Guidebook for Aberdeenshire
Sightseeing
The distillery does excellent tours around the works and gives you the opportunity to taste their various whiskies
31 locals recommend
Glen Garioch Distillery
Distillery RoadThe distillery does excellent tours around the works and gives you the opportunity to taste their various whiskies
A lovely walk through forested slopes and gorges that rise above the river Ythan. Passing by what remains of Gight Castle
Gight Castle
A lovely walk through forested slopes and gorges that rise above the river Ythan. Passing by what remains of Gight Castle
Portsoy
A beautiful little harbour town made famous for it's lovely ice cream
A stunning view as you drive into Cullen through the arches of its viaduct, down to its sandy beach and rocky cliffs
52 locals recommend
Cullen
A stunning view as you drive into Cullen through the arches of its viaduct, down to its sandy beach and rocky cliffs
Sandend
A lovely sandy beach
My very favourite beach and walk. Parking next to a farmhouse and walking down a pathway that takes you past a dovecote (doocot), the remains of FIndlater Castle balanced on the rocks, and down to this lovely isolated beach. It's possible to walk along to Cullen or back to Sandend if you're feeling even more energetic.
7 locals recommend
Sunnyside Beach
My very favourite beach and walk. Parking next to a farmhouse and walking down a pathway that takes you past a dovecote (doocot), the remains of FIndlater Castle balanced on the rocks, and down to this lovely isolated beach. It's possible to walk along to Cullen or back to Sandend if you're feeling even more energetic.
Cruden Bay
Sand dunes and sandy beach
Dracula's Castle itself! Standing ruined on the top of the cliffs of the Bullers of Buchan. Not for the faint hearted, reckless children or wayward dogs as there is no barrier above the cliffs.
Look out for a whole variety of seabirds, dolphins and the occasional pod of orcas.
49 locals recommend
Slains Castle
A975Dracula's Castle itself! Standing ruined on the top of the cliffs of the Bullers of Buchan. Not for the faint hearted, reckless children or wayward dogs as there is no barrier above the cliffs.
Look out for a whole variety of seabirds, dolphins and the occasional pod of orcas.
Scottish National Trust property with lovely walks around the grounds and loch
41 locals recommend
Fyvie Castle
Scottish National Trust property with lovely walks around the grounds and loch
Whisky, whisky, whisky - how it's made and how it tastes!
14 locals recommend
The GlenDronach Distillery
Whisky, whisky, whisky - how it's made and how it tastes!
Aden Allotments
Station RoadMuseum, visitor's centre and country walks
Haddo House
Country park walks
Bennachie Centre
Mountain walks and visitor's centre
Balmedie
Sandunes and more sandy beach than you know what to do with
If you visit at high-tide you will have to walk over the cliff top, but at low tide you can walk through the caves at the east side of the beach to find yourself on the next one. It evokes thoughts of smugglers and Enid Blyton!
New Aberdour
If you visit at high-tide you will have to walk over the cliff top, but at low tide you can walk through the caves at the east side of the beach to find yourself on the next one. It evokes thoughts of smugglers and Enid Blyton!
A pretty little fishing village perched between the cliffs and the sea. You will have to park and walk a fair way to see it properly
17 locals recommend
Crovie
A pretty little fishing village perched between the cliffs and the sea. You will have to park and walk a fair way to see it properly
A wee fishing village with a good pub and excellent food.
It even has a telephone box that was made famous by the film Local Hero.
Why not spend the day exploring this area of the coast, lunch at the Inn, photograph by the telephone box and come back to watch Local Hero on DVD in your cottage?
20 locals recommend
Pennan
A wee fishing village with a good pub and excellent food.
It even has a telephone box that was made famous by the film Local Hero.
Why not spend the day exploring this area of the coast, lunch at the Inn, photograph by the telephone box and come back to watch Local Hero on DVD in your cottage?
Delgatie Castle
Castle open to the public
Huntly Castle
Castle StreetCastle
Spey Bay
Dolphin watching
A sheltered valley with lovely walks as far or short, easy or difficult as you would like. Very pretty in this mountainous region
6 locals recommend
Glen Tanar
A sheltered valley with lovely walks as far or short, easy or difficult as you would like. Very pretty in this mountainous region
Braemar
Royal Deeside at its most royal
You can explore the valley, walking around the loch or head up Lochnagar to look across the Balmoral Estate - be prepared for mountain walking though
Glenmuick
You can explore the valley, walking around the loch or head up Lochnagar to look across the Balmoral Estate - be prepared for mountain walking though
An interesting wee castle to visit and explore - off the beaten track and well worth a visit
11 locals recommend
Tolquhon Castle
An interesting wee castle to visit and explore - off the beaten track and well worth a visit
Food Scene
Fife Arms Hotel
Lovely food based on local, fresh produce
Moonlight Tandoori
34 Balmellie StAn excellent Indian Restaurant
A great little delicatessen run by and Scottish accented French guy
8 locals recommend
The Kilted Frog Delicatessen Ltd
8 W High StA great little delicatessen run by and Scottish accented French guy
The Square
Basic cafe / diner
Eat on the Green
An excellent restaurant - would recommend!
Entertainment & Activities
Macduff
A well-presented Sealife Centre with a real hands-on experience
Lochter Activity Centre
Outdoor Activities
Everything Else
Skippers
8 Duff StGood Fish & Chips to take away
Turriff Golf Club
We're not golfers, I'm afraid, so can't recommend one over another
We're not golfers, I'm afraid, so can't recommend one over another
6 locals recommend
Oldmeldrum Golf Club
Kirk BraeWe're not golfers, I'm afraid, so can't recommend one over another
Trump International Golf Links
It galls me to add it but ...
Newmachar Golf Club
We're not golfers, I'm afraid, so can't recommend one over another
We're not golfers, I'm afraid, so can't recommend one over another
10 locals recommend
Duff House Royal Golf Club
We're not golfers, I'm afraid, so can't recommend one over another
Scottish National Trust Property. Well worth a visit to to explore the gardens and castle.
77 locals recommend
Crathes Castle
Scottish National Trust Property. Well worth a visit to to explore the gardens and castle.
Balmoral Castle
The reason Royal Deeside is called Royal Deeside
Explore the Speyside distilleries or walk along the long distance footpath, the Speyside Way
17 locals recommend
Aberlour
Explore the Speyside distilleries or walk along the long distance footpath, the Speyside Way
Essentials
Tesco Superstore
32 High StSmallish Tescos
Tesco Extra
Laurel DriveHuge Tesco
Morrisons
215 King StAnother option for groceries
Costcutter
35 High StGroceries and post office
Shopping
Co-op Food - Fyvie
Main StreetA handy wee store for picking up essentials
Arts & Culture
There are often art exhibitions on in the house itself and the grounds are interesting to walk through by the River Deveron estuary.
Duff House Gardens
Low StreetThere are often art exhibitions on in the house itself and the grounds are interesting to walk through by the River Deveron estuary.