As Chapelton grows in size, so does our community of pets in the town – and as it is National Pet Month, we thought what better way to celebrate than putting the spotlight on Chapelton’s furry friends!
We asked our Facebook community to share pictures of their paws-itively adorable pets – and you all delivered!
So, sit back, and get to know the cats and dogs of Cha-pet-ton!
During the past year it has been a tough challenge trying to keep the entire family entertained indoors. But with the sun starting to shine and restrictions beginning to ease, brush the cobwebs off your walking boots and start planning your weekend activities.
Step into spring with these local activities that will be sure to burn off excess energy, while sticking to both a budget and level 3 Scottish Government Guidelines.
Less than a 20-minute drive from Chapelton, the cliffs at Dunnottar Castle offer one of Scotland’s most truly dramatic and beautiful views. Steeped in history and with plenty of local beaches to explore, Dunnottar Castle is great way to get the kids excited about a day out of the house.
Aberdeen Spy Mission Treasure Trail
Discover Aberdeen like you have never seen before on a self-guided Spy Mission treasure trail! Get your magnifying glass out and solve tricky clues set on existing buildings and monuments to crack a code and complete the mission! A must-do for families, you can get out and about exploring Aberdeen for just £10.
Did you know that we have our very own trail around Chapelton? You can follow a one hour marked walk through diverse scenery and wildlife habitats. The Chapelton trail has been used by many over lockdown as people use the area to exercise and socialise. You can download our Chapelton trail map here.
You don’t need to venture abroad to Spain or Australia to spot dolphins…you can find them right here in Aberdeen. Visit Aberdeen Harbour to see urban dolphins jumping out of the water. You might even be able to spot sunbathing seals at Newburgh Beach if you make the trip.
We’ve got good news for history buffs as the beautiful Crathes Castle is due to re-open on 30 April. Explore the wonderful 16th-century castle with its intricate towers and turrets.
Crathes Castle is the perfect location for a family day out – take a stroll through the idyllic walled gardens and spot wildlife such as deer, red squirrels, and woodpeckers…it’ll be a day to remember! For opening times and entry prices, check the National Trust for Scotland website first.
You don’t have to venture far from home to enjoy a day out! Come along to our first Farmers’ Market of the year on Sunday 23rd May. Hosted outdoors in Burgess Park, the event boasts over 25 stalls with a range of produce and items from local suppliers as well as hot food to take away.
The farmers’ market is open 11am-2:30pm.
Why not pay a visit to the wonderful herd of Highland cattle that graze in the grounds of Meldrum House? Whilst the house is closed to the public, visitors can visit the grounds and wave hello to the coos! Remember not to touch them or get too close – they’re not as cuddly as they might look!
Whatever the weather, there are plenty of places to visit over summer as lockdown restrictions ease in Scotland. Why not visit our Facebook page and tell us your favourite local trip?
Looking to move home this summer?
If you are looking for a new build home for sale near Aberdeen, Chapelton community offers stylish houses on the outskirts of the city. View our homes for sale.
Chapelton’s egg-stra special Easter event has helped raise over £1,000 for local charity Grampian Autistic Society.
We invited residents and visitors to find a series of hand-decorated eggs that were created by 12 North East artists before hosting an auction that offered bidders the chance to take one of the unique eggs home.
The funds raised will support Grampian Autistic Society in providing essential upgrades to its play scheme at Carnie Drive as well as replace sensory equipment for children and young people living with an autistic spectrum condition, helping them to realise their full potential.
Billy Alexander, Chief Executive Officer at the charity, commented: “I would like to thank the organisers of the Chapelton Easter events for considering and involving Grampian Autistic Society and helping us raise essential funds towards our cause. It is great to see and be involved in such a vibrant local community that has people at its heart.
“We really value the support and efforts to put a spotlight on the work that we provide and look forward to working closely with Chapelton and its community in the near future.” Almost 200 people also took part in the Easter egg decorating competition which encouraged all ages to design their own egg to be in with a chance of winning a selection of prizes.”
You can find out more about the event, and view all of the eggs here.
This Easter in Chapelton, 12 amazing local artists have designed bespoke eggs for our annual Easter egg hunt.
These beautiful creations are set to brighten up the town and have been made with love and care to make this an Easter for your family to remember.
We got in touch with each artist to find out a little bit more about them, and their egg-cellent creations:
Mhairi McDowall
Mhairi is a textile designer and founder of Paper Houses Design, a textiles studio based in Muchalls.
