Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome0 ha
Getting here
57.08468, -2.78319
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Chaffinch
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Chaffinch
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackbird +76 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackbird +76 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Tree Bumblebee, Red Mason Bee, Common Carder Bee +50 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Glittering Wood-moss, Neat Feather-moss, Red-stemmed Feather-moss +19 more · last seen 2026
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km13 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Knockie ViewpointWalking route▾
Named routeRef ViewpointLocal walking route
Chapel TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRef CrossLocal walking route
Old PinesWalking route▾
Named routeRef Pine ConeLocal walking route
Deeside WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Fairy LochanWalking route▾
Named routeRef DragonflyLocal walking route
17 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Tarland WayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Deeside WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef DWLocal cycle route
Deeside WayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 195National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route168 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 168 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route38 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 38 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface other
Main RouteCycling route75 m▾
Named routeRef 195Length 75 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
2 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
The Spikey HedgehogMountain bike route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Scotland TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Photos
South façade, Aboyne Castle
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
13,758 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
13,758 records · National Biodiversity NetworkWoodpigeon · Robin · Rook · Blue Tit · Jackdaw +35
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Great TitParus major
- MagpiePica pica
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- WigeonMareca penelope
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- RavenCorvus corax
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- DipperCinclus cinclus
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
🦌Mammals2 species
autumnwinter
2026▾
Red Squirrel · Otter
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
- OtterLutra lutra2025
7-spot Ladybird
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Glittering Wood-moss · Neat Feather-moss · Red-stemmed Feather-moss · Redshank · Woolly Fringe-moss +17
- Glittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendens
- Neat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purum
- Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi
- RedshankCeratodon purpureus
- Woolly Fringe-mossRacomitrium lanuginosum
- Big Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrus
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
13,758 records · National Biodiversity NetworkWoodpigeon · Robin · Rook · Blue Tit · Jackdaw +35
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Great TitParus major
- MagpiePica pica
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- WigeonMareca penelope
- Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- RavenCorvus corax
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- DipperCinclus cinclus
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
🦌Mammals2 species
autumnwinter
2026▾
Red Squirrel · Otter
- Red SquirrelSciurus vulgaris
- OtterLutra lutra2025
7-spot Ladybird
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Glittering Wood-moss · Neat Feather-moss · Red-stemmed Feather-moss · Redshank · Woolly Fringe-moss +17
- Glittering Wood-mossHylocomium splendens
- Neat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purum
- Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi
- RedshankCeratodon purpureus
- Woolly Fringe-mossRacomitrium lanuginosum
- Big Shaggy-mossHylocomiadelphus triquetrus
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Bank Haircap
Bank Haircap
Polytrichum formosum
Polytrichum formosum
Hair-pointed GrimmiaGrimmia trichophyllaHair-pointed GrimmiaGrimmia trichophyllaHeath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicumHeath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicumCommon HaircapPolytrichum commune s.l.Common HaircapPolytrichum commune s.l.Black Rock-mossAndreaea rupestrisBlack Rock-mossAndreaea rupestrisGreater Water-mossFontinalis antipyreticaGreater Water-mossFontinalis antipyreticaRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumRacomitrium heterostichumFive-ranked Bog-mossSphagnum quinquefariumFive-ranked Bog-mossSphagnum quinquefariumRough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumRough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulumSpringy Turf-mossRhytidiadelphus squarrosusSpringy Turf-mossRhytidiadelphus squarrosusPointed Spear-mossCalliergonella cuspidataPointed Spear-mossCalliergonella cuspidataRusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosusRusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosusLesser Cow-horn Bog-mossSphagnum inundatumLesser Cow-horn Bog-mossSphagnum inundatumGreen Mountain Fringe-mossRacomitrium fasciculareGreen Mountain Fringe-mossRacomitrium fasciculareGreat Plait-mossHypnum cupressiforme var. lacunosumGreat Plait-mossHypnum cupressiforme var. lacunosumBroom Fork-mossDicranum scopariumBroom Fork-mossDicranum scoparium