A popular place to visit for a quiet country walk is the park in Strichen, where you can watch wildlife like the swans swimming on the lake, or walk through the woods up to the local stone circle (which has been returned to its original position having been moved for some time!). But the lake area would not be listed as an attraction on this site had it not been for the residents of Strichen who recently restored the site which had become more of an eyesore than an attraction.

By 1997 Strichen's lake and park was in a terrible state of disrepair, so a group of local volunteers managed to take it over with the purpose of restoring it to being the beautiful area for people and wildlife that it once was. First, the excavators were called in to remove 600 cubic metres of silt and rubbish. Then the volunteers tidied up the overgrown trees and shrubs, but leaving some as coverage for the nesting ducks. They certainly had their work cut out but their hard efforts have paid off now as Strichen is once again home to a picturesque lake and park.

The test of the success of the project not only lay in the words and deeds of the locals but in the return to normality for the wildlife. Not only have the ducks returned they've been now joined by swans.

To get to the park head towards Fraserburgh from Mintlaw and continue up the road for a couple of miles until you get to the signpost for Strichen on the left. Once in Strichen turn left at the crossroads - over the bridge at the bottom of the road you will find the car park - now you are free to roam the surrounding woods and the lake!