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The Hidden Landscape of Pittodrie Estate

Home > Bennachie Landscapes Project > Archaeology > The Hidden Landscape of Pittodrie Estate

Photo Credit - Iain Ralston

The Hidden Landscape of Pittodrie Estate

What began as a side project during the Bede House investigations soon took on a life of its own.

Overlooking the eastern slopes of Bennachie, the team spotted a series of intriguing shapes an enclosure, a trackway, and other mysterious features that were hidden in a LiDAR image. On the ground, these features turned out to be very real.

A small test trench in 2018 confirmed that archaeology lay just beneath the surface, and what followed was a deeper dive into this overlooked corner of the landscape. In 2019, a series of trenches helped begin the story: what were these structures, when were they built, and how did they relate to life in the surrounding area?

Since then (with the exception of 2020), the Bailies have returned each year. With every dig, the site continues to reveal more about the people who once lived and worked around Bennachie, and there's still so much more to uncover.

Read more about the ongoing work and discoveries:

Pittodrie 2019 report: (pdf in drop box with this write up)

Pittodrie 2021 report: (pdf in drop box with this write up)

Pittodrie 2022 report: (pdf in drop box with this write up)

Pittodrie 2023 report: (pdf in drop box with this write up)

Pittodrie 2024 report: (pdf in drop box with this write up)

Grain drying kiln excavated in 2023

A Li DAR image of the East Bennachie Landscape

Opening trenches at Pittodrie

Hard at work

Peter Stock

Trustee

I have lived in Kemnay since 1985. I have the joy of seeing Bennachie and Millstone Hill from the end of my driveway every day, so the range has been a part of my life these past 40 years. I am a chartered civil engineer, with my work experience being in the oil industry. I have developed my interest in classical guitar and am a founding member of the Northeast Scotland Classical Guitar Society, which is now in its 20th year.

I retired in 2016 which was the starting pistol for me to pursue my personal interests, including volunteering at Castle Fraser, attending undergraduate modules at Aberdeen University in music, Scottish history and mathematics. I am interested in hill walking but not at the Munro bagging level. I became a Hill Warden in January 2020 and was elected a Trustee in July 2020.

During my tenure as Chair (appointed Spring 2022), I have participated in many aspects of the Bailies including establishing governance and planning and implementing the 50th anniversary celebrations. However, my proudest achievement was participating in developing and communicating our new motto, A Voice for the Hill, which I still find inspiring and thought provoking.

Allan Will

Trustee

I was brought up on a farm in Midmar where Bennachie was always in sight, then moved to the Inverurie area in 1991 and have lived and worked here since then.

I enjoy getting out on my road bike and also chapping my way round the golf course.

I wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was a wee boy and by chance, a few years back I spotted a Bailies advertisement looking for volunteers on an archaeology dig on the slopes of Bennachie. I got in touch and since then have enjoyed getting involved with the various archaeological projects and learning about the stories the hill has to tell.

I joined the Bennachie Landscapes Project in 2018 and became a Trustee in April 2023.

Alan Henderson

Trustee

I have enjoyed hillwalking on Bennachie for over 35 years since moving to Aberdeen to go to university. I am very lucky to have a view of Bennachie from our front door.

After working in Nigeria and the United States for almost 15 years, I have now retired and moved back to the area permanently and am delighted to have been appointed a trustee.

David Bale

Trustee

I have a lifelong interest in all aspects of nature and land use, with particular emphasis on plants and birds. I have a degree in Botany/Zoology with ecology and a PhD in peatland ecology. I have had the privilege of working in statutory nature conservation bodies, the Nature Conservancy Council and its Scottish successor body, Scottish Natural Heritage for 30 years dealing with land management, outdoor recreation and planning issues related to statutory nature conservation sites and protected species. Since then, I have been active with the Bailies as a member of the Bennachie Wildlife Group. When this was established in 2016, I led a 6-session plant identification programme helping people to understand how to look for the features that distinguish various species growing in the area, so that they gain confidence in plant identification for themselves. Using the same approach in principle, I also lead walks looking at the plants of the moorland, woodlands, blanket bogs and fen habitats of Bennachie, and their relationship with past and present land uses on the hill. I also lead week long wildflower holidays for the Aigas field centre in the Highlands, focusing on how to identify plants, their habitats and ecology. Listening out for birds and drawing attention to them always features as part of my walks.

I am actively involved with a steering group on behalf of the Bailies developing plans to promote management of the habitats and species of the Bennachie area. When finalised, after consultation with the various interested parties, including landowners, these will be used to promote and undertake practical management to enhance the wildlife and habitat value of the hill and make them more resilient to climate change.

