Westhill is a town in Aberdeenshire, seven miles west of Aberdeen. It was built as a "greenfield" commuter town and industrial park from 1968, and by 2016 had a population of 12,040. Its fortunes have risen and fallen with those of the Scottish oil industry. It has rebuffed attempts to incorporate it into the city of Aberdeen.
Get in
By car
The A944 Aberdeen to Alford road passes through Westhill. The road is largely dual 2-lane carriageway into Aberdeen, with a journey time of approximately 20–30 minutes, and a decent single 2-lane carriageway west. The B9119 runs immediately south of the industrial park and provides a route to Banchory and Deeside. The B979, which skirts the west and north, runs both south to Stonehaven via Peterculter and north to the airport/Dyce via the A96.
By train
Westhill is not served by rail services. The nearest station is Aberdeen from which both buses or taxis can be taken. Dyce station is a viable alternative to Aberdeen if coming in from the Aberdeen to Inverness line, however there are no bus services, only taxis.
By bus
(From 19 April 2021 the X17 / N17 route will be renumbered 5 , 5A , 6 , 6A , N6.)
Westhill is served by Stagecoach Bluebird. Stagecoach run two daily bus services (X17 and 218).
The X17 connects Elrick Broadshades and Westhill to Aberdeen Union square until 18th April.
Service 218 connects Westhill to Aberdeen Union Square via Kingswells Park and Ride and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary every 3 hours Monday to Saturday, with no service running on Sundays.
The new routings from 19th April 2021:
Service 5 Aberdeen to Elrick via Union Street, Albyn Place, Queens Road, Skene Road, Kingswells Park & Ride, Westhill Drive, Hays way, Wellgrove Road, Straik Road & Carnie Crescent same in reverse.
Service 6 Aberdeen to Westhill (Berryhill) via Union Street, Albyn Place, Queens Road, Skene Road, Kingswells Park & Ride, Westhill Drive, Hays way, Old Skene Road, Broadshade Road & Broadshade Avenue same in reverse.
Service 6A universal route (early mornings, evenings & Sundays) via Union Street, Albyn Place, Queens Road, Skene Road, Kingswells Park & Ride, Westhill Drive, Hays way, Anti-clockwise loop Old Skene Road, Broadshade Road, Broadshade Avenue, Broadshade Road, Broadstraik Road, Carnie Crescent, Straik Road, Wellgrove Road, Hays Way back to Aberdeen.
Primefour and Arnhall business park / Total will be served at peak times.
Service 5A is proposed Echt variation TBA in the future.
In the near future the service N6 will be night version of the 6A route, operating via Queens Road to Aberdeen every hour from 0020 to 0415.
Get around
By car
There is no real need to drive due to the small size of town, however should you choose to do so, you can enjoy roads with light traffic and free parking all over town.
By bicycle
Westhill is cycle friendly, all main roads have cycle lanes painted on them and an abundance of mixed cycle and footpaths provides for an excellent off-road alternative.
By bus
(From 19 April 2021 the X17 / N17 route will be renumbered 5 , 5A , 6 , 6A , N6.)
Westhill is served by Stagecoach Bluebird. Stagecoach run services 5 , 6 , 6A , 218 .
Service 218 connects Westhill to Aberdeen Union Square via Kingswells Park and Ride and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary every 3 hours Monday to Saturday, with no service running on Sundays.
The new routings from 19th April:
Service 5 Aberdeen to Elrick via Union Street, Albyn Place, Queens Road, Skene Road, Kingswells Park & Ride, Westhill Drive, Hays way, Wellgrove Road, Straik Road & Carnie Crescent same in reverse.
Service 6 Aberdeen to Westhill (Berryhill) via Union Street, Albyn Place, Queens Road, Skene Road, Kingswells Park & Ride, Westhill Drive, Hays way, Old Skene Road, Broadshade Road & Broadshade Avenue same in reverse.
