A few people have asked me recently if I am still doing my hiking this year. In reality, I have done very little of that, having instead spent much more time walking the home turf of Aberdeen. I’m not sad about it, actually, for two good reasons: it’s been a decent summer (yeah, the sunshine is patchy but the temperatures are good enough for shorts – and that’s good enough for me!) and the cafe scene keeps on giving.

Since the start of summer I have traversed Aberdeen in all directions but purposely avoided the Old Railway Line – the ol’Covid haunt which I had recorded in my head as well overdone. And yet, this particular Saturday, as the clouds suddenly dispersed to present us with the clearest blue skies, I felt that trail calling me. A quick Google search which revealed there are a few coffee shops on said trail that I hadn’t been to yet might have swayed that decision.

So, shorts on, shades on and off I went on the flat and easy, but fresh and free 1.5-hour walk to my first destination: Newton Dee Café.

In reality, I had more fuel in my legs and decided to bypass the path leading to the Café, instead willing to go a bit further to check out the Murtle Market first, adding another 15min to the journey. The Market turned out to be a free-standing house by the roadside with a rather meagre selection of goods – but also the biggest cucumbers I have seen in my life, ever (not a euphemism, I promise!). An A-frame that led me to it suggested they offered take-away coffee, but they had the full sit-in setup with plenty of tables inside (much larger than the shop section)

The place didn’t call for me tho, so I payed the 80p for my cucumber and emerged onto the A road to retrace my steps in parallel to the old Railway Line – which then meant a slug back up and across the said trail as Newton Dee was nestled further into the countryside.

No wonder – only upon arrival I realised it was a community centre. If the posters weren’t a giveaway, the elderly clientele joined by their younger family members brought the point home.

I wasn’t deterred, however (although I did adjust my taste expectations) because the place had a charming feel about it – reminding me of summer camp retreat, probably because the centre resembled a wooden shelter I experienced in the Polish mountains on hiking holidays. The huge building was split into a cafe on the left and – surprise, surprise – a farm shop on the right, and this one was a proper one.

Since I had no more vegetables on my shopping list, I turned left and ogled the diminished cake display – it was just 2 hours till closing after all; but since the offering was unsurprisingly quite traditional (no teriyaki gluten free brownies in this establishment!), I just opted for a mocha and took an armchair close to the large windows at the back of the cafe. From here I could observe a lot of comings and goings outside as that’s where most patrons enjoyed their afternoon tea. A map at the front makes it clear there are good walking trails around and the sunny picture was full of peace and serenity.

My coffee was served soon after and the substantial size didn’t surprise me, not did the dusting of cocoa which once sniffed – involuntary predecessor of taking a sip – made me think of other, similar community cafes – resulting in setting my ranking bar low.

Alas, I was positively surprised! Instead of an average cup of chocolate spiked with espresso, I tasted a very well blended and balanced concoction. Sure, the cocoa lacked the luxury of high-end shops but despite that it was still enjoyable, well rounded and easily drinkable as the temperature was just right.

It was a short stopover, but I was glad I made the journey as I discovered a little gem of a place that treats its visitors to a slice of serenity without scrimping on the little caffeine joys in life. If you’re also walking the Railway Line, I trust you too will find this a lovely stopover.

Learn more about Newton Dee Café on their website.