Connected Stuartfield

Improving local walking and cycling connections in and around Stuartfield

As part of Aberdeenshire Council’s 2024–25 Rural Community-Led Local Development (RCLLD) programme, a feasibility study has been carried out to explore opportunities for creating three new active travel paths in Stuartfield. Led by Ethos Consultants, in collaboration with the Stuartfield and District Community Association, the project aims to improve access, safety, and connectivity for all residents, whether travelling to school, local services, or enjoying the countryside.

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Why is this happening?

Stuartfield is a vibrant rural village with a strong sense of community, but many residents, particularly children and those without cars, face challenges walking or cycling around the village safely. Paths are either missing, informal, or poorly surfaced, which means even short local trips often rely on cars.

This study proposes a network of upgraded and new paths that support safer, more inclusive travel for all ages and abilities. These routes aim to make walking, wheeling, and cycling a more attractive option for everyday journeys and recreational use.

The Three Proposed Paths

1.      Burnett Street to Parkside Crescent

A safer route connecting the centre of the village to new housing at Crichie Meadows. This formalised path would improve access to the school and shop, especially for families.

2.      Mill Park to Windhill Street

This route would upgrade an existing informal track between two key residential areas in the village’s southwest. It would provide an all-weather, accessible walking and cycling route.

3.      Mill Street (B9030)

A longer 2km off-road loop along the southern and western edge of the village. This strategic route would support both everyday travel and leisure, offering an alternative to walking on rural roads without pavements.

 Key Benefits

The proposed path improvements offer a range of key benefits for the local community. First and foremost, they will provide safer routes for walking and cycling, particularly benefiting children travelling to and from school. By removing the need to use narrow, vehicle-dominated roads, these paths will give parents and young people greater confidence in choosing active modes of transport.

Reducing reliance on cars for short, everyday journeys is another major advantage. With improved and more accessible paths, residents will be encouraged to walk or cycle instead of driving, helping to ease local congestion, lower emissions, and promote more sustainable travel habits.

The project also supports healthier lifestyles by making it easier and more appealing to be active on a daily basis. By connecting people with key community spaces such as the school, shop, park, and village hall, the new paths will improve access and encourage regular physical activity across all age groups.

In addition to the transport and health benefits, the path network presents opportunities to enhance local biodiversity and strengthen green infrastructure. Through careful design, new planting, and environmentally sensitive surfacing, the routes can contribute positively to local ecosystems while enriching the visual and environmental quality of the village.

Overall, the delivery of these new paths will help create a stronger, more connected Stuartfield, one where residents can move around more freely, safely, and sustainably, and where the village's sense of community is further reinforced through shared use of well-designed public spaces.

What happens next?

The study estimates the total cost to deliver all three paths is between £518,000 and £720,000 (including contingency and risk adjustments). The next steps include:

• Community consultation (that’s where you come in!);
• Landowner engagement;
• Planning and design development;
• Funding applications.

Your feedback will help shape the final design, understand local priorities, and strengthen future funding bids.

Have your say

We want to hear from you! What do you think about the proposed routes? Which path would you use most? What concerns or ideas do you have?

Please share your thoughts and help us build a path network that truly works for the Stuartfield community.

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