Lorna Bell

Trustee

I spent my childhood in Blairdaff with Bennachie as my back drop. My first memories of walking on the hill are from the 1970s when I took part in the annual Christian Aid Walks as well as hillwalking with the Guides whilst on camp near the Donview Centre – getting slightly lost if I remember!

I now live near Dunecht so not moved far and still enjoy the outdoors – hillwalking as well as wildlife and birdwatching, gardening and charity volunteering.

I am a member of the Bennachie Wildlife Group and became a Trustee in April 2021.

David Caney

Trustee

I moved to Kemnay with my family in 1999 and since then Bennachie has been a wonderful playground for family walks and cycles.

The area is very ‘user friendly’ with a fantastic network of paths that show off all the grand views, forestry, archeology and wildlife.

Being retired, I have now joined the Bailie Work Parties that help maintain access and as a new trustee I’d like to see Bennachie more accessible to those less able to reach it.

Alex Doig

Trustee

The outdoors, in particular hills and mountains have always drawn me to them as special places. From the Angus Glens to the Himalayas and mountains in between, they’ve provided many challenges and given me so many happy memories. I moved to Inverurie with my wife nearly 30 years ago and Bennachie has impressed itself upon us ever since.

Rising above the Garioch, Bennachie is so accessible and has so much character, it is difficult to stay away. My best friend Margo (the Irish Setter) and I love exploring the paths and crags of Bennachie and Millstone two, three, sometimes more, times a week, all year round. It can be a busy place, so we often head up early morning or late at night to make the most of the quiet that can be found a short drive from our front door.

I’m passionate about keeping Bennachie as litter-free as possible and take great satisfaction in seeing how much the bins that the Bailies have installed are used by responsible members of the public. I have a terrible memory, so love taking photos to look back on and reminisce over, skills which I enjoy using as Publications Trustee.

Graeme Ralph

Trustee

Originally from the north of England I qualified with a BSc in Forestry from Aberdeen University in the mid 80’s. After initially spending time at the sharp end planting trees, building fences and learning all the practical basics of forestry I moved to Aberdeenshire in the late 80’s to take up the role of a timber harvesting manager working in the private sector. I stayed with the same company for 40 years, retiring in 2024 from the post of Operations Director.

I have two grown up children, now a grandfather.

In my spare time, I am an outdoor enthusiast, with my main interests being mountaineering, ski touring and road cycling. I want to help wherever I can with the local community and became a Trustee in August 2024.

Stella Gauld

Support Team

I was brought up on a farm in Monymusk, with Bennachie visible as our weather barometer every day.

I was heavily involved in motorsport as a hobby and even rallied on the slopes of Bennachie using the road from Woodend to Tillyfour on the Granite City Rally. I left the area in 1994 to take up my hobby professionally before returning in 2006 with a wee boy. He went up Bennachie on my back before managing to walk it.

Now living in Kemnay, I luckily get a fabulous view of Bennachie from my window, still using it as a weather barometer! (When the Mither Tap has got a cap, the Garioch lads will get a drap!)

I support the Bailies with their admin, using skills from my years of co-ordination, press & PR, IT and accounting and just love the whole spirit of the Bailies of Bennachie.

Karen Noble

Support Team

Bennachie means home to me. It’s the view of the hill whether you are flying into Aberdeen airport, the drive home after being in Aberdeen or having been north visiting family, when the hill comes into sight, there is that undeniable feeling of being in the right place again. I moved to the area when I was 7 and have lived here, on and off, for most of my life. When we were building our house 20 years ago, I was hopping over the joists in the soon-to-be living room and remember the excitement I felt when I saw how amazing our view of Mither Tap was going to be.

As one of the Bailies of Bennachie admin contractors, I carry out tasks for the hardworking, dedicated Trustees. My role covers the likes of adding posts to the website and social media, submitting articles to local newsletters and recently I was part of the membership update team. Since supporting the Bailies, I have learned so much about the things that happen on the hill, many people will have no idea but there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes and I am very happy to be part of it.

Hugh Fraser

Support Team

Having spent several years in operations within the oil and gas sector, I bring a strong safety-first focus to delivering the Bailies of Bennachie’s goals. My experience in starting and leading community initiatives—including receiving the Aberdeenshire Volunteer Award—has given me a deep appreciation for collaboration and engagement within a community setting.

As Outdoor Coordinator, I am committed to fostering cohesion, supporting volunteers in achieving their goals, and promoting personal development in my supervisory role. Whether through arranging external training, teamwork during events, or offering volunteers hands-on conservation experiences, I strive to ensure that everyone involved feels a sense of belonging while helping to preserve Bennachie’s forest paths and historical sites.

You?

Interested in becoming a Trustee?

If you love Bennachie and want to contribute to its long-term health and security, why not become a trustee. Contact the Bailies of Bennachie to arrange an initial chat with the Chair, Peter Stock.