Monthly Archives: January 2023

10 family-friendly walking trails near Stonehaven | Houses for sale Stonehaven

Location plays a huge part in where you and your family choose to put down roots and for many, having an abundance of walking trails and loops to enjoy nature is vital when choosing a new home.

With coastal views, a bustling town centre and an easy commute to both Aberdeen city and places down south, it’s no wonder Stonehaven proves popular with househunters. But for those looking for more of a community feel, the nearby, charming town of Chapelton is also a highly sought after location. Its variety of well-designed homes offer the same amenities and benefits as houses for sale in Stonehaven, and is in an enviable position for enjoying the popular scenic coastal routes and peaceful woodland trails that Stonehaven offers. 

In this blog post, we’ve shared 10 family-friendly walks in and around the area, catering to adults and children of all ages and abilities. Whether you prefer an easy morning stroll or a challenging hike, we’ve got you covered!

1.) Dunnottar woods 

Distance: 3.2 – 3.5km 

Route: Circular 

Location: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire 

Dunnottar woods is a wonderful circular trail located near Stonehaven and is considered a moderate walk. Approximately 44 minutes to complete – depending on abilities – this popular trail is often used by runners, hill walkers and families and is the perfect place to enjoy a gentle stroll on a warm summer’s day. 

sniff-outdoors-Hn5QyzEpo0I-unsplash-1-1024x767 10 family-friendly walking trails near Stonehaven | Houses for sale Stonehaven

2.) Dunnottar Castle via Stonehaven Coastal Walk

Distance: 4.3km 

Route: Out & back

Location: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire 

Also considered a relatively easy route, taking around 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete, this coastal walk offers uninterrupted views of the coastline and the famous Dunnottar Castle. If you’re lucky enough, you may be able to spot dolphins and seals swimming in the steely North Sea. 

3.) Three Stones Circular Hill: Short Loop 

Distance: 6.1km 

Route: Circular

Location: Fetteresso Forest, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Following a gentle loop around gravel forest roads, The Three Stones Circular Hill has the option of a shorter or longer trail. For those with younger children, it may be better to opt for the shorter loop which takes an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled throughout your journey as deer are often spotted running amongst the trees!

IMG-4611-1024x768 10 family-friendly walking trails near Stonehaven | Houses for sale Stonehaven

4.) Crawton Waterfall

Distance: 1.2km

Route: Circular 

Location: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire 

Formerly part of a fishing village located on the Aberdeenshire coast, the Crawton Waterfall is a spectacular natural attraction situated only a short distance from Stonehaven. Not to be underestimated, this short walk certainly packs a punch with its impressive views. It’s best to attempt this trail with older children and in dry or calm conditions as the trail runs alongside a steep cliff edge. 

316699509_806609230415643_122280496470006174_n-1-1024x768 10 family-friendly walking trails near Stonehaven | Houses for sale Stonehaven

5.) Chapelton Trail

Distance: 4.5km

Route: Circular 

Location: Chapelton, Aberdeenshire

Starting from Hume Square, the Chapelton Trail is a circular 4.5km route that takes you through a number of marked points including Duke’s Walk, Elsick Burn and Dubbis Stile. Taking approximately one hour, this splendid trail is great for families as there is lots of diverse scenery and local wildlife to explore. 

6.) Portlethen Village and Coastal Walk Circular 

Distance: 3.9km 

Route: Circular 

Location: Porthlethen, Aberdeen

Starting in the popular village of Portlethen, this walk is considered a gentle route taking an average of one hour to complete. One of the many brilliant things about this walk is that it’s open all year round – meaning you can enjoy the beautiful coastal views during the peak of summer or during crisp winter days.

Image-37-1024x740 10 family-friendly walking trails near Stonehaven | Houses for sale Stonehaven

 7.) Cheyne Hill Circular

Distance: 3.9km 

Route: Circular 

Location: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire 

Popular with hikers, mountain bikers and runners, The Cheyne Hill Circular trail has the perfect balance of woodland, featuring a mix of different terrains including dense forest and open farmland. 

