Aden Country Park in Aberdeenshire is a wonderful place to visit, though I have to admit that when I lived near it I took it a bit for granted. In fact I became a little disenchanted by some aspects of the place.
But it’s beautiful. From the ruined mansion house…
To the Victorian Arboretum with its high Redwoods and Monkey Puzzles and Yews…
My disenchantment lay, basically, in over-exposure to the museums, both of which are actually really great – and free – visitor attractions. There’s a farming museum beside the cafe and then further into the woods there’s Hareshowe, a Victorian farmhouse that was taken down brick by brick and rebuilt at Aden, looking as it would have in the 1950s. You can watch a film of this happening in the farming museum.
I have been round those museums so many times, especially Hareshowe. When I worked in the educational system I visited them every year on school trips. I took my own children round them too.
One day, in more recent years, just walking in the park, I was lured behind a barn to see some baby chicks (Rhode Island Red mum with Silkie chicks) and found myself swept up in a crowd and on the official tour of the farmhouse. Again. I experienced a strange mix of both boredom and fury when asked to smell the carbolic soap for what must have been the 50th time. I didn’t want to smell it. I didn’t want to see it. I wanted to hurl it down the stairs, run after it and jump up and down on it until it was no more.
But I didn’t. How could I do that to the ‘farmer’s wife’? How many times had she had to proffer that bar of soap – as gnarly, in its own way, as the tree roots at the start of this post – to children and tourists? I politely held it under my nose. But I did not inhale.
I play pooh sticks on the bridge, below, when I visit now; I wander along the banks of the winding river, through the woods and look at the old ice house. The park boasts a recently created Fairy Wood which has helped with my re-enchantment. And, though I do highly recommend them, I no longer go into the museums!
Read more about Aden Country Park and its many facilities here.
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Set in a fictional castle in Aberdeenshire, Ailish Sinclair’s debut novel, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR, blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.
Beautiful images, Ailish!
Thank you, just missing one of the soap 🙂
Lol. I so empathise, Ailish.
GREAT POST AILISH AND LOVED THE PHOTOGRAPHS, CHINA
Glad you liked it, China 🙂
Beautiful photos!
Thank you 🙂
Love it, haven’t played Pooh sticks in years! That was so cute.
I highly recommend pooh sticks; it’s great fun 🙂
I can understand your frustration with parts of an activity repeated too many times. Glad you found other parts to still enjoy.
Oh yes, there is so much to enjoy there 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us who have never been on that side of the pond. Lovely photos.
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
What a great place! I would just visit the park and not the museums. That’s what I do with Dumbarton Oaks, my local best place. The museum is lovely, but unlike the gardens, it doesn’t change with the seasons or have art installations. Beautiful photos.
Museums do tend to remain the same, don’t they, at least some of them.
Love your pictures!
Thank you 🙂
Love the pics. Thanks. Wish I could visit.
I hope you get the chance to visit one day 🙂
Such a beautiful park! I can understand your boredom with the museums, though.
Great the first time, even the first few times. I’ve been an over-user!
Well, now I want to know what carbolic soap smells like!
Disinfectant!
😀
Smells are one of those curious things that can either bring the past to vivid life in a wonderful way – or equally put us off something for life. Our olfactory system is so deeply rooted in our life experiences, so I know what you mean when you don’t want to visit the museums again. I, on the other hand, free of the memories associated with carbolic soap – would love to go! This all looks lovely, especially the woodland and the ruins. 🙂
The museums are actually really good, and yes, the park is beautiful 🙂
I know exactly what you mean by how deeply our sense of smell is rooted in our life experiences. Last weekend, I took a walk on the beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and I was instantly six years old again. Just from the smell of the seaweed.
Exactly, Liz. I’m the same with so many scents. It seems that aromas are an unbreakable bond with the past. 🙂
I preordered your book! I love reading your blog. Thank you! Someday I will visit Scotland. ❤️
Thank you Alissa 🙂 I hope you enjoy the book and get the chance to visit Scotland one day!
Wonderful pictures Allish, enchanting place. Thanks for sharing. I love museums but as you say, they do tend to stay the same.
I do love museums too; I really overdid these ones though 🙂
I did not inhale! How very presidential!!
😀
Yes it’s easy to lose the magic when over-exposed to something, no matter how amazing it is. The soap lady (or any tour guide) needs to remember that each visitor is new to that particular site. Love those gnarly roots.
They are great roots!
I’m seeing with green, unjaded, eyes. From the pictures, I see a wonderful place to visit and explore.
That’s absolutely waht it is 🙂
I love those sights! I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland (top three European countries to visit), it’s such a beautiful country. Hopefully one day I will.
I hope you get the chance to visit Nishtara 🙂
You’ve made me want to go there! I will have to add it to my “must visit “ list
It is a great place to visit!
Gnarly roots are my favorite! And I love playing Pooh Sticks! Glad to know I’m not the only one. 🙂
It’s a great game; more people should play it!
An enjoyable read!! Thanks for posting!