This wander can be regarded as a stage of the Deeside Way - an inland route of around 40 miles following the old railway to Ballater as closely as possible. The path from the city centre to Peterculter has an a tarmac surface and can be accessed by wheelchairs and mobility scooters. We begin at Duthie Park and the trail can be picked up at the main northern entrance. Several old suburban stations are passed along the way and each one has an excellent information board outlining the history of the area served.
The route is an obvious one and the only deviation from the original trackbed is the concrete flyover above the A90 dual carriageway where the old line has been severed. We soon return to the railway path and it's best to resist the wooden signpost that points to Peterculter as we pass a modern housing scheme on Pittengullies Brae. That way leads to the main road into the village centre but staying on the trackbed brings you to the site of Culter Station which has an intact platform and is the perfect place to pause for refreshments. The local heritage centre (limited weekend opening hours) is just a few steps away. You can either walk back to Aberdeen or wander up Station Road and hop on a bus.
