Westhill offers residents the luxury of semi-rural surroundings with the bustling Granite city of Aberdeen just a fifteen-minute drive away, providing the best of both worlds for families looking to settle down in Aberdeenshire.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast enthralled by the great outdoors, prefer to be inside enjoying a delicious meal, or you’re a history buff looking to spend your weekends exploring nearby historical spots, we’ve pulled together our top reasons why Westhill has grown in popularity recently, and why residents are settling down in this charming town.
Places to go in Westhill
If you don’t fancy a trip to the nearby Aberdeen city centre, Westhill Shopping Centre is an open space complex that offers essentials such as a pharmacy and post office, a coffee stop, or somewhere to grab lunch on the go.
Of course, Aberdeen is widely known for its array of local businesses and Westhill is no exception. Stylish bar and bistro, Duncano’s, is the perfect location to host a private event, enjoy a family Sunday roast or take your other half on date night, whilst The Key is proudly known as the city’s first health and wellness facility, offering a clinic, health café and personalised meal preps for busy individuals on the move. Green Pastures Café in Westhill, finalist in 3 different categories at the Scottish Café Awards 2024, is a locals favourite serving cosy homemade meals and light snacks. Their collaborative Bistro Nights are super popular too, featuring other local businesses like Project Pizza. They are not to be missed.
If you’re looking for a traditional pub lunch, Shepherds Rest offers comforting classics, vegetarian or vegan dishes and a traditional Sunday roast, making it a popular option amongst regulars and passers-by alike, and the outdoor patio is perfect for soaking up the summer sunshine with an ice-cold drink, especially if you’ve just worked up a sweat coming from one of the nearby walking trails. The newly refurbished Glentanar Brasserie & Bar, located within the Holiday Inn Aberdeen – West hotel, has been met with glowing reviews since it’s £340,000 makeover. Wynford Farm Park has incorporated both child and parent friendly features in its new cafe, shop, farm park and play barn, offering tractor rides, adorable animals and daily activities.
A gateway to Royal Deeside
Westhill is a gateway to the royal village of Ballater, home to Balmoral Castle, a well-loved holiday home of the royal family. Located less than an hour away, a day trip or weekend away to glorious Ballater is easily accessible from Westhill.
If you enjoy the great outdoors, you might use Ballater as stopping point on your way to the Cairngorms National Park or stay in the area to take in the beautiful surroundings at Ballater Golf Club or try your hand at fishing on the tranquil River Dee.
Take a walk through Westhill
Anyone familiar with Aberdeenshire will know it’s home to some of the most scenic walking routes in Scotland. Westhill is a short distance from Carnie Woods National Forest, a 2.4km circular trail that is an easy-going short route for a morning walk or run.
If you’re just looking to take a stroll around the neighbourhood, why not take a detour through Denman Park and the adjoining Arnhall Moss local nature reserve, one of only two nature reserves in Aberdeenshire. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to take part in one of the reserve’s public events, such as Bat and Moth nights, Beastie Safaris, and bird box building.
A project aimed at restoring and improving the quality of the ponds at Denman Park and increasing and restoring habitat and biodiversity launched recently, highlighting the importance of the area to the local community. Being located across from Westhill Shopping Centre, you’ll be tempted to enjoy a delicious meal after getting your steps in!
Whether you’re looking for a new home in Aberdeenshire to start a family or need more space for growing children, the highly anticipated Burnland Meadows development in Westhill, launching in Autumn 2023, will offer a range of spacious, modern four- and five-bedroom detached family homes. To find out more, visit our Burnland Meadows development page.