8.) Newtonhill-Burn of Muchalls 

Distance: 7.4km

Route: Out & back 

Location: Muchalls, Aberdeenshire

A slightly longer walk than those previously mentioned, this fantastic route takes you along the coastline with plenty of opportunities to take a small detour to stop and admire the views of the rocky headlands, sea stacks and open sea. 

IMG-4600-1-1024x768 10 family-friendly walking trails near Stonehaven | Houses for sale Stonehaven

9.) Crawton Bay and RSPB fowlsheugh circular 

Distance: 3.9km 

Route: Circular 

Location: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire 

An extension of the Crawton Waterfall, the Crawton Bay and RSPB fowlsheugh circular walk is approximately 3.9km and located just south of Stonehaven. On a late spring or summer’s day, this walk is truly a magical experience with the opportunity to spot some of Scotland’s finest seabirds including razorbills, kittiwakes and puffins. 

10.) Stonehaven- Cowie Chapel

Distance: 8.1km 

Route: Circular 

Location: Stonehaven & Cowie, Aberdeenshire

Combining wide stretching views over Stonehaven Harbour and lots of history associated with ‘the Auld Toon of Stonehaven’ and Cowie Village, this spectacular walk is ideal for families who are looking for a longer trail to fill their weekend plans. 

Before you set out on your journey, it’s important to fuel your body and what better way to do so than by popping past Brae at Chapelton for a piping hot cup of coffee or bacon roll. 

Alternatively, why not treat yourself after your walk to a well-deserved traybake or a spot of lunch? 

To find out more, visit Brae on Facebook or Instagram.

Browse our houses for sale near Stonehaven 

5 steps to making increased movement a habit in 2023

With a new year comes a fresh start, alongside the resolution to make exercise and increased movement a priority. Often falling at the first hurdle, many people struggle to make movement a habit, not a hobby. 

Fitness fanatic, Paul Hosie has been a personal trainer for 10 years and has a mission to help his clients achieve their health and well-being goals. Whether it be to lose weight, gain muscle, improve cardiovascular fitness or simply feel more confident in your own skin, Paul offers a variety of training options suited to all abilities. 

Previously located at The Boxes at Chapelton, Paul’s business has recently expanded to a larger premises within Slate and Grain, demonstrating the success and hard work that has been put into growing the business and its community. 

In this guest blog post, we caught up with Paul who shares five simple and easy steps to help turn increased movement into a habit, covering everything from identifying your goals to staying consistent …

Paul-Hosie-1 5 steps to making increased movement a habit in 2023
[Taken from Paul Hosie PT Instagram]

Identify your goals 

Before you start any journey – regardless of what it may be – it’s important to set yourself clear goals or milestones to aim towards. When it comes to increasing your movement, it’s essential to set goals that are realistic and achievable, as creating overly ambitious targets can damage your motivation.

Start by considering what you want to achieve through increased movement, whether it be to improve your physical fitness, help reduce stress or better your mental health. By having clear objectives, you will feel more focused and driven on your habit-building journey.

Make a plan:

Creating a plan is essential to help build habits as it allows you to stay organised, prioritise your time, set goals and track your progress. A well-crafted plan can provide a clear roadmap for achieving success and should be the starting point of your  journey. Additionally, a plan is a great way to hold yourself accountable as without one, it’s easy to lose sight of your aims.  

The first step in creating a movement-based plan is to determine how you want to incorporate it into your routine and when you will do it. There are plenty of ways to add movement into your daily life, such as going for a walk every morning before work, taking a yoga class once a week or scheduling weekly workout sessions. 

Start small:

It’s important to start slowly and gradually build up your movement habits. If you try to do too much too quickly, you may become overwhelmed and stressed. You ideally want to try and start with small, manageable tasks that are easier to stick to. This will help you build momentum and reduce the chance of burnout. 

