Visit Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen

Hazlehead Park is located on the west side of the city, in Hazlehead Avenue.  It's a beautifully landscaped park, bordered by rhododendrons which are glorious in late spring and early summer. It's the kind of park where you can take the children for a whole day out without them becoming bored and ideal to visit when on holiday.

There is free car parking.You will find extensive lawned areas, a putting green (you can borrow the clubs), crazy golf, a wonderful maze that should keep the children occupied for an hour or so, a large swing park, an ornamental rose garden with the Piper Alpha Memorial, restaurant and toilets, nature walks, lovely flower borders and rockery, heather garden, azalea and rhododendron borders, and a small animal section. The rabbit enclosure houses some of the most adorable bunnies on earth, of all different varieties.  There is a duck pond intended for some exotic ducks, that has also become home to a collection of pigeons and other fowl that have decided that it's a good place to live.  Parrots of every hue live in the indoor aviary but don't appear to be particularly happy with their accommodation. One large parrot seems decidedly lonely and constantly demands human contact.  Smaller budgerigars seem to be happier in their outdoor aviary.  Fish in aquariums are to be found next door.  There are also chickens, goats, a llama and ponies. There is a minimal entry fee to the Pet Corner

. Entrance and payment for the excellent maze is via the building shown on the left, and also where you pay for crazy golf, putting, and where you borrow the clubs. There are many grassed areas for picnics or you can use the restaurant if you prefer.   It offers decent simple meals, snacks, and ice cream, if you don't want to be bothered with taking food with you.Toilets are in a separate building behind the restaurant.Benches scattered all around the park so that you can walk and rest as you enjoy the flowers. Hazlehead is just one of Aberdeen's many parks.  Duthie park with its winter gardens and boating pond is well worth a trip, also Westburn  and Victoria Parks.

Click here for a list of Scottish self-catering holiday cottages and apartments.

Self-catering holidays in Royal Deeside,  Scotland, Sleeps 2-6:

Stranduff Lodge Croft is a delightful detached country cottage situated in an idyllic location, just outside the charming village of Kincardine O'Neil , in the heart of Royal Deeside. Built out of granite in the 19th century, Stranduff Lodge Croft was originally a working croft, since upgraded to provide superior and spacious accommodation for tourists and visitors, the croft is an excellent base for exploration, adventure or relaxation. With the addition of the superb views (see the peak of Lochnagar on a fine day) and the spacious garden grounds (over half an acre) with barbecue and garden furniture, a stay in Stranduff will be a stay to remember. Please click on the photograph to find out more about a stay in this country cottage on Deeside with views of Lochnagar.

Self-catering log cabin holidays in Dinnet, Royal Deeside,  Scotland

A group of self-catering log cabins are set in the centre of Royal Deeside at the Eastern Gateway to the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. The log cabins are located in the wee rustic village of Dinnet, our Woodland Lodges make a convenient base to visit and explore the many sporting and tourist activities Royal Deeside has to offer.Outdoor activities include bird watching, fishing, walking, gliding, shooting, quad biking, archery, go-carting, mountain climbing, skiing (Glenshee and the Lecht for skiing and fabulous views are only a 45 minute drive away).

Visitor attractions in this north east part of Scotland include Balmoral Castle (10 miles away), the Castle trail, Whisky Trail for a range of distilleries to tour and whiskies to sample, Victorian Heritage Trail, Aberdeen City and the Coast, Cairngorm National Park with plenty of opportunities for bird spotting including eagles and other birds of prey .....Each lodge has 2 bedrooms sleeping up to 4 people. They have fully fitted kitchen including integrated dishwasher and fridge freezer. The log cabins all have spacious open plan lounge/kitchen/dining areas and a decked patio area to enjoy in the summer months. Each cabin has a bathroom with a bath tub and shower. The lodges are double glazed and centrally heated making them a cosy retreat after a day out on Royal Deeside.