Bell Park

Downs, Moorland in Banffshire

Scotland

Bell Park

Fochabers Roadworks, Spring 2011 A year into the job, and the new bypass is beginning to take shape. — Fochabers Roadworks, Spring 2011 Credit: Anne Burgess

Bell Park is a picturesque and expansive natural area located in Banffshire, Scotland. This stunning destination is renowned for its serene downs and moorland landscapes, offering visitors a true escape into nature. Spanning over a vast expanse of approximately 100 hectares, Bell Park is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

The downs of Bell Park present rolling hills and open grasslands, providing a scenic backdrop for leisurely walks and hikes. These downs are often adorned with vibrant wildflowers during the summer months, creating a colorful and enchanting atmosphere. The undulating terrain offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, making it a haven for photographers and artists alike.

Adjacent to the downs, the moorland of Bell Park adds to its allure. This vast expanse of heather-covered land is a sight to behold, especially when it blooms into a mesmerizing purple hue during late summer. The moorland is also home to a variety of wildlife, including red grouse, golden eagles, and red deer, making it a haven for birdwatching and wildlife spotting.

Bell Park is equipped with well-maintained walking trails, allowing visitors to explore the area at their own pace. Nature enthusiasts can indulge in peaceful strolls, while more adventurous individuals can embark on longer hikes to fully immerse themselves in the stunning surroundings.

Overall, Bell Park in Banffshire offers a captivating blend of downs and moorland, showcasing the natural beauty of the region. It is a must-visit destination for those seeking tranquility, breathtaking views, and a chance to connect with nature.

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Bell Park Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.62232/-3.0845571 or Grid Reference NJ3559. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Fochabers Roadworks, Spring 2011 A year into the job, and the new bypass is beginning to take shape.

Fochabers Roadworks, Spring 2011

A year into the job, and the new bypass is beginning to take shape.

Fochabers Bypass Roadworks, Spring 2011 I wonder why the silt settles out of some ponds and puddles, but not others? This water was still the same opaque red colour two days later. See <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2381214">NJ3558 : Fochabers Bypass Roadworks, Spring 2011</a>.

Fochabers Bypass Roadworks, Spring 2011

I wonder why the silt settles out of some ponds and puddles, but not others? This water was still the same opaque red colour two days later. See NJ3558 : Fochabers Bypass Roadworks, Spring 2011.

Gordon Castle Farm A patch of dandelions by the roadside makes a bright foreground for the house and buildings at Gordon Castle Farm.

Gordon Castle Farm

A patch of dandelions by the roadside makes a bright foreground for the house and buildings at Gordon Castle Farm.

Small Burn at Whitegate The burn is named on the 1:25,000 map as Small Burn, and the name seems appropriate. It drains the glen through which the Winding Walks go, and after crossing under the road near Whitegate it joins the Wishart Burn near Gordon Castle Farm. It is almost hidden by new beech foliage.

Small Burn at Whitegate

The burn is named on the 1:25,000 map as Small Burn, and the name seems appropriate. It drains the glen through which the Winding Walks go, and after crossing under the road near Whitegate it joins the Wishart Burn near Gordon Castle Farm. It is almost hidden by new beech foliage.

Swiss Cottage Compare with <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/201210">NJ3659 : Swiss Cottage</a>. The vegetation has been cleared round the Swiss Cottage, and there is a building site fence round it and there are a portable building and toilet behind the photographer. The rumour locally is that it is to be restored for letting as a holiday cottage.

Swiss Cottage

Compare with NJ3659 : Swiss Cottage. The vegetation has been cleared round the Swiss Cottage, and there is a building site fence round it and there are a portable building and toilet behind the photographer. The rumour locally is that it is to be restored for letting as a holiday cottage.

Wishart Burn The burn drains the area of woods known as Deer Park, eventually reaching the River Spey.

Wishart Burn

The burn drains the area of woods known as Deer Park, eventually reaching the River Spey.

Deer Park There seems to have been some kind of road here, now almost vanished among the beech woods. It has been bypassed by a newer track which can be used to take out timber from the plantations nearby.

Deer Park

There seems to have been some kind of road here, now almost vanished among the beech woods. It has been bypassed by a newer track which can be used to take out timber from the plantations nearby.

Gordon Castle and Baxters Having had to turn back when the track I was following degenerated into a whin-overgrown bicycle-unfriendly path, I noticed that from the track there is a glimpse through the trees of the roof and tower of Gordon Castle, with the expanse of buildings at Baxters of Speyside in the distance.

Gordon Castle and Baxters

Having had to turn back when the track I was following degenerated into a whin-overgrown bicycle-unfriendly path, I noticed that from the track there is a glimpse through the trees of the roof and tower of Gordon Castle, with the expanse of buildings at Baxters of Speyside in the distance.

Clear Fell on Deer Park A section of the conifer plantation on Deer Park has been felled.

Clear Fell on Deer Park

A section of the conifer plantation on Deer Park has been felled.

Deer Park Part of the conifer plantation has been felled, but the broadleaved trees have been left alone.

Deer Park

Part of the conifer plantation has been felled, but the broadleaved trees have been left alone.

Beech Leaves At this time of year, the beech leaves are a bright shade of pale green which to me is one of the marks of spring.

Beech Leaves

At this time of year, the beech leaves are a bright shade of pale green which to me is one of the marks of spring.

Gordon Castle Garden This archway is the entrance to the walled garden which served Gordon Castle. Brick retains warmth, so is preferred for walled gardens because it helps to encourage fruiting of trees trained up the wall. Some such trees are visible on the right.

