Blog Archives

Chapelton’s Furry Residents

Meet Chapelton’s friendliest and furriest residents. If you would like to add a picture of your Chapelton pet to our gallery, send us a direct message on the Chapelton Facebook page.

Enjoy Geocaching in Chapelton with ZeroC

As we enjoy the longer and warmer days of summer, why not join in the fun of geocaching in Chapelton. 

Thanks to housebuilder ZeroC, the fun pastime is set to be available for residents and visitors alike to make the most of. Here, Alastair Struthers, ZeroC’s Development and Sales Manager for Chapelton, describes what the hobby is and how you can get involved.

What is Geocaching?

Best described as high-tech treasure hunting, geocaching is the outdoor pursuit of finding a small, hidden container using a device equipped with GPS mapping (Global Positioning System).  Participants, known as Geocachers, use coordinates on their GPS devices to hide and seek a waterproof container, which normally contains a logbook to record their discovery as well as a small reward.

Once the geocache has been discovered, players hide the container for future players to discover.

Who can take part?

Geocaching is open to anyone with an interest in the outdoors and a GPS-enabled device, such as a smartphone or tablet. It’s a great family activity involving walking, problem solving and mystery, getting you out and about to explore the beautiful scenery in and around Chapelton.

Where is the Chapelton geocache?

Although its location within Chapelton is top secret, the geocache will soon be stashed within the town for intrepid explorers to find. Inside, there will be a logbook to record your discovery as well as free stickers for those who have discovered it.

Will you be the first person to find the Chapelton geocache?

Be sure to check the Chapelton Facebook and Instagram pages to find out when the Chapelton Geocache goes live.

Chapelton’s First Drinks Tasting

On Thursday 22 February Chapelton offered the local community the chance to enjoy a taste of some of the North East’s most popular spirits including Cock o’ the North, Arbikie and Porter’s Gin.

Held in the cosy setting of the AJC showhome, guests were able to learn more about the art of making cocktails at home with Porter’s Gin, find out about the process of creating Arbikie’s vodka and enjoy a dram of Cock o’ the North whisky.

Chapelton will be hosting a series of food and drink tasting events so look out for further details. If you would like to register your interest, contact events@chapeltonnewtown.co.uk

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Recipe: Shake it up with a French 75 cocktail from Porter’s Gin

With Chapelton hosting its first drinks tasting event of the year, Aberdeen-based spirits firm Porter’s Gin is serving up a recipe for one of its favourite cocktails, the French 75.

Packed with a punch of gin, the refreshing taste of lemon and a dash of champagne, this is the perfect cocktail to enjoy with friends and family as the days get brighter and warmer. We’d love to see you share your results with Porter’s Gin on Instagram and Facebook. Those attending the Chapelton drinks evening will have the chance to try Porter’s Gin and their cocktails firsthand.

‘The French 75’

Makes one glass

Ingredients

  • 20ml Porter’s Gin
  • 20ml lemon juice
  • 5ml sugar
  • Top off with champagne

Method

Cut the lemon in half and squeeze into your cocktail shaker

Carefully measure out the sugar and gin then add to your cocktail shaker

Attach the shaker lid and shake well for 20 – 30 seconds

Serve in a flute and top with champagne. Enjoy!

(Optional: Garnish with lemon peel to add an extra burst of flavour)

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.

Meet the Resident: Rhian Morgan, Stephen Property Owner

Rhian-Morgan-Testimonial-1-166x300 Meet the Resident: Rhian Morgan, Stephen Property Owner

Yearning for a life in the countryside but within easy reach of the city, Rhian Morgan has recently benefited from Stephen Homes’ part-exchange scheme to purchase a new home in Chapelton with her family.

Tell us why you decided to move to Chapelton

We have family in the Stonehaven area as well as the Central Belt, and we wanted to be closer to them while still living near Aberdeen. As we used to live in a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Danestone in the north of Aberdeen, moving south was the logical choice.

What is your favourite thing about your new home?

The space on offer within our home and the town itself is a real bonus. The high ceilings let lots of light in and the open-plan kitchen/living area really is the hub of our home life.

Do you have a favourite thing about Chapelton?

We have close friends who lived in Chapelton ahead of us and love it, so we knew what a lovely place it was from visiting them previously. We love the fact that we could be part of a new community from an early stage, as well as how family-friendly the town is.

We also adore the beauty of Chapelton itself, with gorgeous views of the countryside, and the range of houses themselves – they were all factors which added to our decision.

How did you first become aware of the part-exchange offering in Chapelton?

The sellers’ market in Aberdeen hadn’t been very good and while we could afford to wait for our house to sell, we wanted to ensure we had moved and settled as soon as possible prior to our son starting school in 2018.

Like many home buyers, we researched our options well in advance of going along to the town. We knew other builders had been offering part-exchange and so on a visit to Chapelton we asked if this was an option.

Tell us about your experience of buying a home with Stephen

We found Stephen to be very helpful with the part-exchange process and they ensured we were able to move in on the weekend we had planned to do so. From initial conversations about part-exchanging through to accommodating our requirements for floorers to measure-up and fit different flooring, the overall experience has been great.

Crucially, the post-purchase service has also been very good, and though there is minor snagging work going on, we are being kept up-to-date every step of the way by Stephen’s headquarters in Perth.

Would you recommend the part-exchange process to other homebuyers?

Yes we definitely would, we have had a good experience.

We love Chapelton so far – our children have settled into the nursery within Chapelton, we are meeting new people and we are really looking forward to our first Christmas in our new home.