Monthly Archives: January 2018

Meet the Resident: Maureen and Ken McLaren, ZeroC Property Owners

After selling their Victorian terraced property in the heart of Aberdeen, Maureen and Ken were keen to downsize and be part of a new close-knit community. However, after spending time searching for the perfect property, the couple realised that they were able to resize rather than downside and purchased a three-bedroom ZeroC home in Chapelton.

Maureen commented: “Our terraced property in Aberdeen had been our family home for several years but it was time for a change. Living in an older building comes with more maintenance and energy worries and as time went on we knew we wanted to move into a modern property.

“Our daughter and grandson live in Newtonhill and we were drawn by the handy location. The look and feel of the town is great and we instantly loved everything that is on its doorstep including the community, facilities and green space.

“We moved into our three-bedroom ZeroC home just before Christmas which was perfect for spending time with family and friends. Our old property had a small galley kitchen, but with an open plan kitchen and dining space, our new home is great for entertaining and socialising. We’re really excited for the spring and summer when we can open the doors onto our garden and take dining outside, it’s a lovely space.

“We’ve already met our neighbours and regularly enjoy walks around the town and surrounding area with Milo, our dog. We also enjoy visiting Teacake for a relaxing coffee with friends following a walk around the estate, and having The Lounge Hair & Beauty Salon close by has already proved invaluable.

“It feels completely different living in Chapelton compared to the city but we couldn’t love it more. It’s the perfect place for our stage in life and we are looking forward to the good times ahead in our new home.

“The team at ZeroC was extremely helpful and were always a pleasure to deal with.”

Embrace the beauty of a Chapelton winter

There are few things more refreshing than a crisp, cold Scottish winter morning. Aberdeenshire is rich in natural beauty as well as well as offering a host of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Chapelton and its surrounding area is no exception to the rule.

Our guide to winter in Chapelton and the local area highlights five of the community’s favourite activities and attractions.

Stroll through a natural wonder

Less than five miles away from Chapelton is the Red Moss of Netherley. Located next to the small village of Netherley, the raised bog is a varied habitat with marsh and woodland. A variety of wildlife flourishes in this environment including heather and bog-land plants including Sphagnum moss and carnivorous sundews. Perfect for kids and adults alike, visitors may spot inhabitants as diverse as the toad and dragonfly depending on when they visit.

The walk is easy going over an access path – but do ensure that you stick to it, as deep pools and ditches within the bog can be dangerous if walked upon.

Learn more about the Red Moss by visiting https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/red-moss-of-netherley/

Go winter wildlife spotting

With a favourable climate and plenty of food to enjoy, the skies above Chapelton are the perfect place to spot a diverse range of migrating birds. Recent sightings have included the Snow Goose, the diminutive Siberian Chiffchaff and distinctive American Wigeon.

Arboriculturalists will also appreciate the wide variety of tree species available throughout Chapelton and its surroundings, including Silver Birch, Gorse, various willows and the large beech hedge which can be found on the Chapelton Trail.

Learn more about wildlife in Aberdeenshire on VisitABDN (https://www.visitabdn.com/what-to-do/aberdeen/nature-and-wildlife/).

Indulge yourself at Teacake

Come in from the cold by relaxing with a hot drink or warming bowl of soup in the town’s very own café, Teacake. Located within the popular focal point of Hume Square, the family-run business uses choice ingredients from local suppliers.  Keep an eye on their Facebook page to keep up with its regularly-updated menu. You can also reserve a table or request a gift voucher to share with a loved one.

Explore the market town of Stonehaven

With a fine range of independent shops to explore, Stonehaven is an alluring town less than ten miles from Chapelton. It’s also home to the acclaimed Gallery at Fifty Five, which stocks an array of artwork from up-and-coming Scottish artists and is the perfect location to obtain a stylish piece with which to personalise your new home.

The town is also home to HIP Life; an independent clothing store which stocks handmade, Fairtrade clothing from Nepal, India and Mexico.

You can learn more about Gallery at Fifty Five at http://www.galleryatfiftyfive.co.uk/.

 

Recipe: The Juicing Co’s ‘Spice and Easy’ start to 2018

After the excesses of the festive season, the new year brings with it the perfect opportunity to give your body a helping hand.

This straightforward, sweet and fiery juice recipe is courtesy of The Juicing Co. As well as tasting great, ‘Spice and Easy’ helps to aid digestion, keep you hydrated and reduce inflammation.

Those planning to come along to the Chapelton Wellbeing Weekend yoga event on Saturday 20 January will get the chance to taste this mouthwatering creation in person too.

Why not give this recipe a go yourself? Be sure to share the results with #the_juicing_co and tag @the_juicing_co on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

‘SPICE & EASY’

Makes 2 glasses

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe pineapple
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • Large knob of ginger (use more or less, depending on how fiery you like your juice)

Method

First, cut the rind off the pineapple.  Cut the pineapple into chunks.

Wash the cucumber and ginger, then cut into chunks.

Juice all of the ingredients.

Mix well and serve over ice.