Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has several exciting things to do on a free day to take a break from university and work.

Here are some of my favourite things to do and I hope you find these interesting as well!

Aberdeen City

1. The Beach Boulevard

This is one of the best places to visit in the city if you are looking for some quiet. I usually park my car on the boulevard and take a stroll with my partner along the shore. Our favourite thing to do is to collect pretty little shells from the beach. It might be a wee bit windy, but on a sunny day, it is great to get some ice cream and perhaps walk your dog.

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2. Tolbooth Museum

Student life can be tough and one of the ways to enjoy Aberdeen without burning a hole in your pocket is to visit the Tolbooth Museum. It is located next to Castlegate and the entry is free. The narrow stairs of the museum lead to the different sections of the Tolbooth that have existed for several centuries now. It is pretty spooky and dark inside, especially the museum dummies! But you get to learn about local histories for free and if you are a history enthusiast like me, then you will love it!

3. Old Aberdeen

Walk through stony vintage roads of Old Aberdeen and visit the St. Machar’s Cathedral. A tourist spot with free entry, this is Cathedral sees thousands of visitors that travel from different parts of the country every year. The architecture of the place is stunning and it contains historical artefacts of Scots kings and queens.

Aberdeenshire

1. Portsoy Ice Cream

One of my favourite places to go is Portsoy Ice Cream shop located in Portsoy, a town that is just an hour’s drive from the city. The store created flavours such as Jammy Dodger, Irn Bru, coconut, banana and coffee. The strawberry cheesecake is my go-to! In addition to this they also have classics such as chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. They have sorbets for people who prefer free from options and other allergen free ice creams. You can also have a variety of different delicious toppings including toffee sauce and sprinkles. Then you can walk along the Portsoy coast, but make sure you take a jacket as it can get really windy!

2. Falconry Centre

The second place on my list is the falconry centre at Huntly. They show a variety of birds from April to October. You can see falcons, owls and eagles in their enclosures and if they aren’t there, they are most likely flying about during the demonstrations. You can feed the birds and they might even land on your arm if you are lucky. If that is not enough, there are also some deer walking about the demonstration field. They also have a little café where you can get something to eat or drink. There is usually a little owl called Ashley (it is pretty awesome to have an owl named after you).

3. The Peterhead Prison Museum

This museum is located at the old prison down by the coast in Peterhead. You can walk around one of the most notorious prisons in Scotland with your own audio tour guide. It is really great to be able to walk along the prison at your own pace and not miss anything out. With true experiences and tales about the prison, it will definitely give you chills up the spine. It is really great to see the prison in its hauntingly chilling glory! At the end of the tour there is a small cafe where you can get a bite to eat. Keep your eyes peeled for the dummies!

Ashleigh

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