Come and explore the lesser known highlights of Seaton Park with the help of my multi-cache. Most people walk through this park and only notice the main features such as the children’s play area, Cathedral walk and the large fountain, but if you look a bit closer you will find such treasures as a WWII pillbox, a glacial erratic, an ancient Motte and a hidden well.
Stage 1 - Glacial Erratic
This rock was dug up near the sports pitch area and is believed to have been carried down by a glacier during the ice age.
How tall is the rock? If the rock is under 0.9 metres / 3ft then G = 1. If the rock is between 0.9 - 1.8 metres / 3ft - 6ft then G = 3. If the rock is over 1.8 metres / 6ft then G = 2. Now go to the Wetlands View Point at Stage 2.
Stage 2 - Wetlands
In 2016, the flooded areas were transformed into a wetland to manage water levels and then surrounded by natural wetland plants and flowers to increase biodiversity. Improved access and viewing areas were created to encourage community use.
Inside the cache you will find the coordinates for Stage 3 - Pillbox and a clue for the final location. Now go to see the Pillbox at Stage 3.
Stage 3 - Pillbox
This pillbox has been built into the foot of the cliff of the old river terrace that marks the southern edge of Seaton Park. A regular hexagon on plan, the pillbox is constructed of shuttered concrete and measures 3.83m across externally. Except for one on the NW, all the visible loopholes have been blocked up, those at the rear having been buried beneath soil slip. The entrance has also been buried, but the position of the Y-shaped anti-ricochet wall within the interior indicates that it is on the SE. Pillboxes of this design fall into Will's (1985) type-22 category.
Inside the cache you will find the coordinates for Stage 6 - Wallace Tower and TWO clues for the final location. Now go to see the Granite Garden at Stage 4.
Stage 4 - Granite Garden
A number of representative granite boulders from various quarries across the North East of Scotland are gathered here. These include Kemnay’s silver-grey, Peterhead’s red, Dyce’s greyish-blue and Corrennie’s salmon coloured stones.
How many pieces of granite on the East side of the garden are from Peterhead? This answer is D. Now go to see the Motte of Tillydrone at Stage 5.
Stage 5 - Motte of Tillydrone
There is actually little evidence to confirm that this rounded hillock at Tillydrone is a motte. The mound stands 7m in height, but it measures less than 10m across the top. As such, it is too small to provide sufficient space for a manorial establishment, though this does not preclude a purely military function as the site of a tower, like that excavated at Abinger in England.
Six trenches were excavated on and around the mound in October and November 2001. The excavation revealed that there had been a wooden palisade and stone revetment around the mound, but no dating evidence was found for any of the associated layers. A saddle quern reused in the stone revetment suggested a prehistoric site in the area. Charcoal layers were excavated from adjacent to the revetment, from a layer through which the defensive structure had been cut. A radiocarbon date of AD 170 - 45 was obtained for one of these layers. Trenches through the base of the mound revealed that there had been no surrounding ditch, and that small amounts of quarrying and reinstatement had taken place in the 19th or early 20th century.
Since no definitive medieval finds or features that would support a tower have been recovered, there is no conclusive evidence for it being used as a motte in the medieval period. However, the tradition of its use as a beacon cannot be discounted.
At the top of the Motte is a tree with a number on it. This answer is C. Now go to see the Wallace Tower at Stage 6.
Stage 6 - Wallace Tower
Benholm's Lodge, which is also known as Wallace Tower, was built between 1610 and 1616 by Sir Robert Keith. He was a younger brother of George Keith, Earl Marischal and pressured his elder sibling to grant him land and property. Robert seized Ackergill Castle and this seemingly prompted the Earl to relent and grant him the Barony of Benholm. To mark his new found status, Robert changed his surname to Benholm and built a new lodge to serve as his family seat. Despite its current position, the tower was originally located just outside of Aberdeen Town Walls adjacent to Netherkirkgate (near the intersection between Union Street and Market Street).
The castle took the form of a three storey Z-plan Tower House. It was constructed from rubble with some ashlar dressing and the whole structure was originally harled. The main block was a rectangular structure with storage at ground level, a hall on the first floor and accommodation above. A circular stair tower provided access to all floors.
Sir Robert Benholm died in 1616 and the tower reverted to the Earl Marischal. He had little use for it so converted it into the residence for the Principal of new Marischal College. It later passed into the hands of William Hay and thereafter was owned by various city merchants. The structure was expanded circa-1789 when a new wing was added. It remained a residence into the nineteenth century although the ground floor was converted into a Public House. In 1918 it was taken-over by the city council and thereafter was neglected. Between 1963 and 1971, the tower was dismantled brick-by-brick and relocated to Tillydrone, some 1.5 miles north of its original site.
Inside the cache you will find a clue for the final location. Now go to see the Hidden Well at Stage 7.
Stage 7 - Hidden Well
I found this hidden well while walking in the area but cannot find any relevant historical information.
On the well is a date. 3rd digit - 1st digit - 4th digit = A. Now go to Stage 8 at N57 10.AB W2 C.DE to collect your special magnetic tool.
Final Cache
Go to Stage 8 at N57 10.AB W2 C.DE to collect your special magnetic tool and then go to Stage 9 at N57 10.AF W2 C.GH.
Use the tool you have found to guide the final coordinates container to the exit point. PLEASE INSERT THE TUBE BACK THROUGH THE START HOLE TO RESET THE PUZZLE AND THEN REPLACE THE SPECIAL TOOL EXACTLY WHERE YOU FOUND IT.
Go to the coordinates you found in the field puzzle cache and sign the log book. Congratulations and I hope you enjoyed your journey around Seaton Park.
Seaton Park is a much loved treasure on the banks of the Don to the north of the City. The 27 hectares has formal beds, a walled garden, mature deciduous trees, open green spaces and a children's play park.
Cathedral Walk is a stunning floral display that leads the eye and the walker to nearby St Machar Cathedral. The beautiful arrangements are freshly planted every year and are very popular with visitors and locals alike.
The walled garden is a hidden gem providing a secluded sheltered spot to show off an array of beautiful flowers and plants.
The meandering River Don provides a natural boundary at the west of the park. A lovely riverside walk is part of the core paths network and links the park to the historic Brig o' Balgownie and beyond to the North Sea.
The popular children's play area has the unusual and popular attraction of an old brake van and railway wagons. These proved to be a hit in 1974 when they were first installed and remain a firm favourite today with all children.
A section of the park constantly suffered from flooding so the problem was tackled by the inclusion of a wetland area.