The best walks and hikes around Fyvie, Rothienorman, Monquhitter

The bird hide looks out onto the loch and is an ideal spot to stop and watch for the many birds at the loch. Ducks are in abundance, and there is some swans.

A great place to explore, there is the Castle itself, cafe, formal gardens, and the lochside path. Run by NTS, there is plenty to see. Come in spring to see the bluebells through the woods.

The cakes were nice; the castle itself a major disappointment. Despite being there well before the castle's closing time of 4pm, I was not able to go on a tour of the house. Didn't see anything on the website nor in the building saying the last tour was at 3pm but when I attempted to buy a ticket for the house at 3:30pm, that's what the lady said. 🙄 Not only that but she wouldn't let me have a look around unaccompanied. Ironically, we were actually there at about 2:50pm but headed into the tea room first, unaware that there was any time constraint on visiting the rest of the place. 😐 If the communication hadn't been so piss-poor, I could have gone round the house first. 😳

Delgatie Castle is open 8th January to 20th Decmeber 10am to 4pm.

This magnificent fortress in the heart of Aberdeenshire is a sterling example of Scottish Baronial architecture. Inside, the rooms are filled with antiquities, armour and lavish oil paintings. Out in the grounds the grandeur continues, with a picturesque lake and an unusual glass-roofed racquets court. Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie’s 800-year-old history. But stories aside, we do know William the Lion was at Fyvie around 1214 and later Robert the Bruce and Charles I were among its royal guests. - https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/fyvie-castle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyvie_Castle On the 27th and 28th July 2002 Battle Of Fyvie was going on. At the whole weekend there were several armed knights, soldiers with real canons... They all were playing the Battle Of Fyvie again. Two armed forces running against each other - with actors who were killed and with lots of fake blood. Spider-Man was there too... From time to time this event happens again. - https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/fyvie-castle - https://www.scotlandsfinest.nl/what-s-to-see/scotland-s-finest-battle-sites/battle-site-of-fyvie

A predominantly coniferous forest managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. There are a couple of waymarked walking trails through the woods which make fun loops. The Fishery Trail is marked by red markers. It's a 2.1km and passes the old icehouse and loch. This starts at the castle car park. The blue marked Song Birds Trail is 2.8km. It starts at the smaller southern car park.

First built in 1049 and substantially re-built in the 16th century Delgatie Castle was the home of feudal barons. It’s been in the family of Clan hay for the last 650 years and remains the clans seat. Over the years dry rot infected the building and by the early 1900's it was pretty much derelict. Captain John Hay was determined to save the building and his work over the next few years saved it and restored it too how it is today. You can visit the castle which is open every day from 10:00 - 17:00. The 'Laird's Kitchen' Tearoom is open everyday, serving drinks, snacks and light meals.

Reaching the edge of the forest, the open fields offer a great view towards Bennachie and other hills. Tap o'noth can also be seen. Some picnic benches here to to enjoy the view.