Things To Do in Ellon

For the sporty, the arty, the history buff and the nature lover, Ellon has something for the whole family.

Community Activities

Check out our popular social media forum for activities around Ellon and at the Community Campus. From swimming to poetry, from keep fit to crochet, get involved and feel the benefit.

Cycling

Get on your bike for quiet lanes, offroad adventures and beautiful scenery.

Fishing

Popular fishing spots for beginners and pros alike in small local lakes, the Ythan estuary and rivers.

Golfing

Affordable, accessible, quality courses - in Ellon and at the links.

Walking

Slow and easy? Going for the burn? In town? In nature?
You'll find them all here.

Riding

Just wanting to try a few lessons or an experienced jockey with an urge to get back in the saddle and no room in the flat for stables?

Cycling

Formartine & Buchan Way

The route is 40 miles in length from Dyce to Fraserburgh with a 13 mile spur from Maud to Peterhead. The route has been divided into eleven sections, all of which are easily achievable for day trips.

Enjoy individual sections or group a few together for a longer adventure. Each route card provides detailed information about the particular section.

Grampian Cycle Partnership

Grampian Cycle Partnership works with local clubs, groups, associations, businesses and workplaces and individuals, the local authorities, government and national organisations to help achieve their ambitions through encouraging, developing, promoting and supporting cycling and work towards making Aberdeen city, Aberdeenshire and Moray even more welcoming to cycle in than they are currently.

Aberdeenshire Council Routes

Whether you are a local resident or a visitor to the area there is a lot to see and do in Aberdeenshire. Cycling in Aberdeenshire is a healthy and enjoyable way of experiencing the area. Series 4 is specific to our district.

The website provides routes to get fit, have fun and learn more about Aberdeenshire.

Sustrans National Cycle Network

Search the national cycle network for routes within and through our area.

Visit Aberdeenshire Routes

Whether you prefer to ride on the road, explore a mountain bike trail or just a leisurely ride away from traffic, get on your bike in Aberdeenshire and venture into our great outdoors.

Ythan Cycle Club

Ythan CC (pronounced as in 'python') is a cycle club serving the North Aberdeenshire area. We have a membership of around 140, varying from dedicated racers, time trialists, sportive riders, mountainbikers, triathletes, as well as tourists and occasional riders. The Club was founded in 1987 from the ashes of Ellon District Cycle Club, and prides itself on being a friendly organisation dedicated to helping people have fun on bikes whether they race or want to go for a pedal.

Ellon Cycles

Established in 2003, Ellon Cycles specialise in servicing and repairing all makes of bicycles for customers in and around the Ellon and Aberdeenshire area. Ellon Cycles is owned by Graham Ward, an experienced cyclist and founder member of the Ythan Cycle Club.
We carry a large range of new parts and accessories to keep your bike on the road in a safe and road worthy condition.

Fishing

Haddo House Angling Club

Haddo House Angling Club can offer approximately 6 miles of prime salmon, sea trout & brown trout fishing over 3 beats on the river Ythan.

The highest beat, Gight, lies in a beautiful wooded valley which has single and double bank fishing.
The Methlick water has southern bank fishing between Waterloo Bridge and Tangland Bridge.
Tarves water has southern bank fishing of approx. 3900m from Tangland Bridge downstream.

Mill of Elrick Fish Farm and Trout Fishery

Mill of Elrick Trout Fishery is stocked with mainly Rainbow Trout and is situated just north of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in the North East of Scotland. It has excellent facilities that cater for beginners, occasional fishers and experienced fly fishermen.

You can bait or fly fish and the loch is set up to encourage beginners and children to take up the sport and well stocked with predominantly pound sized rainbow trout.

Newburgh Angling Club

The Ythan Estuary provides a great deal of feeding for visiting and migrating sea trout and also to large colonies of Terns, and Eider Ducks.
It is a great pleasure to fish either from the bank or the boat in such an environment.
The club has open access to the local waters and boat fishing for sea trout in the estuary.
Newburgh Angling club has it's own self maintained boats with engines for use by club members.
All boat fishing members have to be trained in the use of small powered craft.

