| | SELECT
REGION |
Rich
in historic castles, Royal connections and whisky distilleries, this unique corner
of Scotland has hills tumbling down to a dramatic coast with its fishing villages
and beaches around Aberdeen, city of flowers.
Aberdeen is
Scotland's third largest city. It sparkles with silvery granite
and is bright with flowers. Not only in the city's parks, but in
every other green space there are floral displays which belie Aberdeen's
northerly position. The
Marcliffe Hotel and Spa is our recommended 5 star accommodation
in this area.
City
attractions include the Art Gallery, the Maritime Museum, Duthie Park and Winter
Gardens and other venues of particular interest for children, notably Stratosphere,
a hands-on scientific discovery centre. Aberdeen's beach and long promenade is
backed by a choice of leisure and all-weather sports facilities. Old Aberdeen,
dominated by the crown spire of 16th century King's College, is also worth exploring
to view St Machar's Cathedral, founded in 1131.
Royal Deeside and Around the Spey
Aberdeen
is also the gateway to Royal Deeside, the lovely
valley of the River Dee where Prince Albert built Balmoral Castle as a summer
home for Queen Victoria in the mid 19th century. Always popular, the area was
also the setting for the story of Queen Victoria and her faithful servant, John
Brown, recently portrayed in the Oscar-nominated film Mrs Brown.
The
area's many attractions go beyond the outstanding scenery, framed by birchwoods
and Scots Pines, to include the Royal Lochnagar Distillery and the Braemar Highland
Heritage Centre. In the lower stretches of Deeside, between Banchory and Aberdeen,
there are the fine castles and gardens of Drum and Cradses.
So
many and varied are the area's great fortified houses and mansions that the signposted
Castle Trail directs the visitor to the very finest of them. One
such masterpiece is Fyvie Castle to the north, a five-towered fortress steeped
in five centuries of Scottish history.
There
are many visitor attractions north of the River Dee. Tomintoul, the highest village
in the Highlands, is reached from Deeside by way of a scenic road winding over
the wild heathery hills of the Grampians, and is near the area's unique Malt Whisky
Trail. This is a signposted route featuring seven whisky distilleries, each with
excellent interpretation facilities for visitors. The
trail also passes through the pleasant little towns of Aberlour, with its attractive
parkland walks, and Craigellachie where you can visit the Speyside Cooperage,
demonstrating craftsmanship in whisky barrel-making.
Around the North East Coast
Elgin
is the second largest town in the North East. Its attractions include a beautiful,
though ruined, cathedral and Elgin Museum, which features mostly local heritage.
At Fochabers, to the east, the world famous food-manufacturer, Baxters of Speyside,
welcomes visitors. Still further east, the Macduff Marine northern waters.
The
deepest tank in Britain can be seen here, complete with divers who feed the many
species of fish on display. Moments away in Banff, Duff House widens the cultural
choice of the area,
displaying
important works of art from the 17th - 9th century. Scotland's Lighthouse Museum
adjacent to the lighthouse at Kinnaird Head in Fraserburgh, returns to the maritime
theme. Golf,
fishing and skiing are just some of the activities that can be enjoyed in the
beautiful natural surroundings of this comparatively undiscovered part of Scotland.
Take the inland
road by way of castles galore and beautiful birch and pinewoods by the edge of
the Grampian mountains or follow the Coastal Trail
to make the most of the rugged and unspoilt shores.
« back | 
