Walks, runs, digging and foraging are all waiting to be tried in the grounds of Crathes Castle, writes Susan Welsh
Along with the sound of woodpeckers and red squirrels, the sound of puffing, panting and cheering will be heard in the gardens surrounding Crathes Castle this weekend.
The fairytale castle is the venue for the Crathes Half Marathon, which takes place this Saturday, September 13.
The route starts at the castle and heads out on to country roads to the north and east of the estate grounds, heading towards another National Trust for Scotland property, Drum Castle, before turning and looping back to finish in front of Crathes Castle.
The half marathon starts at noon and, to keep non-runners entertained, there’s a family fun day running from 11am-3pm.
Held in association with the castle, garden and estate and Lochter Activity Centre, it offers a host of activities including mini Highland games, archery, sumo wrestling, Segway slalom, bouncy castle and bungee runs.
Tickets for this cost £4 per person, which includes face painting and activities. Contact 0844 493 2166.
While there, it’s also worth going for a wander around the walled garden, which is the most northerly Arts and Craft garden in the UK and inspired by the work of Gertrude Jekyll.
Highlights of the garden include ancient yew hedges which handsomely frame the croquet lawn, a fountain and rose gardens, while there’s some stunning views of the castle to be enjoyed from there.
Elsewhere on the estate, there are six waymarked walks for a range of abilities.
The different trails will take you past farmland, burns and a mill pond, and through green mossy woodland.
While out on the walks, look out for the wildlife which make their home here, including roe deer, red squirrels, woodpeckers, buzzards and herons and, if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of an otter or red kite.
Later this month, there’s a ranger-guided walk, this time looking at facts and fiction relating to fungi taking place on September 21. The ranger will look at simple identification, fungal facts and folklore.
Aimed at adult beginners, this is not a collecting walk. I starts at 10.30am and costs £5 per adult.
For further information contact: 0844 4932167
Towards the end of the month, there’s another fascinating reason to visit the grounds as archaeological excavations will be taking place daily (except Wednesdays) from Tuesday, September 30 until Saturday, October 25.
Beneath the castle’s sweeping green lawns, archaeological excavations will take a closer look at a number of interesting features that were revealed in a recent geophysical survey.
It’s hoped it may find traces of the courtyard that once surrounded the castle, the remains of later garden features, and just possibly earlier buildings predating the castle.
Visitors can catch up with the latest discoveries every day at 11am and 2pm when an archaeologist will give a 10-minute talk at the excavation site.
Visitors can also take part in the dig themselves during Dig for a Day – Silver Sunday, which takes place on Sunday, October 5, and is open to those aged 65 and over.