Going for a run in Aberdeen

I’m staying in Aberdeen this weekend and looking for somewhere to go for a run on Sunday morning. Happy to drive to any area bear the city,, looking for about 10km loop, dog off lead friendly but wife doesn’t like running off-road so ideally hard surface run. Any suggestions?

Where are you staying it might help

Loads of good places to run but dog off lead and good surface might be tricky.

Depending on tides you could run along the beach and loop back through Seaton park/river Don path but need to deal with a bit of traffic.  There’s a good path next to the beach too

Hazlehead park and Counteswells forest also an option on edge of the city. Lots of other walkers and cyclists likely though.

Kirkhill forest near the airport is worth considering but quite hilly. It’s off-road but pretty well surfaced .

Duthie park and old Deeside railway line are good but quite busy  with other users so dog off lead would be a bit inconsiderate.

if you don’t mind a bit of a drive Glen tanar is beautiful and great for running but it is off-road.

Drive to (peter)culter park at the heritage center and run out to park and back

Run south, and keep going. (Lived in Aberdeen many many years ago…) Other than that, these suggestions – above – are excellent. And beach boulevard with Inversnecky for a nosh.

RobzFree Member
Hazlehead park and Counteswells forest also an option on edge of the city. Lots of other walkers and cyclists likely though.

Kirkhill forest near the airport is worth considering but quite hilly. It’s off-road but pretty well surfaced.

Countesswells Forest may still be closed: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/countesswells

Kirkhill still seemed to be closed when I tried riding there in March, but it appears to be partly open now: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/kirkhill

Thanks for the suggestions

Where are you staying it might help

near Oor Wullie chippy on the Great Western Road. Happy to drive to a nice run area though.

Deeside line just down from there, can go left or right. Left into town towards Duthie Park or right out to Culter to visit trail rat

Scolty in Banchory and Durris easily accessible by car from there as well. Plenty of fire roads to let doggy off to run about.Durris probably quieter than the scolty honey pot

Thanks for the suggestion. The weather was so beautiful it seemed a crime to not run along the seafront. So we parked at the foot of the esplanade by Footdee and ran the length of it up to the Don. A couple of laps of Seaton Park and then back again. 15km in total. It was cracking. Luckily we headed out early before the crowds came out.