Aberdeen City and Shire

 

Surprise yourself with variety in Aberdeen City and Shire from the bustle of the prosperous city of Aberdeen to the surprising secrets of the Castle Trail, this region is a superb year round destination.

 

Ideal for explorers, the region boasts miles of sandy coastline peppered with dramatic clifftop castles and dainty fishing villages. Inland, discover manicured parks and gardens ablaze with colour throughout the year. In the heart of the region, relax in the splendour of the Royal Deeside and find the vast Cairngorms National Park perfect for thrill-seekers with an enviable range of outdoor activities on offer including cycling, canoeing and gorge walking.

 

2012 is the Year of Creative Scotland, so surprise yourself with the rich cultural offerings of Aberdeen. Wander around the city's impresssive museums and galleries, and treat yourself to some retail therapy.

 

Order your Aberdeen City and Shire brochures today to get the most out of your trip.

 

• Discover local flavours

  

  Take the opportunity to see region's most tempting food and drink being made before your very eyes, from scrumptious shortbread to fine whisky.

• Embrace the Year of Creative Scotland 2012

  

  Admire the beautiful buildings of the University of Aberdeen's ancient campus and discover place bursting with creative talent in the town of Huntly.

• Enter the secret Burn o' Vat

  

  Discover atmospheric places saturated in legend. Enter the hideaway of a notorious castle smuggler and visit the haunting ruins said to have inspired Castle Dracula.

• Experience Aberdeenshire's regal connections

  

  Explore the gorgeous countryside of Royal Deeside and celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at her beloved Balmoral.

• Experience unforgettable golf

  

  Enjoy great golfing in Aberdeen City and Shire and tackle the highest golf course in the world.

• Explore Aberdeenshire on foot

  

  Discover Aberdeenshire's stunning landscape on scenic walks. Enjoy gentle strolls along tranquil stretches of beach and follow the Deeside Way through the Grampian countryside.

• Find fascinating animals in unusal ways

  

  Observe the family life of peregrines from a safe distance, and horse trek into the Cairngorms for the chance to see an array of creatures.

• Follow the castle trail

  

  Aberdeenshire is home to Scotland’s only castle trail - discover local legends as you explore these fascinating ruins and grand stately homes

• Burn o'Vat Visitor Centre

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  See taxidermy models of local wildlife and learn about the evolution of the area's extraordinary topography.

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• Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Situated within the Cairngorms National Park, Muir of Dinnet has lovely walks through woodland and around the water-filled kettle hole that forms Loch Kinord.

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• New Slains Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  In addition to Bram Stoker, New Slains Castle has received other distinguished visitors including James Boswell and Samuel Johnson on their tours of the Highlands and Islands.

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• Marischal College

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  See the Great Window of Mitchell Hall which depicts the history of Marischal College in pictorial form.

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• Kings College Chapel

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Constructed in 1495, Kings College Chapel is one of the University of Aberdeen's most treasured buildings.

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• St Machar's Cathedral

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This magnificent place of worship is named after the Celtic saint St Machar, a disciple of St Columba.

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• Aberdeen Art Gallery

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This beautiful Victorian art gallery first opened its doors in 1885 and boasts one of the finest art collections in the country.

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• Drum Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim meaning 'ridge'.

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• Crathes Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Crathes Castle was built over a 43 year period from 1553 – 96 by the Burnett family.

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• Duthie Park

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Donated by a Miss Duthie to the city in 1880, this green space has boating on its ponds and cricket on its lawns during the summer.

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• Rattray Head

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  The dunes at Rattray Head beach can be up to seventy-five feet high and stretch approximately 17 miles (27 km) from St Combs to Peterhead.

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• Craigievar Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This 15th century tower house retains much of its orginal Jacobean woodwork and has beautiful period furniture inside.

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• Dunnotar Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  The name 'Dunnotar' is derived from the Pictish for fort and it is believed that St Ninian arrived here in the late 400s, converting the Picts to Christianity and founding a chapel.

  Read more 56.945887078820824 -2.196965217590332

• Fyvie Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This castle is home to a superb collection of arms, armour and paintings, including works by Raeburn and Gainsborough.

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• Delgatie Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Dating from 1030, Delgatie Castle has some of the finest painted ceilings in Scotland dating from 1592 and 1597.

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• Corgarff Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  The arrival of the redcoats after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 resulted in the tower house being gutted internally and transformed into soldiers’ barracks.

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• Tulquhon Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Look for the hidden compartment below the floor where Sir William Forbes, seventh Lord of Tulquhon, hid his valuables.

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• Balvenie Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Built by the powerful Comyn Earls of Buchan, the original castle, then called Mortlach, was destroyed by the forces of Robert the Bruce in 1308

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• Haddo House

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Originally designed by William Adam in 1732 and refurbished in 1880, this stately home boasts a sumptuous late Victorian interior.

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• Royal Aberdeen Golf Course

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This classic links course on the edge of Aberdeen is the sixth oldest club in the world.

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• Stonehaven Golf Course

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This spectacular cliff-top course, located south of Aberdeen, is short but challenging.

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• Braemar Golf Club

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Braemar Golf Club was founded in 1902 as a 9-hole course but over the years, it was developed into an 18-hole course and clubhouse with full facilities.

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• Trump International Golf Links

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This highly anticipated course has been designed by Dr. Martin Hawtree, widely regarded as one the world’s finest golf course architects.

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• Old Royal Station

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  During World War II many soldiers used the station when travelling to Royal Deeside for training.

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• Balmoral Castle

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Originally a 16th century tower house built for the powerful Gordon family, Balmoral was converted into a Scottish Baronial mansion in 1852.

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• Royal Lochnagar Distillery

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Learn about the time honoured traditions and proud craftsmanship that goes into producing one of Scotland's finest whiskies.

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• Dean's Visitor Centre

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  The hand-baking process here at Dean's remains the same as it did when Helen Dean began baking in her kitchen in 1975.

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• Aberdeen Country Fair

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  This market is held on Belmont Street between Union Steet and Schoolhill. It is one of the largest events in the country and attracts 30,000 visitors every month.

  Read more 57.147019964804265 -2.1015965938568115

• Thainstone Centre

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  Visit the Thainstone Centre in Inverurie to experience the richness and diversity of the region's larder at Taste of Grampian.

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• Glen Tanar Estate

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  You can take a safari tour of the estate in a Land Rover to see scenery, wildlife and flora and fauna - and even take a few pictures to keep forever.

  Read more 57.050094 -2.8667783

• Peregrine Watch

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  The centre is open seven days a week during the summer season and you could be lucky enough to spot jays, woodpeckers, roe deer, barn owls and voles as well as peregrines.

  Read more 57.4732224 -2.841844

• Troup Head

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  In spring, you can watch the arrival of tens of thousands of seabirds as they return to the cliffs after the cold winter months.

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• Macduff Marine Aquarium

  Aberdeen City & Shire

  If you take a trip up here, make sure you see the deep central exhibit, which displays a living kelp reef, and is the only one of its kind in Britain.

  Read more 57.6716049 -2.4912116