Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeen is on the mainline rail network, and regular buses also serve the city from Glasgow and Dundee (0871 200 2233, http://www.travelinescotland.com).

This invigorating walk visits several incredible architectural achievements, including St Machar’s Cathedral, Kings College, The Town House and the awe-inspiring Marischal College. The walk also takes in Aberdeen Beach, granting superb, softer views along the Aberdeenshire coastline, contrasting sharply with the stonework of the city centre.

[1] From the car park beside the leisure centre (NO954071), go down the steps onto the promenade and turn left to walk above Aberdeen Beach, with superb views along the coastline. Follow the esplanade to its end then bear left onto a pavement. Turn right and continue alongside The Don and the Donmouth Nature Reserve (where you may catch sight of redshank, turnstones and seals) to reach a magnificent stone bridge crossing The Don (NO946093).

[2] Turn right, cross the bridge and continue to a set of traffic lights. Cross the A956, then turn left and walk a short distance before turning right onto a path signposted ‘Brig o’ Balgownie’ (NO946095). Follow the peaceful path and up two flights of steps.

(A) You've reached the magnificent Brig o’ Balgownie, which was originally built around 1320 and largely rebuilt in the 17th century.

Turn left, cross the lovely cobblestones over the bridge, then continue by a few houses to reach a gate for Seaton Park Wood (NO940095).

[3] Turn right from the road into the park and follow a beautiful woodland path, high above The Don, to a fork. Bear right down some steps and follow the riverbank path through Seaton Park to reach another fork. Bear left then right to pass by a fountain, then turn right and follow a path through Seaton Park to reach The Chanonry, home to some of Aberdeen’s finest religious and educational buildings.

(B) Pass by St Machar’s Cathedral (NO939088) – a beautiful building that developed around the 12^th or 13^th centuries, although a church was established here in 580AD by St Machar who was a follower of St Columba. There’s a Celtic cross that is thought to be associated with the original church, while a quarter of William Wallace’s body is said to have been buried in the cathedral after his execution in 1305.

Walk along The Chanonry and follow the cobbled street over St Machar’s Drive onto the historic High Street, passing the old Town House (when built in 1788 this was the hub of the Burgh and the focal point for a busy trading community), and the stunning King’s College.

(C) The university was built in the late 15^th century, making it the 3^rd oldest in Scotland and the 5^th oldest in Britain. Much of the original building still exists today and is one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Scotland.

Continue onto College Bounds, then into Spital Heyes and follow this as it descends to cross Mounthooly Way (NO941071).

[4] Turn left at a roundabout into West North Street and follow this to reach Justice Street (NO946063). Turn right and walk up Justice Street onto the pedestrianised Castle Street and into Union Street. Walk up Union Street by several magnificent buildings.

These include the Town House (built in 1874) and the Kirk of St Nicholas (dating from the 12th century).

On reaching Union Terrace (NO939061), turn right and follow the Terrace above Union Terrace Gardens, turning right into Rosemount Viaduct to pass the wonderful His Majesty’s Theatre and a statue of William Wallace. Continue into Schoolhill, home to Aberdeen Art Gallery and the Robert Gordon College, and make your way to Gallowgate (NO941063).

[5] Turn right here to reach the incomparable Marischal College, surely one of the finest examples of architecture in Britain.

(D) The college was founded in 1593, although the structure we see today wasn’t built until the 19^th century. I Between 1895 and 1906 the building, designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, was extended to become the second largest granite building in the world, after the Escorial Palace outside Madrid. Its many elaborate spires soar skywards, the highest rising to 70 metres and the entire building can’t fail to take your breath away.

Continue down into Broad Street, turning left into Union Street. Follow Union Street into King Street, passing by the fine St Andrew’s Cathedral to reach East North Street (NO944064). Cross the road, turn right and continue to Beach Boulevard. Turn left at the roundabout and continue back to the start.

Aberdeen, Scotland’s third largest city, is bounded by the great rivers of the Don and the Dee – and within these boundaries sits the Old Town, dating from the 12th century, and the New Town, built around the 18th century. Aberdeen’s harbour was established in 1136 (it’s often referred to as the oldest business in Britain) whilst the city was granted a Royal Charter in 1319, transforming Aberdeen’s economic fortunes well before the oil boom of the 1970s. Much of the wealth of the city centre is reflected in the array of sensational buildings, many of them built from Aberdeen’s world-renowned granite.

Terrain: Pavements, with one short section of riverbank and woodland path.

Maps: OS Explorer 406; Landranger 38.

Eating & drinking: Various choices in Aberdeen.

Sleeping: As above.  

Visitor information: Aberdeen Tourist Information Centre, Exchange Street (01224 288828, http://www.visitscotland.com).

Local Ramblers Group: Aberdeen Ramblers (www.aberdeenramblers.co.uk).

This walk originally appeared in Walk Magazine in Summer 2012 (issue 35).