Newmachar – Walking, Golf and Birdwatching

Newmachar combines a historic route through Aberdeenshire with golf courses, a distinctive village landmark and special opportunities for observing nature. Anyone wishing to plan a trip with varied daily itineraries will find opportunities here for exercise, sport and peaceful discoveries.

Along the Formartine and Buchan Way

The Formartine and Buchan Way follows a former railway line and is 53 miles long. Newmachar lies along this route, which is suitable for walking and cycling in Aberdeenshire. The path is safe and suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders of all ability levels. This makes it possible to adapt your travel plans flexibly to your preferred style of activity, without committing to just one way of getting around.

Along the Formartine and Buchan Way, eleven Corten steel signs mark the route. Each of these signs bears a line from the specially commissioned Doric poem “Fit Wye” by award-winning local author Shane Strachan. This gives the former railway line a literary and regional character in addition to its function as a route. Anyone choosing accommodation in Newmachar can incorporate this connection between landscape, activity and local language into their travel plans.

Golf between Heathland and Parkland

A second focus is Newmachar Golf Club, south of Newmachar. The club has two full-length 18-hole golf courses: the Hawkshill Championship Course and the Swailend Course. Both courses were designed by Dave Thomas, but they differ in character. The Hawkshill Championship Course is a heathland course, while the Swailend Course is laid out as a parkland course. These two landscape types give golf travellers a specific reason to consider their own sporting interests when choosing holiday accommodation.

The club also offers a driving range: every bay is equipped with Trackman technology to track the ball’s flight path. In addition, Newmachar Golf Club is associated with Paul Lawrie’s victory at the 1999 Open; Lawrie played there during this victory. For golf enthusiasts, a stay therefore connects with a specific chapter in sporting history.

Village Landmark and Nature Observation

Newmachar Parish Church lies ten miles north of Aberdeen and a short distance east of the A947 Aberdeen–Banff Road. At the highest point of the village, it forms a distinctive landmark. It complements the more active elements of a trip with a cultural point of orientation and illustrates the village’s position within its surroundings.

For those interested in birds, Aberdeenshire Bird Tours can arrange puffin tours during the season from April to July. The provider also offers birdwatching in a local park, as well as multi-day tours through several different habitat types. Individually arranged birdwatching tours make it possible to plan the nature-focused part of a trip according to your own interests. Together with the route and golf courses, this creates a choice between active days, sporting highlights and natural history excursions.

The Right Base for Your Travel Plans

A holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Newmachar is particularly suitable as a search option if you want to combine different interests: the Formartine and Buchan Way represents walking and cycling, Newmachar Golf Club offers two different 18-hole experiences, and the services of Aberdeenshire Bird Tours add birdwatching to the trip. This keeps the choice of accommodation closely linked to your preferred travel rhythm.

More Places for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to include other places in your search alongside Newmachar, here is a concise overview: New Aberdour, Whitehills, Peterculter, Inverallochy, Monymusk, Mintlaw, Banchory and Newburgh. These places can help you structure your further travel planning without losing sight of Newmachar’s special mix of routes, golf and nature observation.

For the overarching travel overview: Aberdeenshire.