Newmachar: Formartine and Buchan Way and Golf

Newmachar combines golf with a distinctive village landmark; in Aberdeenshire, the Formartine and Buchan Way offers opportunities for walking and cycling. For planning your trip, the route, two golf courses and Newmachar Parish Church provide specific points of interest; birdwatching may also play a part.

The Formartine and Buchan Way

The Formartine and Buchan Way is 53 miles long and follows the track of a former railway line. Newmachar lies on the route, which is suitable for walking and cycling in Aberdeenshire. Its length makes it a destination for an activity in its own right, setting it apart from a short walk in the village. The former railway line also gives today's path a distinct historical dimension.

Along the way, eleven Corten steel signs mark the route. Each bears a line from “Fit Wye”, a poem in Doric commissioned especially for the route by award-winning local author Shane Strachan. This brings the route markers and local literature together along the same path.

Newmachar Parish Church

Newmachar Parish Church is a distinctive landmark at the highest point of the village. It is located ten miles north of Aberdeen and a short distance east of the A947 Aberdeen–Banff Road.

Two golf courses and how they differ

South of Newmachar is Newmachar Golf Club, with two full-length 18-hole courses: the Hawkshill Championship Course and the Swailend Course. Both were designed by Dave Thomas. Their classifications offer a clear comparison: Hawkshill is a heathland golf course, while Swailend is a parkland golf course. The two courses share the same number of holes and designer, but differ in their classification. Every bay at the driving range is equipped with Trackman technology to track ball flight. A local sporting connection adds to the picture: Paul Lawrie played there during his 1999 Open victory.

Birdwatching in Aberdeenshire

Birdwatching is also an option, but with a regional rather than exclusively local focus. Aberdeenshire Bird Tours can arrange puffin tours during the season from April to July. Its offerings also include birdwatching in a local park and multi-day tours through several different habitat types. The operator also offers tailor-made birdwatching tours. If puffins are your main focus, plan your visit within the stated season and check the specific tour dates for your travel period directly with the operator.

For planning your trip, it helps to consider the distances: the route passes through Newmachar, the golf club lies south of the village, while birdwatching is an activity offered across Aberdeenshire as a whole. The activities therefore differ not only in subject, but also in whether they are based directly in Newmachar or in the wider region.

Discover more destinations: St Cyrus, Stonehaven, Peterhead, Portsoy, Newburgh, Port Elphinstone, Fettercairn, Braemar

For the wider travel overview: Aberdeenshire.