The Don rises in the peat flat beneath Druim na Feithe, and in the shadow of Glen Avon, before flowing quietly past the ice-age moraine and down to Cock Bridge, below the picturesque site of the recently demolished Delnadamph Lodge.

Several streams, the Dhiver, Feith Bhait, Meoir Veannaich, Cock Burn and the Allt nan Aighean merge to form the embryonic Don.

The station measures 97% of the total 1,312 square kilometres (507 sq mi) catchment of the river.

[2][4] The resultant flooding forced residents along the river to evacuate their homes, in some cases with the help of local rescue teams.

Areas affected included Port Elphinstone, Kintore, and Donside in Aberdeen where a number of residential care homes were evacuated as a precaution.