By starting small you have the flexibility and control to gradually increase the difficulty or complexity of your goals over time. For example, if you’re in a job which is predominantly office based and juggle a busy family life at home, then it may be unrealistic to set yourself the goal of reaching 15,000 steps every day. Instead, you should start by setting yourself a smaller more achievable target such as 5,000 steps, then gradually build this number up over time. 

Track your progress:

Keeping track of your journey is extremely important because it allows you to see how far you’ve come and measure your current progress. It can give you a strong sense of accomplishment, motivation and encouragement to continue building the habit. In addition, it can help you to identify any roadblocks or challenges that you may be facing, so you can make relevant adjustments or changes to overcome them. 

There are many ways you can keep track of your progress including a journal, a habit tracker or simply putting a mark in your calendar to record your daily movement. All of these suggestions can allow you to identify patterns or trends. For example, you may find that you are more successful at completing your movement goals in the morning rather than in the evening. 

Stay consistent:

Habits take time to form, so you want to be consistent with your routine as this will make it easier for you in the long run. Consistency helps to overcome the initial resistance and discomfort that often comes with forming new habits, particularly those that involve physical movement.

Try to make it a part of your daily routine and be patient with yourself as you work to build the habit. There will be times outwith your control when you may not be able to achieve your movement goal for the day but it’s important not to let this discourage you. 

Paul-Hosie-PT-2 5 steps to making increased movement a habit in 2023

Find out more about Paul’s training services via his website, or get in contact with him on Instagram @paulhosie.pt or Facebook. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about Chapelton’s bustling local community then check out the blog for more information on local businesses, upcoming events and impressive housebuilders. 

2023 wellness wisdom with Sally Munro

As a self-confessed wellness warrior, local Chapelton resident Sally Munro is a Nutritional Therapist, Yoga teacher and Swim School Director who is helping her clients to optimise their health and wellbeing. Through supportive nutritional therapy and lifestyle adjustments, Sally has successfully helped her clients to lose weight, increase their energy levels, improve their sleep and so much more.

In this guest blog post, Sally shares her thoughts on how to live well in 2023, and create meaningful health goals you can stick to in order to live a happier, more fulfilled lifestyle…

Image-28-1-1 2023 wellness wisdom with Sally Munro

Welcome to 2023! 

Grab yourself a glass of water and take a seat. It’s time to ask yourself how you and your body are feeling right now on this very day. Are you refreshed from a relaxing holiday period or still feeling frazzled and tired? Are you rolling into January with a list of resolutions, diet and exercise goals and high expectations on how life will be better with such notions? 

Most folks start with gusto and then they crash. We are all human, we all want more of the things we think we need to be happy, successful and loved. My suggestion this year is to ditch it all and take the pressure off. That said, if you are a goal setter and this works for you, keep on trucking my friend!

If you’re hoping to make some positive changes and make 2023 your best and happiest year, these are my words of advice on how to truly live well…

Image-30-682x1024 2023 wellness wisdom with Sally Munro

Assess your needs

We are blessed with this one wild and precious life. Yes, we could all be doing something different, so where do we start? We start by asking ourselves what do we truly need to live a healthy, satisfying life? Do we need the gym membership or can we commit to walking for free outdoors to start with? Do we need to spend money we don’t have on weight loss programmes? Maybe we just need to simplify.

Slow down and enjoy the seasons 

In theory, winter is a time for slowing down, nourishing and resting our bodies so that with the arrival of spring we can then burst into more action, seize the day and enjoy the lighter nights. 

Many people have moved away from seasonal living, replacing it with a go go go attitude, 24/7, no downtime, no self-care, no rest, no wholesome foods. We are expected to reply to messages and emails ASAP, work into the small hours, attend all events and sacrifice our relationships. Before you know it, you are racing full steam ahead into another New Year, to the tune of everyone saying how quickly that came around! Was your year full of laughter, love, connection, movement, joy?

