Whilst on my quarterly run I came across Allan Park…read more Maybe it was the lateness of the day, they grey skies or cold weather, but this park it pretty blah. There's a trail I started to walk down but stopped because it didn't look all that interesting. I've been told the area recently flooded the there is a staircase currently blocked off, so maybe it's blah for this reason. I'm not sure what it is, but this park doesn't seem all that popular with the locals.

Mother's day and a bit dreich. the Family had booked a 1pm "afternoon tea" at the Duthie Park…read moreCafe. An excellent spread with helpful staff. and in the overflow, so plenty of elbow room - though we did need to keep our coats on - no problem. We have had lunches there before, & been well served. The Winter Garden is a Jewel for the city with a lovely display all year round. At Hogmanay, we met a French journalist, doing tourist info, who specially liked it. The kids (2& 5) liked the whole experience and especially the talking cactus, and stamping the special medal for £1.01ea. The whole afternoon - good value. We left a generous donation as we had spent a lovely afternoon and have some cakes home with us for tomorrow. PS The cream for the excellent scones was proper whipped cream!

Ahh, sunny days in Aberdeen at Duthie Park. One of the best…read morethings about living in Scotland was how much people appreciated the sun. It's out less, so when it is people go crazy. Shirts off (even though it's still pretty chilly), picnics, dog walks, everyone shows up in Duthie Park for an ice cream. Glorious. Some seriously fond memories of Sunday afternoons spent with friends in Duthie Park. There's a huge amount of nicely trimmed grass for sitting or kicking a football around or throwing a frisbee. There's great paved paths for walking your dog or letting your kid ride their bike. There's also multiple play areas for children and some of them are really awesome. Notably the playground with a zip line (how fancy!--disclosure: I would wait around and try to get a go when kids weren't on it) and a roundabout (you never see those in playgrounds anymore!) and some pretty tall slides. There is a greenhouse garden full of exotic plants and loads of cacti that you can check out for free, which is a fun activity on a colder day. And there is an ice cream shop in that same area, which is of course great for those cherished warm, sunny summer days in Scotland. Overall Duthie Park is a very well-rounded area, with plenty of green space and a great place to spend some time with the whole family. I love going back when I'm back visiting Aberdeen.

This place is fantastic for a sunny day out (if you're fortunate enough to catch one)…read more It's an unusual place to visit in that you have the combined attractions of forest walks with one of the longest beaches in Scotland (around 5 miles). There's also a large picnic table area which permits BBQ's, so you really could spend the whole day here. Access to the site is currently a very reasonable £2 per vehicle and there is plenty of parking as well as toilet facilities. If you've not been before, I'd definitely recommend it for a relaxing day trip!

Very nice playground for kids of toddler to primary school ages. Flying fox, swings, bridges, and…read morelots more. Accessible via safe walkway along train tracks.

This is 'the' place to hang out for dog walkers and young folks when the sun is out. A quick look…read morearound will make it clear there are a lot of dogs and students in this area. The park is only small but that just means you'll bump into more people you'll know.

Beautiful tucked away not so secret garden in the midst of all the hustle and bustle that makes you…read morefeel as if your secluded away your own little secret garden. This would be a gorgeous spot to spend a little time enjoying a bit of rare sunshine with a picnic and a special loved one or to just sit on a bench with a book and a cup of tea. Lots of benches so it's easy to find your own little semiprivate nook to watch the world go by and the ducks float past.

I'm off to go a wandering around the mountain sides. Well I would do if I were a yeti (debatable…read morethat I'm not) or I didn't live in a place where we don't have mountains. Oh well luckily we have enough rolling hillsides and green spaces as a good substitute and Middleton Park is one such place. It's a pretty big expanse of ancient woodland and a designated nature reserve. You've also got grass land, a golf course and recreational areas. The woodland area is a particular favourite with me. It's quite simply lush. A little haven for all the little birdies and wood life creatures to dart about (and me, a big gormless idiot). It's really nice to take five from the busy centre and you'll also find streams, ponds and an abundance of flowers. I never get bored of seeing Bluebells and when they are in full swing it's a joy to behold. Add to that some tennis courts, a bowling green and even an education centre and you've got a very pleasant day out on your hands. Great to have such little pockets of joy in the area.