Parks and Open Spaces in Formartine
The numerous parks, playing fields and public open spaces in the Formartine area include:
Tarves
Tolquhon Avenue Recreational Ground - play equipment and large grass area.
Braiklay Avenue Play Area - play equipment and grass area with an adjacent a large grass area with a Sports Court and Skatepark.
Haddo House Country Park has experienced extensive tree and path damage and is currently closed. Please see our path closures page for updates.
Haddo House and Country Park is now one of the most popular visitor attractions in the northeast of Scotland with upwards of 220,000 visitors every year.
The Country Park covers almost 240 acres (97 hectares) or woodland, grassland, open parkland, and water as well as offering a range of new facilities for visitors. Much of the parkland and monuments have recently been extensively restored as part of a major Heritage Lottery Project.
You can take a guided tour of Haddo House, discover the beautiful terraced gardens, walk for miles in the country park or let the kids burn off some energy in our brand-new adventure playground. Wildlife watchers can visit our two birdwatching hides and red squirrel feeding station, or spend the summer exploring our extensive wildflower meadows.
View the Haddo Country Park leaflet (PDF 2.8MB).
Ellon
Riverside park – runs from west to east through the town providing a natural area of native species providing a valuable habitat for wildlife including herons, salmon, trout and otters. Next to the car park is the Moot Hill Monument site of the court of the Celtic Mormaers and the Norman Earls of Buchan. The riverside is easily accessible and has a path alongside the river which runs the length of the town, historically the river was a rich source of pearl mussels and one of its pearls was of such high quality it was given to King James VI and is one of the jewels in the Scottish Crown.
Gordon Park – celebrated its centenary in 2007 the park plays host to Ellon Gordon Cricket Club and Tennis clubs and is in regular use by football and rugby teams. Within the 13 acres of park is an all weather court, artificial cricket wicket, play areas and a tarred all abilities path network.
Auchterellon Park – mainly grassed open space which has areas where the grass is not cut, and native trees have been planted to encourage biodiversity. The parks contains a play area and has a tarred all abilities path network.
McDonald Park – 11.33 hectares of woodland and park is a five-minute walk from the centre of town. The park is divided into two by Golf Road the smaller area know as Caroline Well Wood and the larger area contains some of Ellon Golf Club's fairways and greens. A rope bridge enables the resident red squirrels to cross between the two areas in safety.
Balmacassie Community Woodland – a new addition to the towns open space, planting within the 5 hectares began in December 2005 with involvement of pupils from all four local schools, local youth groups, members of the public and volunteers from the British Trust for Conservation who between them planted 4500 broad leaves and 4500 Scots Pine. Broomies Burn running through the area has been planted with wild flowers to increase habitat diversity, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers run a ‘Green Gym’ project within this woodland.
The Formartine and Buchan Walkway – a footpath stretching from the outskirts of Aberdeen to Peterhead and Fraserburgh passing through Ellon where it forms a valuable part of the paths network within Ellon and its embankments.
Turriff
The Haughs – a large recreational park containing a seasonal boating pond, children's play area, crazy golf course. Every August the Haughs plays host to the Turra Show and often plays host to the Scottish Pipe Bands competition
Oldmeldrum
Recreation park – annual host in June, of The Meldrum Sports and Highland Games. Tennis court, play equipment and large grass area.
Pitmedden
Recreation park
Methlick
Recreation park
Daviot
Recreation park
Balmedie Country Park
Play area, picnic area, toilets and exhibition area.
Oldmill Crescent park