The Deeside Way from Duthie Park to Peterculter

The Deeside Way follows the Deeside Railway, which opened in 1853 and carried its last passengers in 1966. It starts at the Polmuir Road entrance to Duthie Park, behind the Winter Gardens, and runs west above the Dee through Aberdeen's suburbs, past the old platforms at Pitfodels, Cults and Bieldside and on by Milltimber to the edge of Peterculter, where the signed route leaves the old line.

It is 21.5 km (13.4 miles) there and back with 33 m of climbing; allow about 1½ hours of riding. The grade is Easy. The line climbs very gently away from the city, too gently to notice.

The surface is tarmac for most of the way, with firm gravel towards Peterculter, and suits any bike, children and trailers. It is traffic-free apart from the roads it crosses, and as a city path it is shared with walkers, dogs and commuters.

Duthie Park has free car parks. Cults, about 4.5 km out, and Peterculter have shops and cafés a short way off the line. The Deeside Way itself continues to Drumoak and Banchory, partly on roads.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.