joggers and walkers with or without dogs. on the sands or on the island above the road bridge. The southern part of the site is a Site of Special Brig o’ Balgownie Scientific Interest chosen for its wetland plants. It is Ian Talboys home to the rare black bog rush as well as familiar Built between 1314 and 1318 by Richard Cementarius, species such as sundew, cotton grass, marsh cinquefoil, the first provost of Aberdeen, the Brig o’ Balgownie ragged robin and northern was for centuries the only march orchid. route to the north out of Aberdeen. Byron during his In the spring the song Ian Talboys childhood in Aberdeen was of a number of Warbles familiar with the bridge van Eeden Karen can be heard including and he refers to the salmon Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, pool below it in his poem Blackcap and Whitethroat. Don Juan. The setting is appropriately dramatic and Romantic with the open estuary to the east and the Above: Scotstown Moor Top: Northern Marsh Orchid Willow Warbler tree-lined gorge to the west. Brig o’ Balgownie Prehistory Blackburn B999 Aberdeen Dyce Airport B997 A90 We know from historical A96 A90 Bridge Mike Chalmers R on of Don iver D A956 RIDGE OF ON findings that people have Bucksburn B D been living in this area for at least 10,000 years. Kingswells ABERDEEN Paths around North Aberdeen A90 Findings include: Westhill A944 • A single stone remains from a Cults A90 A93 Dee A956 Neolithic stone circle Milltimber River at Dubford; Cove • A Bronze Age stone ‘cist’ burial was found during house building at Scotstown; and How to get there • A new Bronze Age site has recently been discovered at Murcar. A956 Danestone – First Bus Service 1 Red Line Ashwood – First Bus Service 2 Red Line Dubford Park and Ride Service 40 Seaton Park Tillydrone – First Bus Service 19 Hillhead of Seaton – First Bus Service 20 Seaton Park was once the central part of Seaton Estate, which dates from the 17th century. The park, focused Aberdeen Cycle Map round the now demolished Seaton House, was home to www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/cyclemaps a horse racing course in the early 20th century. Today a Second World War pill box can be found on a north For more information contact: facing bank next to St Machar’s Cathedral. www.firstbus.com Tel: (01224) 650000 www.aberdeencity.gov.uk – search for cycle map Seaton Park offers a range of habitats for wildlife. The short cut grass attracts pied wagtails hunting for Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service insects. Along the river there are feeding opportunities (01224) 897400 for grey heron stalking fish from the bank, dipper Aberdeen Greenspace Trust Limited: perching on rocks, hunting for caddis larvae and www.aberdeengreenspace.org.uk goosander diving for fish. Station House Media Unit (shmu) www.shmu.org.uk Photographs as credited courtesy of River Don SURF Aberdeen Project. Main cover picture: David Brazendale. Top row pictures left to right: Andy Coventry, Kirsty McAbery, Mike Stephen, Sinclair Laing. Karen van Eeden Karen Above: Seaton Park Top: Persley Walled Gardens BRIDGE OF DON Paths around North Aberdeen East Woodcroft Mills on the Don Wallace Tower Just across the road Further along the River Sinclair Laing In the park the so- Andy Coventry Andy Coventry from Scotstown Moor Don the important called Wallace Tower, is East Woodcroft. industrial mining history a 1590s townhouse Most of the site is of the area can be seen. built by Robert Keith in rough grassland with Once home to a great the centre of Aberdeen remaining woodland variety of mills, the area is best known for Woodside was moved here in the from the original Works, which dated from the late 18th century and 1960s during city centre estate planting. The latterly was home to a paper mill. Also very significant redevelopment. Glashieburn flows Fox was Crombies Mill at Grandholm. Cormorant along its southern edge Close to the Wallace providing habitat for snipe and woodcock. Crombie woollen goods are famous throughout the Tower is the impressive Tillydrone Motte. Its name world, during the First World War their great coats suggests it was a medieval castle mound, but recently In autumn and winter redwings and fieldfares, were in high demand.