Aberdeenshire Holiday Guide

Visit Aberdeenshire for its scenic countryside, its castles, distilleries, stunning coastline and to discover the road less travelled.  

The north east corner of Grampian, with Aberdeen as its capital city is a great location for an activity holiday for the whole family. 
 

• Enjoy browsing through self catering and country cottages in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

The Aberdeenshire countryside is beautiful, dotted with quiet villages. Edged on the north east  of Scotland by the North Sea, you will discover miles of clean sandy beach, rugged cliffs with quaint fishing villages and harbours, a maritime heritage, plentiful bird life, wonderful wild flowers, forest walks, stone circles, castles, whisky distilleries and plenty of other tourist attractions.

Entry prices to most places are particularly reasonable compared to those in London and other cities. Aberdeenshire is a fabulous cottage holiday destination.

Particularly pretty coastal villages well worth a visit include Cruden Bay with its castle, harbour and sandy beach, Pennan which is just picture perfect and Newburgh with its sand-dunes and abundance of wildlife.

Explore the Aberdeenshire Countryside on a Cottage Break

Aberdeenshire is renowned for its countryside; from fields and farmlands to forests, mountains and hills, North East Scotland is home to some of Scotland's finest scenery.  Also adding to the appeal of the naturally beautiful landscape are the numerous historic castles dotted around this part of Scotland; earning the area the title of Scotland's Castle Country.
 

Whether for you the perfect day out involves walking, hiking, wildlife watching or even skiing in the Cairngorms National Park, all of this is possible in season in amazing Aberdeenshire.

 

Unwind on the Beach on a Holiday on Aberdeenshire's Coastline

Aberdeenshire's coastline is stunning and unspoilt.  The coastline is just splendid with beautiful sandy beaches and coves, dramatic cliffs, pretty fishing villages and harbours to discover. What makes this area truly special though is that it's currently a well kept secret.  So shh, keep it to yourself and enjoy beautiful stretches of sandy beach where it may just be you and the gulls and your four-legged friend, exploring and unwinding in wonderful solitude.  

 

Discover some of the best beaches in Aberdeenshire:

• Cruden Bay Beach and 
 

• Newburgh Beach 
 

Both of these beaches are well worth a visit for their golden sands and unspoilt nature.
 

The coastline along Aberdeenshire is as varied as it is beautiful with high dramatic cliffs a feature of this part of Scotland too.  

The scenery around the Bullers of Buchan is just breathtaking and a great place to spot sea birds, but take care when visiting; these high cliffs are potentially dangerous as there are no barriers from the steep drops so only visit when wearing sturdy footwear and without pets or children.  
 

Aden Country Park, Mintlaw

Castle Fraser and Garden, Sauchen, Tel: 01330 833 463 (National Trust)

Craigievar Castle, near Alford

Crathes Castle, Garden, Craft Village and Estate, Banchory

Drum Castle and Garden, Drumoak

Fraserburgh Heritage Centre, Fraserburgh

Fyvie Castle, Turriff

Gordon Highlander's Museum, Aberdeen

Grassic Gibbon Centre, Arbuthnott, just south of Aberdeenshire

Haddo House, near Ellon

Leith Hall and Garden, Huntly

Pitmedden Garden, Pitmedden

Satrosphere, Aberdeen

Storybook Glen, Maryculter, Aberdeen

The Blairs Museum, Aberdeen

The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Fraserburgh

1st week of April	Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
early July	Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy
1st week of August	Speyfest - festival of traditional music, ceilidhs and crafts
early August	Aberdeen International Youth Festival of music, theatre and dance, Tel: 01224 641 122 for tickets
1st September	Annual Highland Gathering at Braemar, Tel: 01399 755 377
3rd week of October	Aberdeen Alternative Music Festival, Tel: 01224 635 822
31st December	Stonehaven Fireball Festival and Parade, Tel: 01569 762 001