Gordon Castle Garden

This archway is the entrance to the walled garden which served Gordon Castle. Brick retains warmth, so is preferred for walled gardens because it helps to encourage fruiting of trees trained up the wall. Some such trees are visible on the right.

Sheds at Gordon Castle Garden Old sheds and stores outside the walled garden. It looks as if there is little use being made of them now.

Sheds at Gordon Castle Garden

Old sheds and stores outside the walled garden. It looks as if there is little use being made of them now.

Tree Stump by the Cross The stone pillar is the Cross of the old village of Fochabers. In 1776 the Duke of Gordon, wishing to remove the huddle of cottages which had developed too close to Gordon Castle, had a new village laid out further south, and the tenants were transplanted to the new village. Only the old Cross remains to mark the spot. Somewhere near it was a large and renowned tree known as the Duchess Tree, commemorated in a tune by the composer William Marshall, but it isn&#039;t know exactly where it was. I don&#039;t think it was this stump, though it must have been a very large tree too.

Tree Stump by the Cross

The stone pillar is the Cross of the old village of Fochabers. In 1776 the Duke of Gordon, wishing to remove the huddle of cottages which had developed too close to Gordon Castle, had a new village laid out further south, and the tenants were transplanted to the new village. Only the old Cross remains to mark the spot. Somewhere near it was a large and renowned tree known as the Duchess Tree, commemorated in a tune by the composer William Marshall, but it isn't know exactly where it was. I don't think it was this stump, though it must have been a very large tree too.

The Cross The stone pillar is what is left of the Cross of the old village of Fochabers. In 1776 the Duke of Gordon, wishing to remove the huddle of cottages which had developed too close to Gordon Castle, had a new village laid out further south, and the tenants were transplanted to the new village. Only the old Cross remains to mark the spot. At one time there were jougs attached to it. These are a sort of collar which was used to chain malefactors to expose them to public ridicule.

The Cross

The stone pillar is what is left of the Cross of the old village of Fochabers. In 1776 the Duke of Gordon, wishing to remove the huddle of cottages which had developed too close to Gordon Castle, had a new village laid out further south, and the tenants were transplanted to the new village. Only the old Cross remains to mark the spot. At one time there were jougs attached to it. These are a sort of collar which was used to chain malefactors to expose them to public ridicule.

Gordon Castle Lake The tranquil surroundings of the lake are even quieter now, because the direct access from the village has been cut off by the bypass roadworks. To reach the lake now means a detour longer than the walk round it when you get there. As a consequence there have been few people feeding the ducks, and the population today is markedly smaller than it used to be. The reflections of the beeches which lean down to the water are unchanged.

Gordon Castle Lake

The tranquil surroundings of the lake are even quieter now, because the direct access from the village has been cut off by the bypass roadworks. To reach the lake now means a detour longer than the walk round it when you get there. As a consequence there have been few people feeding the ducks, and the population today is markedly smaller than it used to be. The reflections of the beeches which lean down to the water are unchanged.

Fochabers Bypass This section of the new bypass looks almost complete. It is sad that the bypass was inadequate, and in the wrong place, before the first divot was cut for its construction. There is just room for a single carriageway here between Gordon Chapel and Gordon Castle Lake, so when the traffic, as it inevitably will, outgrows a single carriageway there will be no possibility of widening the road. There was almost complete agreement locally that the bypass should go south of the village, but the Powers That Be rejected this on grounds of cost.

Fochabers Bypass

This section of the new bypass looks almost complete. It is sad that the bypass was inadequate, and in the wrong place, before the first divot was cut for its construction. There is just room for a single carriageway here between Gordon Chapel and Gordon Castle Lake, so when the traffic, as it inevitably will, outgrows a single carriageway there will be no possibility of widening the road. There was almost complete agreement locally that the bypass should go south of the village, but the Powers That Be rejected this on grounds of cost.

Fochabers Bypass This section of the new bypass looks almost complete, for a short distance, at least. It is sad that the bypass was inadequate, and in the wrong place, before the first divot was cut for its construction. There is just room for a single carriageway here between Gordon Chapel and Gordon Castle Lake, so when the traffic, as it inevitably will, outgrows a single carriageway there will be no possibility of widening the road. There was almost complete agreement locally that the bypass should go south of the village, but the Powers That Be rejected this on grounds of cost.

Fochabers Bypass

This section of the new bypass looks almost complete, for a short distance, at least. It is sad that the bypass was inadequate, and in the wrong place, before the first divot was cut for its construction. There is just room for a single carriageway here between Gordon Chapel and Gordon Castle Lake, so when the traffic, as it inevitably will, outgrows a single carriageway there will be no possibility of widening the road. There was almost complete agreement locally that the bypass should go south of the village, but the Powers That Be rejected this on grounds of cost.

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Bell Park is located at Grid Ref: NJ3559 (Lat: 57.62232, Lng: -3.0845571)

Unitary Authority: Moray

Police Authority: North East

What 3 Words

///shadowing.stapled.brain. Near Fochabers, Moray

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.62232,-3.0845571

Fountain

Heritage: yes

Wikidata: Q17829417

Lat/Long: 57.6208893/-3.0873795

Natural: shrub

Lat/Long: 57.6211035/-3.0874374

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6184087/-3.0829339

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6188049/-3.083704

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6192281/-3.0845614

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6196404/-3.0854054

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6200789/-3.0857568

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6207803/-3.0863436

Power: pole

Lat/Long: 57.6214169/-3.0869522

The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

Moss of Iresgoe Caithness

Souther Fell Cumberland

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