Deer Abbey Bridge

Deer Abbey Bridge from the south, looking towards the trees of Pitfour

NJ 96632 48145

This extraordinary Bridge is situated on the minor road, linking the A950 and B9029 which crosses the Formartine and Buchan Way at Bridgend, about 50 metres west of the Abbey of Deer. The bridge crosses the South Ugie Water, the boundary between the estates of Aden to the south of the river and Pitfour to the north. The southern half of the bridge is narrower than the northern half, this bizarre architecture came about because of a dispute between the  Fergusons of Pitfour and the Russells of Aden. The Fergusons carried out extensive landscaping of their estate, turning it into what became known as  'The Blenheim of the North'. The improvements included the creation of the 27acre Pitfour Lake by James Ferguson, the third laird who became MP for Aberdeenshire in 1790. The Russells of Aden feared that the artificial lake would cause flooding at Aden. The Fergusons ignored their concerns but the Russells got their revenge when the Pitfour side of the bridge was widened to allow coaches to pass over it. The Russells stymied this plan simply by refusing to widen their side and so the uneven bridge remains passable to single file traffic only.

Abbey Bridge to Aden Park

The Line is already starting to look autumnal with reddening rowan berries and willowherb turning to seed

Grey Granite and Rufus joined the line at Abbey Bridge, where from 1932 to 1947 there was a short wooden platform for the use of pilgrims to Deer Abbey. This, according to an old photograph, resembled the wooden fishing platforms seen in Norway, and suggests that the pilgrims were not numerous. The OS map indicates an Abbey Kiln, currently not visible from the Line. the ruins of Deer Abbey, a small (15 monks at most) Cistercian foundation may be glimpsed through the trees.

A sapling, probably a pin oak, planted to mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Buchan Countryside Group, Deer Abbey is just visible in the background.

The Ugie flows between the Line and the Abbey ruins, this section has many trees including rowans, alders, ash, aspens, willows, oaks and pines. The estates of Pitfour and Saplinbrae House can be seen through the trees on the opposite bank of the Ugie. The occasional heron stalks the river bank. Above the sound of the river are frequent harsh screeches from peacocks on one of the estates.The sides of the track are covered in wildflowers including the ubiquitous willow herb, just turning to seed, violets, vetches, greater bird's foot trefoil and a patch of monkey flower. As the track approaches the village of Old Deer there is a signed footpath directing one to the village along the bank of  a burn . A network of paths is being developed in this area. 

Bridge 707 carries the road to Old Deer and Stuartfield over the line.

(Looking towards Deer abbey)

A footpath behind the beech trees on the left leads to the Old Deer road, lined with an avenue of magnificent beech trees, and to Aden Park

Enchanter's Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) a member of the willow herb family and less evil than its name suggests, grows in the shade of the bridge.

The stable yard at Aden Country Park

The Line continues beyond the bridge to an entrance to Aden Park. At this point the Line in interrupted by the main  road  (A950) which has to be crossed before continuing to Mintlaw Station.