Service 6A universal route (early mornings, evenings & Sundays) via Union Street, Albyn Place, Queens Road, Skene Road, Kingswells Park & Ride, Westhill Drive, Hays way, Anti-clockwise loop Old Skene Road, Broadshade Road, Broadshade Avenue, Broadshade Road, Broadstraik Road, Carnie Crescent, Straik Road, Wellgrove Road, Hays Way back to Aberdeen.
Primefour and Arnhall business park / Total will be served at peak times.
In the near future the service N6 will be night version of the 6A route, operating via Queens Road to Aberdeen every hour from 0020 to 0415.
By foot
Westhill is small enough to navigate on foot for visitors. Some newer housing areas are a considerable distance away but are unlikely to be of attraction to visitors.
See
Being primarily a commuter town, there are no "sights" to see in Westhill as such, but there are opportunities for scenic photography.
- 1 Loch of Skene. Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Do
For the same reasons above, there are not many activities within the town. However, the Westhill Golf Course is worth a visit and there are also tennis courts, a bowling green and a swimming pool. The layout of the town is also friendly for runners.
Buy
Nearby supermarkets include Tesco, Marks & Spencers, the Co-op and Costco.
The Farmers Market is held here first Saturday of the month 09:00-13:00 at Ashdale Hall.
Eat
- Key West, Unit 17, Westhill Shopping Centre, Old Skene Road. Cafe/bar serving typical bar fare.
- Max's, Ashdale Drive, ☏ 44 1224 766159. An excellent outlet with a full service Italian restaurant, a takeaway pizzeria and a coffee shop.
- Yan Oriental, Ashdale Drive, ☏ 44 1224 746746. A full service oriental. Considerably pricier but better quality than Jimmy Chungs.
- Szechuan Chinese Takeaway (Westhill Shopping Centre). Average quality Chinese takeaway.
- Taste of India (Westhill Shopping Centre). Good quality Indian takeaway.
- Hong Kong Express, Unit 11, Enterprise Drive, Westhill Industrial Estate. Poor quality Chinese takeaway.
Drink
Westhill has a basic night life with no clubs to speak of, however there are a number of bars each with their own character. Drinks are not cheap and expect to pay £3-4 for a pint. With the exception of The Shepherds Rest, all bars have satellite television and show a variety of sporting events.
- 1 Broadstraik Inn, ☏ 44 1224 743217. Open Su-Th till 11PM, W Th till midnight, F till 1AM, and Sa till 12:30AM. A traditional roadside inn. In addition to the restaurant the inn is split into two bar sections. The front bar is more akin to a lounge with log fires, wood tables and high backed chairs. The rear section functions as the "bar" with a pool table (the only one in Westhill), darts, jukebox and large screen television and is by far the livelier area. Sizeable beer garden and play area for children.
- 2 Shepherds Rest. Open Su-Th till 11PM, F Sa till midnight. Decked out as a traditional roadside inn has a relaxing atmosphere. Although it functions primarily as a restaurant, it is possible to visit purely for a drink. Previously the only premises where one could drink a variety of hand pulled cask ales, however these have since disappeared following the purchase of the premises by Belhaven Breweries which has resulted in their products dominating. A television exists at the rear of the bar and shows sports on terrestrial television.
- Key West, Westhill Shopping Centre. Open Su till 11:30PM, M-Th till midnight, F Sa till 1AM. Potentially the "weekend hotspot" and popular with the locals, particularly during football events (during which they may bring the big screen into play). Has a slight sterile feel to it but is otherwise a nice place to go and has a good draft beer selection. Generally features a DJ on Friday & Saturday nights till closing time and the middle area becomes a dance floor. Located next door to Westhill's only kebab shop which stays open just past closing time.
Sleep
- Holiday Inn, Westhill Drive, ☏ 44 1224 270300. Features Luigi's Italian Restaurant, a full service restaurant, The Glentanar a full service lounge with bar and Scot's Bar which serves bar snacks. Features a lounge at the front which has an abundance of comfortable seating and table service. A separate bar (Scott's Bar) at the rear means that it can show two different sporting events at once which makes it popular at events such as the World Cup. Poor draft beer selection however. Open Su till 11PM, M-Th till midnight, F Sa till 1AM; lounge may shut an hour earlier than these.
Connect
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