The Ythan Fishery

The Newburgh Fishings is the most famous stretch of the River Ythan and is situated in the estuary. The number and size of the fish caught is impressive. Because it's in the estuary, the angler is not at the mercy of the elements (or sea-sickness), yet the fish are always present and can be caught throughout the summer months whatever the weather. The water is fished from both banks and boats, which have access to 17 pools.

Golfing

McDonald Golf Club

McDonald Golf Club in Ellon is set in the heart of the Aberdeenshire countryside, 16 miles north of Aberdeen. This scenic eighteen hole golf course provides a memorable golfing experience for all standards of golfer.

The parkland course is named after its benefactor Sir James McDonald who, in 1926, gifted the old woodlands to the people of Ellon. The original nine hole course winds its way through this magnificent forest with its stately trees and beautiful rhododendron bushes. The well established first nine has a natural stream that twists and turns across the course and features on almost every hole

Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club

Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club is 2 miles north of Trump International Links Scotland, mid-way between Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay championship golf clubs, and is situated on the Ythan Estuary, overlooking the North Sea and Sands of Forvie National Nature Reserve.

The club was founded in 1888, and is a challenging par 72 Championship links course that demands accurate golf from tee to green. The clubhouse was opened in 2001 by the 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie.

Cruden Bay Golf Club

A traditional Scottish links golf course, originally designed by Tom Morris of St Andrews and Archie Simpson in 1899 and re-designed in the 1920’s by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler. Cruden Bay regularly appears in the list of the world's top 100 courses.

Trump International Golf Links

Embracing mile after mile of spectacular Aberdeenshire coastline, Scotland's championship links golf course and award-winning five-star resort features fine dining, luxury accommodaton, annual memberships and golf packages for visitors, tuition, spa treatments, clay pigeon shooting, riding on the beach and the Clavis Whisky Bar set against the backdrop of the beautiful McLeod House.

Walking

Ellon Walks

Download the map and enjoy the great outdoors at your own pace. If this doesn't meet your needs, there are walking maps aplenty at the library.

Ellon Circular Walk

An exploration of the main historical and wildlife features of Ellon.

Walk The Formartine and Buchan Way

Opened in the early 1990s, the Formartine and Buchan Way runs along the former route of the railway that extended from Dyce on the fringes of Aberdeen north to Maud, where it split with branches heading to both Fraserburgh and Peterhead.

The line was a victim of the 1960s Beeching cuts, though it continued to carry freight to Peterhead until 1970 and to Fraserburgh until 1979. The Buchan Countryside Group began the work of reopening the route as a cycleway and footpath in 1987. Today the route offers a peaceful walking route through pleasant, lowland countryside and rich farmland.

Ythan Estuary, Newburgh

This fine circular heads out along the bird-rich Ythan Estuary and through the dunes of the Forvie National Nature Reserve. It has a long beach section and also visits the ruins of Forvie Church - all that remains of a village destroyed by the sands. Dogs must be kept on leads and ensure you do not get too close or disturb any seals or ground-nesting birds - obey any signs. (Vicki Waterman photo)

Forvie Sands, Collieston

This excellent walk explores part of the Forvie Sands National Nature Reserve, a vast area of dunes and coastal heathland. Along the way there is some fine coastal scenery, a beautiful sandy bay and the site of a village destroyed by the drifting sands. (Vicki Waterman photo)

Cruden Bay to the Bullers of Buchan

This dramatic coastal walk passes the impressive ruins of Slains Castle, one of the inspirations for Bram Stoker's Dracula, and reaching the Bullers of Buchan, where there is a massive blow hole with several natural arches. A bus can be caught from the main road to return to Cruden Bay; alternatively those looking for a much longer walk could continue on the coast path to Boddam, or head back the way they came. (Leslie Mess photo)

Riding

Ladymire Equestrian Centre

Ladymire Equestrian Centre is situated very privately in countryside just outside of Ellon. We offer lessons and hacks for all ages and abilities, private livery and equestrian days when young fans can also learn how to look after horses.

Contact Us

We are a voluntary virtual team. Please contact us using the email below.

Contacts

Email: visitellon@gmail.com

Links

Aberdeenshire Council
Ellon Community Council
Ythan Community Council
Visit Aberdeenshire
Feedback

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