Where to go · Aberdeenshire
Forest bathing at Dunnottar Woods
A community woodland of beech, ash and sycamore in the old grounds of Dunnottar House, on the edge of Stonehaven.
Dunnottar Woods fill the old grounds of Dunnottar House on the south side of Stonehaven. The house belonged to the Kennedy family, and their designed landscape left behind a wood of beech, ash and sycamore with odd surprises among the trees, including a little shell house. Forestry and Land Scotland manages it as a community woodland, and it is easy to reach on foot from the town.
The History Trail, about three and a half kilometres, loops through the woods past the Shell House. You can walk in from town between Carron Gardens and Woodcot Brae, with a short steep climb, or park at the south end off the A957. In autumn the leaves carpet the paths; in summer the woods are green with wildflowers along the edges. Toilets and cafés are in Stonehaven.
Practical
- Managed by
- Forestry and Land Scotland
- Parking
- Pay by RingGo at the south car park off the A957; Blue Badge holders free
- Terrain
- Woodland paths; short steep climb from the town entrances
- Nearest station
- Stonehaven, a walk of around 20 minutes
- Facilities
- Picnic area; no toilets (accessible public toilets in Stonehaven)
- Opening and entry
- Open access, free
- Official page
- forestryandland.gov.scot
Last updated 4 November 2026. Paths, parking and access can change, so check before you visit. Spotted something out of date? Please let us know.
Guides who run sessions here
No guides listed at Dunnottar Woods yet
See forest bathing guides in Aberdeenshire, who may run sessions nearby. If you guide here, list your practice for free and add Dunnottar Woods to your venues.
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Crathes Castle EstateDeeside castle estate with six waymarked trails through woods and past pondsPhotos: Bennachie, Steven Brown (CC BY-SA 2.0); Cambus o’May, Richard Webb (CC BY-SA 2.0); Crathes Castle Estate, Stanley Howe (CC BY-SA 2.0).