Aberdeen - Seaton Park & Old City

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Aberdeen's Seaton Park and Old City, with Detectives helping Chief Inspector Polly Technic investigate Professor Acky Deemier's suspicious death and work out which student copied a dissertation and was trying to hide it.

The investigation covers approximately 2 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll start at Seaton Park car park, search through Seaton Park, head up towards St Machar's Cathedral, continue into historic Old Aberdeen, investigate the university grounds around King's College, then loop back to Seaton Park car park by retracing the route through the park.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route is mainly on pavements and roads, some of which are cobbled, with a short steep hill leading out of Seaton Park and a gentle hill later on.

Take care when crossing St Machar Drive and use the pedestrian crossing on St Machar Drive. The route also follows roads and roadsides through the city area, so keep Mini Detectives close while the evidence trail is hot.

Getting There

By car: Start your investigation at Seaton Park car park (AB24 1XS), using ///such.drop.wacky. Park your squad car here. If the car park is full, use on-street parking along Don Street at the entrance to the park; it is off the A956 King Street.

By public transport: Make your way to Seaton Park car park to begin the case. The circular route returns to the same area once the investigation has looped back through the park.

Need the Loo?

Toilets are available in Seaton Park at the start and end of the case. Bring coins/change, as you'll need them for this comfort stop.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome to join the investigation 🐾

The route includes park paths, pavements, roadsides, cobbled sections, road crossings and a short steep hill, so keep canine colleagues close around traffic and give everyone time on the slopes. Seaton Park at the start and end gives paws a greener stretch before and after the city clues.

Food & Drink Stops

Case-cracking is hungry work, so the Chief suggests bringing a picnic. There are a couple of shops/cafes near Orchard Street around Clue 16, but packing your own provisions is a smart move for this two-hour investigation.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Seaton Park

The case begins in Seaton Park, so it's an easy place to spend extra time before or after the investigation. The route passes the play park and formal gardens, with toilets in the park at the start and end too - just remember you'll need coins/change.

St Machar's Cathedral

The investigation heads up to St Machar's Cathedral and later into its grounds. Keep an eye out near the gate for the star-shaped stone in the wall, said to mark where William Wallace's left arm was embedded after his execution in 1305 - a grim little detail for Detectives with a taste for historic evidence.

Old Aberdeen and the Mercat Cross

The route takes you into historic Old Aberdeen, including High Street and the area around The Old Town House and Mercat Cross. Behind the Old Town House's large timber doors is the handcart once used for carrying drunks to the cells, while the building itself has a vent at the side and a window of two cells at the rear.

Aberdeen University grounds and King's College

The investigation continues through Aberdeen University's grounds, including New King's College, Elphinstone Hall, King's College Chapel and the Powis Gateway. Bishop Elphinstone founded the university, and his tomb in the chapel grounds was made too big to fit through the gates to its intended resting place - a planning mishap worthy of its own mini case.