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Explore the outdoors: Getting fit along the Deeside way

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The Deeside Way is great when training for a longer run as you can get plenty of easy miles on the flat, even surface, giving you the confidence you’ll be able to tackle your forthcoming 10K, half marathon or any other distance.

It’s the half marathon for me tomorrow so, having had a mixed year in terms of fitness and training, I have been trying to up the mileage in preparation for the big run.

The Deeside Way is a fantastic facility for a range of people and animals. Whether you want to walk, run, cycle or ride a horse – evidence of which is clearly visible along the path – everyone is welcome.

I left my car behind the Winter Gardens at Duthie Park and started along the nice, flat pathway that used to be the Old Royal Deeside Railway from Aberdeen to Banchory.

The path is Route 195 of the National Cycle Network and stretches as far as Ballater.

But for me, Milltimber was as far as I was going on this training run. Six miles out and the same on the way back, giving me a solid 12 miles of running in advance of my looming half marathon.

You start off running past Allenvale Cemetery, across the bridge over Holburn Street and out through Garthdee. The great thing being all of this is on an enclosed, tree-lined path meaning you will never encounter any vehicles, only the odd bike or pram.

The further out of the city you venture, the more peaceful and scenic the route becomes.

As the path runs parallel to North Deeside Road it is great for admiring the impressive gardens of Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber.

When there has been heavy rain – which is virtually every day in Aberdeen at the moment – large puddles and little streams form either side of the path, which can be a source of great intrigue to youngsters should you be out on a family walk or cycle. There are lots of plants and flowers, too. Watch out for the nettles, which are out in force.

As well as the nature to enjoy as you speed along the Way, there is much history to soak up. As this is an old railway line, there are numerous buildings to keep an eye out for that will conjure up images of a bygone era.

There are handy little plaques marking places of interest, such as the old stations at Pitfodels, Cults and Bieldside. As I was running I didn’t have time to stop and read them, but that is on the agenda for when I return with the family.

On leaving the Bieldside area of the track, you emerge from the trees into fields of barley (still on the path) and feel like you are really out in the country now.

Further on you’ll see horses in fields and I even spotted some free-range chickens happily pecking about their field just past the plaque for Murtle Station – a much nicer sight than you’ll find running in the city.

As I began to near Milltimber the rolling hills of Deeside came into view, but as it had been a while since I had been out this way, I was surprised to find myself at a dead end on the route, thanks to the new AWPR bypass.

However, I had noticed a small blue cycle path sign a couple of hundred metres earlier that I had ignored but should have followed, as it shows the way off the Deeside Way briefly, over the new road, then back on to the Way where you can continue to Peterculter, Drumoak and beyond should you wish.

As I am still nursing a temperamental knee I decided it was safer to head back, as I still had another six miles to run to my car.

However, with a bit of planning, it’s much more fun to run out as far as you want and not have to double back on yourself. Whether that is by running to your physical limits then taking a bus back to your car, or maybe getting picked up somewhere on the route, it’s something I might try in future.

Whatever you use the Deeside Way for, it is a great asset to Aberdeen and the surrounding areas.

Hopefully the time I spent on it will stand me in good stead for tomorrow’s half marathon.