Pack your walking shoes because there’s a whole host of wonderful walks to enjoy directly from this property’s doorstep – across cropped fields, along the Milton Burn, around the estate loch and through the surrounding woodland.
Further afield, Kirkhill Forest (14 miles) is a great spot if you enjoy mountain biking or horse riding. If you’re hiking here, make sure you take the journey up to Tappie Tower – a quaint Victorian folly – because the views from up there are wonderful. Alternatively, take a stroll through dense woodland to the site of the disused quarry at Tillyfourie (5 miles). Now full of water, the quarry glistens a beautiful tropical blue/green colour.
Pack up your ski or snowboard gear and hit the slopes at The Lecht (37.5 miles), which is based 2,090 feet above sea level amid the beauty of the eastern Cairngorms. If skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing, try your hand at sledging – or if it’s summertime when you visit, check out the mountain bike trails.
Or head into Aberdeen (18.5 miles) for the day – a city that has not one, but two Old Towns. Old Aberdeen, with its cobbled streets, mature trees and 15th-century fortified cathedral is where Aberdeen’s first University was founded in 1495; while Footdee is a quirky fishing quarter at the water’s edge, with quaint squares of tiny cottages and brightly painted outhouses. The city’s marine and maritime heritage continues to play an important role today, so make sure you check out the local restaurant scene and order yourself some fresh seafood.