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Two donkeys looking over the fence at Waulkmill Menagerie.
Aberdeenshire

Waulkmill Menagerie

A small farm menagerie near New Deer where visitors spend an hour as the keeper's helper.

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Welcome

Waulkmill Menagerie is on Waulkmill Farm, in the Buchan countryside near New Deer, and it offers something hands-on rather than a day of looking over fences.

Visitors become VIP animal assistants for an hour, on a personal tour of the menagerie that is shaped round each group.

That means helping out and getting close to the animals, learning their characters and how they are looked after, which suits families with children who love animals, as well as groups of friends. After the tour, guests are welcome to stay on for a few hours with the animals and to have a picnic by the lake.

It is open by appointment only, and every visit must be booked in advance, which keeps it quiet and personal. The farm lies in the rolling farmland between Turriff and Mintlaw, so a visit fits well with a day at Aden Country Park and the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, or with Fyvie Castle to the south-west.

A short drive awayMaud Railway MuseumThe old junction station of the Buchan line, now a small railway museum on a cycle path.9 min by roadSee itThe granite Station Hotel at Maud on a corner of the village.
Before you go

By appointment only, and every visit must be booked ahead.

Where
Waulkmill Farm, near New Deer.
Visits
By appointment.
Where it is

New Deer, near Turriff.

Close byAround New Deer.
  1. The blue front of Strichen Antiques under its sign.Strichen AntiquesTwo stores of the weird and wonderful in a Buchan village: curios, jewellery, salvage and taxidermy.6 miles11 min by road
  2. The recumbent and standing stones of Aikey Brae Stone Circle in a clearing among dark pines.Aikey Brae Stone CircleThe most complete recumbent stone circle in the north of Aberdeenshire, with a 21.5-tonne recumbent stone.6 miles13 min by road
  3. A tall old tree in full summer leaf in the woodland of Aden Country Park.Aden Country ParkWoodland, a lake and a Victorian arboretum round a half-moon steading in the middle of Buchan.8 miles17 min by road
  4. A costumed figure in a red gingham shawl and black bonnet among the displays of the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum.Aberdeenshire Farming MuseumA hundred and fifty years of north-east farming, told inside a steading of around 1800.8 miles18 min by road
  5. Dark rocks and reef along the shore at Aberdour Beach, the sea beyond.New Aberdour BeachA beach below the cliffs down a winding lane, with sea caves, an arch and St Drostan's Well.13 miles23 min by road
Directions
The granite Station Hotel at Maud on a corner of the village.AttractionsMaud Railway Museum4.0 miles
Delgatie Castle's tower rising above bare winter trees.AttractionsDelgatie Castle14 miles
Boat named Pennan rests on the shore beside whitewashed cottagesAttractionsPennan16 miles
The whitewashed row of Pennan below the cliffs, the red phone box by the inn.RestaurantsThe Pennan Inn16 miles
Woman standing beside the Coastal Cuppie kiosk with its chalkboard menuCafeCoastal Cuppie16 miles
The red sandstone front of the Auld Post Office Museum in Turriff under its blue sign.AttractionsTurriff Museum and Heritage Centre16 miles
Narrow rocky gorge with moss-covered floor cutting through grassy hillsideAttractionsHell’s Lum near Cullykhan Bay17 miles
Grassy headlands enclose a small sandy beach with gentle wavesAttractionsCullykhan Bay17 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near Waulkmill Menagerie, and when each is next free.

A single-storey lodge with a slated roof sits behind a stone wall and clipped hedge, mature trees shading the curving drive.Gate Lodge
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Rothiemay
  • 19 miles from Waulkmill Menagerie
Check datesA triangular timber cabin stands behind a wooden gate and post-and-rail fence, bare trees framing the entrance.Midpark
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Rothiemay
  • 19 miles from Waulkmill Menagerie
Free 27–29 OctA stone cottage with a slated roof and a blue front door, climbing roses in pink and white flanking the porch.Butlers Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Aberdeenshire
  • 19 miles from Waulkmill Menagerie
Free 17–19 OctA grey stone cottage with dormer windows and a black front door, climbing roses either side, set behind a lawn.Bailies Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Rothiemay
  • 19 miles from Waulkmill Menagerie
Free 26–28 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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