Guide to What the Aberdeenshire Coast Offers for Holidays

A cottage holiday on the Aberdeenshire coast guarantees a novel experience

The coast of Aberdeen running north and south is one of the most beautiful and interesting of anywhere in Britain. Tall granite cliffs are broken in sections by sandy bays and small fishing villages. This is the one Scottish holiday destination to head for if you like the idea of renting a holiday cottage to give you the freedom to explore this breathtaking area.

Search self-catering holiday cottages in Aberdeenshire

The Aberdeenshire coast is highly recommended for a holiday, especially to anyone interested in wildlife because it is plentiful, bird watching, photography or painting because of the stunning scenery. There are excellent beaches and if you manage to enjoy warm and sunny days, there really is nowhere better. Most of the time, there are few people on the beaches and you can jog or walk in solitude. Occasionally there may be a seal or jellyfish washed up on the beach during the summer. Find a self-catering holiday cottage to rent for a few days or more and discover this completely natural and unspoilt coastline.

Recommended places to visit on the Grampian coastline

Grampian has a great coastline with dramatic and dangerous cliffs, cliff walks, superb clean beaches that extend for miles, pebbly coves, caves, picturesque harbours with fishing boats and quaint fishing villages. Most villages have pubs and are excellent for a spot of sea fishing, building sand castles on the beach or walks. The Buchan Coastal Path runs from village to village along the coast from St. Cyrus to the awe inspiring tall cliffs of Bullers of Buchan just north of Cruden Bay. 

If you're interested in sea birds, you will be richly rewarded.   Seals can often be spotted lazing on beaches. Head for Newburgh Beach to see thousands of plump seals relaxing on the sands. Marine life is a reward if you take a boat trip out to sea, bottle-nose dolphins frequent these parts and you may also spot the seals taking a swim.   The dolphins have been seen as far south from the Moray Firth as Aberdeen Harbour and have been known to follow the Shetland ferry.

Find a holiday cottage to rent in Aberdeenshire to spend a few glorious days sightseeing, bird watching, taking nature treks, golfing and lazing on the beach.

 

Find somewhere to stay near the Buchan Coastal path

For discovering some of the best of the Aberdeeenshire coastline on holiday, choose to rent accommodation dotted close to the Buchan Coastal Path.
  

 

Places of Interest and Beauty Spots along the Aberdeenshire Coastline

 

Balmedie Beach - just 5 miles from Aberdeen, Balmedie Beach is a long stretch of beautiful sands, edged by dunes.

Holiday cottages in Bullers of Buchan - visit these dramatic cliffs for wild flowers, sea birds, puffins.

Collieston - Collieston is a coastal village with a harbour and nice quiet roads for cycling.

Cruden Bay - Visit Cruden Bay for its picturesque qualities and for the beautiful bay with sandy beach which stretches on for around 2 miles.  Cruden Bay is also home to a quaint harbour, a couple of pubs, an 18 hole golf course and the ruins of Slains Castle (which locals believe inspired Dracula) where the castle is dramatically perched on edge of steep cliffs (there is an attractive walk to the castle from the car park in the centre of the village).

Cullen - Visit the harbour and enjoy walks by the beach or along the disused train line at the coastal village of Cullen.  Popular activities in this area include sea fishing, golfing and walking.

Fraserburgh - Home to sandy beaches, a golf course, the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre and the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. A few miles further north is Rosehearty, which, because of its clear waters is popular with divers.

Gardenstown - Built on the hillside, Gardenstown is one of the prettiest villages along the Aberdeenshire coast.  Discover a fine harbour, quaint coastal charm and superb sea views with a visit to Gardenstown.

The Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve for bird watching and otters is 2 miles south of St. Combs.

Macduff - Originally a spa town, Macduff has a lovely harbour and is situated close to Banff.  Attractions in Macduff include a Marine Aquarium and historic Duff House.

Newburgh - bird sanctuary at the Ythan estuary, sandy beach and dunes .

Pennan -small but perfectly pretty, Pennan is well worth a visit.  There is a small harbour and pebble beach plus a pub.  Set right at the bottom of a cliff, hold on to your hat when declining the steep road that leads down to the village.  Pennan is a good place to enjoy sea bird watching with Scotland's largest colony of gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and puffins nearby.

Peterhead - large scenic harbour, quaint old fishermen's cottages, beach, golf course, new heritage centre, Power Station

Portsoy - with pretty fishermen's cottages and a scenic historic 17th century harbour and picturesque views Portsoy is a real gem.

Stonehaven - beach, attractive harbour, yacht club, beach walkway, new outdoor heated swimming pool with midnight swims, nearby Dunnotar Castle ruins. If you have visited a place in the north east of Scotland that you have particularly enjoyed, then please tell us about it.  Photographs would be most welcome.

Click here for a list of Scottish self-catering holiday cottages and apartments.

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