A series of seven trail guides of Aberdeen and two maps of popular hills have been launched to help locals and visitors discover historical and natural gems around the city.
The family-friendly guides and maps, produced by Aberdeen City Council, are designed to encourage people to walk around our beautiful and historic city by the sea and many of the trails can also be cycled.
They include Aberdeen Coastal Trail, People & Places Trail, Sculpture & Curios Trail, Boundary Stones Trail, Aberdeen Granite Trail, Old Aberdeen Trail, and Aberdeen Maritime Trail. The maps are for Kincorth Hill, known locally as The Gramps, and Brimmond Hill, and feature the local landscape as well as historical features and nature. Both hills also offer great views of the city.
Items in the trail guides featured include where to see dolphins from the shore, the Andy Scott sculpture Poised, stones marking the boundary of the ancient city, a plaque for a man who served with Bonnie Prince Charlie and later a revolutionary commander in the American Civil War, the historic village-within-the-city of Footdee designed by the same architect who designed Balmoral Castle, how Union Bridge was built by stones dressed by hand and allowed Union Street to be built above the unsanitary conditions of the older burgh, and a cathedral which dates from the 13th century.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Councillor Barney Crockett said: ‘These trail guides are a fantastic way for both people who live locally and are visiting to find out about our beautiful city.
‘We have an abundance of history, nature, and stunning buildings for people to discover in a city which is very walkable so it’s great these trail guides have been produced.
‘We want to encourage people to get out and walk or cycle around Aberdeen and hope these trail guides help folk to get out there and learn what’s in the city.’
Chris Foy, chief executive of VisitAberdeenshire, said: ‘These seven new trails will add an extra dimension to any visit to Aberdeen, encouraging visitors and locals alike to get out and about to explore the city’s natural and built heritage all year round.’
The project is jointly funded by Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) and Civitas Portis. The SCSP funding is granted by the Scottish Government and administered by Paths for All, which is a charity that aims to help create a happier, healthier Scotland where physical activity improves the quality of life and wellbeing for all.
Civitas Portis is a European Union funded project that aims to implement sustainable mobility measures, in participating port cities, to improve urban attractiveness.
Several new trail guides are planned for this year including a city centre nature trail, an architecture trail, and street art trail.
The trail guides and maps are available through the links www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/trails and www.visitabdn.com, and limited numbers of paper versions will be available at Marischal College, the Town House on Queen Street, the tourist information centre on Union Street, and at hotels and other locations. The digital versions of the trail guides will be updated.
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