If you ask me, New Year is actually a great time to really slow down and reflect on what it is you truly want and need. It’s time we got back to living more seasonally and dance to the beat of our wonderful seasons, rather than rushing through life.

Plan for success

New Year often brings thoughts of cleaning up our diets, taking a break from the excesses many of us indulge in over the festive period and hitting the gym. While these are great objectives, there is only so much salad one can eat before falling off the wagon. 

The key is planning and preparation. Taking the time to choose some nutrient dense and filling meals will help you stay on track. Ensuring quality sources of protein, such as fish, chicken, eggs, tofu in your meals will help you feel fuller for longer and give your body nutrients that are essential for repair and maintenance. 

There are many books and websites sharing thousands of recipe ideas. I highly recommend some of The Body Coach Joe Wicks books for his simple and easy to follow recipes if you are short of time or ideas. 

Image-27-684x1024 2023 wellness wisdom with Sally Munro

Remember to start slow

In regards to exercise, if you are just getting started please take your time and ease yourself in gently. Gradually building up your stamina and fitness takes time and commitment; it is not a quick fix sadly! 

The benefits of regular movement are endless. Even if you just try to incorporate a daily walk. Depending on your current fitness level you will need to monitor how you feel and increase as the days go on. Start with a walk around the block, a few more trips around the garden, or up and down the stairs. If you fancy taking up a new activity, ask a friend to join you. Having a fitness buddy might help as you can keep each other motivated. Using body weight to perform exercises is also a great cost-effective way to start getting fit. Squats, standing press-ups against the wall, triceps’ dips on the side of the bath – the list is endless. 

It is important to know that sometimes you will get tired, your muscles might ache a bit, but that’s all normal and you should have some rest days in between. Once you push through, you will start to feel stronger, get the buzz and you’ll get excited to exercise more – trust me! Despite exercising, you might find you are more energised and you may experience better sleep patterns. 

If you need any support with what to eat for your body, how to start an exercise programme or how to be more mindful, please get in touch. 

A checklist for a happy life

To live a simple life, is to live in the moment with full awareness.

Here are some top tips for adopting a simple life:

  • Say yes to the things that make your heart sing.
  • Say ‘no thank you’ when that’s really how you feel.
  • Give yourself some peace away from people, devices and noise.
  • Drink water.
  • Eat real foods.
  • Dance.
  • Sing, even if it’s badly!
  • Sit and breathe, count in for 4 and out for 6, for at least 2 minutes, increase as you wish. 
  • Read up on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. Apply!
  • Read a book, with full presence.
  • Have regular technology breaks. 
  • Play card games. 
  • Flex your brain muscles and play games to improve your memory and concentration.

One last thing…

This is NOT going to be a ‘New Year, New You’ kind of vibe, because quite frankly, I find it grating! We are who we are, day in and day out. Whatever we choose to do, we will still be ourselves. The actions we choose to take, however, might lend to an improved version of our current selves. 

For more about me and how I can help you reach your wellness goals, visit my website.

You can also find me on Instagram @Salthewellnesswarrior or contact me directly on 07894505661.

Take part in our photo competition for the 2024 Chapelton calendar!

We’re excited to announce we’re producing a Chapelton calendar, but we need your help creating it! Each month, we will be hosting a photo competition and the winning image from that month will be featured in our first ever calendar. 

Available for 2024, the calendar will feature entries taken by the community to show off the town and its stunning surroundings. 

To take part, submit your photo by the last day of each month to this Chapelton email address, events@chapeltonnewtown.co.uk. 

Entries will be judged by expert photographer, Rory Raitt and the winner will be announced by the 7th of the following month.  November and December entries should be submitted by November 7th to allow for printing time before the end of the year.  