Her bold patterns are inspired by everyday structures and mid-century modern style.
“Over the past 12 months, my main view has been out to the back garden to colourful buoys against a bumpy white wall and the sea. Through designing the egg pattern I wanted to share these views in a joyous way, hence the bold colours and graphic design.”
See more: https://www.paperhousesdesign.com/
Jane Jenson
Jane is an illustrator based in Aberdeen and creates work with her beloved biro pen. Her work focuses on Scottish nature and wildlife and is ever evolving.
“Harvey has a grumpy wee tilt to his mouth so I think someone has hidden his carrots!”
See more: https://www.instagram.com/purplejain/
Morag Stevenson
Findon based artist Morag found inspiration for her egg through her many walks on the Chapelton Trail.
“Often lost in my thoughts, I can hear sounds in the trees, whispers, creaking, squeaking and see little shapes in their trunks formed from knots of wood or where branches have broken off. But perhaps these sounds are the whispering and chattering of the fairy folk, and these shapes in the trees are doors and windows? After all, we don’t know everything, and the enchanted woods can be a magical place!”
See more: http://moragstevenson.com/
Catriona Yates
Working from her home studio in Aberdeen, Catriona’s art uses a combination of design, colour and technique to produce vibrant and imaginative paintings. Her inspiration comes from nature, wildlife and the beautiful Scottish landscape that is all around her.
See more: https://www.catrionayates.com/
Sam Barnett
Influenced by growing up in the Monymusk countryside, Sam enjoys painting woodland scenes and the birds and wildlife found there. For her Easter artwork, Sam thought it would be fun for children to spot a rabbit hiding in the grass!
See more: https://www.sambarnettart.co.uk/
Helen Forrest
An artist based in Fourdon, Helen likes her paintings to leave room for the imagination. In her paintings the figures turn away from you – they look to something outside your range of vision so that you start to make up your own story. Vibrant colour, simple form and a creative use of texture are woven together to give Helen’s paintings their unique quality.
See more: https://helenforrestgallery.co.uk/
Eilidh MacAskill
Eilidh is a Newtonhill-based painter. She takes inspiration from the plants, patterns and colours of coastal environments, mixing landscape pieces and a semi-abstract style. Her egg has been inspired by walks along the Chapelton Trail, combined with the traditional linear patterns on Easter eggs and the mottled surface of real eggs.
See more: http://eilidhmacart.com/
Laura Bremner
Laura is a designer, illustrator and printmaker based nearby in Portlethen. She graduated in graphic design and started her own business, Juniper Press, in 2015. Laura’s work has a distinct monochromatic style. She takes inspiration from the intricacies and detail of Scandinavian and Eastern European folk art, using nature and plants as her subject matter.
See more: https://www.instagram.com/juniper_press/
Pauline Murray
A graduate of Gray’s School of Art, Pauline has taught art & design for many years. She has exhibited widely throughout Scotland with work in collections both here and abroad. From her studio in Newtonhill, Pauline’s work tends to be landscape based or inspired by the small pond in her back garden. These paintings are usually very colourful and upbeat and her Chapelton egg is indicative of this style.
See more: https://www.facebook.com/paulinemurrayart
Val Thomson
Living in Aberdeen, the North East coastline has a strong influence on Val’s work. She uses acrylic paint to add layers and make marks to reflect the character of this corner of Scotland in her paintings. “Flying Home” is inspired by the sense of belonging Val experiences when standing at the shore.”
See more: https://www.valthomson.com/
Karen Hadjitofi
Karen lives and paints from her home in Aberdeen. While taking walks in the local parks and woodlands she gathers images and information for her paintings. She enjoys watching birds fluttering amongst the trees and bushes, particularly when they start to nest.
“These birds came to mind very quickly when thinking about painting my Easter egg and they seemed to be an appropriate subject.”
See more: https://www.karenhadjitofi.com/
Rosy Long
A graduate of Gray’s School of art and based nearby in Muchalls, Rosy is a mixed media artist who enjoys experimenting with new materials and techniques. She works in 2D and 3D using papier-mâché, recycled card and acrylic mirrors. On her egg, Rosy has used collage, including some Victorian scraps to celebrate Eastertime.
See more: http://www.rosy-long.com/
How many can you find in Chapelton? Make sure to send us your pictures of your family on the Chapelton Easter Egg Hunt! Download the map here.