Helping ensure you capture the perfect image, Rory has shared his top tips along with some of his example imagery to spark your creativity…

NGitq4ndsluCCm0XiffoQmQMhoVrSWR4ngFEnmTRJfw-yAB--ncrNO6wu63eKGmlXsLYW5C1wFxdx9YGoR9sGRxkJEAZjCrQqI5OVt9XM_qPUQPyPiNcke3ZFlFCNJIOf-3bu_fKlOtINiheZZ7n_RltztQJMi9r2h5VdYzJvQGP8mSELxt2slvVsGaCIg Take part in our photo competition for the 2024 Chapelton calendar!

If you’re using a camera… 

  1. Pay attention to light quality! 

Light can massively impact a photo, but not just its brightness, consider colour temperature too. The warmest light naturally occurs around sunrise and sunset, so if you’re looking for a golden glow, this might be the time to take your shot. 

  1. Compose your photograph carefully

Composition is key! Ever heard of the rule of thirds? It’s an important term in the world of photography. Essentially your image will be broken down into thirds and it encourages you to balance your photos better. Think having everything centred is the best approach? Think again, using the outer thirds makes it look that little bit more natural. 

  1. Check the exposure 

Exposure can dramatically affect the quality of your image. If it’s over-exposed, some parts of the photo may lose sharpness and blend into the background or not be as eye-catching. One of the main advantages of digital photography is the ability to check the photo on the camera’s rear LCD. 

  1. Reduce camera shake 

Having steady support could really elevate your photo to ensure its crisp and clear as well as supporting your composition goals. For those wanting something simple, try using a solid support like a tripod. If you’re becoming increasingly more interested in photography and wanting to test out different lenses and go handheld, you should use shutter speeds. 

  • 50mm lens would need 1/60s shutter speed
  • 100mm lens would need 1/125s shutter speed
  • 200mm lens would need 1/200s shutter speed 

Also bear in mind, if you’re taking an action shot and it’s a fast moving subject, this would require a faster shutter speed compared to photographing a landscape. 

  1. Aperture + focal length + distance from subject 

Aperture refers to light passing through the camera and it can be adjusted to allow more or less light in. The smaller the aperture (such as F1.8), the more your background will be blurred for portraits etc. The larger the aperture (such as F22), the more your background will be in focus, ideal for landscapes. 

xuS9GkM8Syf_vXp3PDDLuO2FqyavwMuj1PqFrVVkFD-QgF3F1nkyNN2o76n44nD64tBl1PwSnuMW3LEOZDoPOlEaHqqKt1vVEoMLAfvwR1UKxeq63FzHyyZv-tkn1sVOALRy1GmifwSnjypEBdkXp3vm4DsWLammaAbo_4YC7YmO2Kp7tev5MQvxiees7w Take part in our photo competition for the 2024 Chapelton calendar!

For those of you that will be using your phone’s camera, bear in mind the above, but use the below top tips to maximise quality! 

  1. Lock the focus to ensure your subject is always sharp 
  2. Shoot in portrait mode to blur the background 
  3. Shoot horizontally as well as vertically 
  4. Use the exposure setting, a bright background will cause the foreground to be under exposed 
  5. High Dynamic Range (HDR) can give a dramatic effect, play around with it!
  6. If you’re shooting an action shot, try using the burst mode function 
3MEbhMZHkIujd1dBWbK85JZ2Q9-YKY8fdQC2d6Ik-UoQ5jm2ElJFzPt0-E3uU1zea9mn0e0KgmERRVOAletAyya5-kkG6TIrBdyI6vgX3IZkid5x2Wlhv472ERy5afmm_V0vwqaFMIhq6qbZYuVcrfHU1vlJkcH4R-S86WmU9gdWkkyL6VMXkvtalJRfCw Take part in our photo competition for the 2024 Chapelton calendar!

We can’t wait to see all your submissions and of course share them on our channels throughout the year!