Physiotherapy student Emma shares the best towns to visit in Aberdeenshire and tips on how to get there, what to see, and where to eat.
Have you ever wondered where you can travel in Scotland that’s both close to Aberdeen and accessible through public transport? Aberdeenshire is the county surrounding Aberdeen and a place I have loved to explore throughout my life. Living close by, there are still many places I am yet to explore but I would like to share my recommendations!
Stonehaven
Stonehaven is a town close-by to Aberdeen, you can catch the X7 bus (40 minutes) or the train (20 minutes), one of my favourite places for beautiful walks and tasty food.
My top recommendations include Aunty Betty’s ice cream or the Bay Fish & Chips. Great news if you can’t decide because the two shops are neighbours! My favourite flavour combination is banana ice cream and raspberry sorbe. Aunty Betty’s also do hot drinks and dog treats (not recommended for human consumption).
A quick walk from the train station is also Stonehaven’s heated open air swimming pool which is open during summer months (I don’t want to picture how cold that would be in winter).
If the sandy beaches of Aberdeen aren’t your thing, good news as Stonehaven’s beaches are stoney (also the nickname for Stonehaven) and lead to a beautiful 45-minute walk to Dunnottar Castle. You could make this a lunch walk as there are usually fast-food vans in the Dunnottar car park! Fun Fact: this castle was the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Brave and also was a filming location for Hamlet and Viktor Frankenstein movie adaptations.
Peterhead
Peterhead is another coastal town near Aberdeen, it is a slightly longer 1-hour journey using the X60 or X63 buses. This town is the biggest in Aberdeenshire and famous for being a fishing village so keep an eye out for any fish markets while you are there. Ask vendors about their specialities and try something new!
For more mature students, Peterhead has various distilleries and whisky tours. Any history buffs should take the opportunity to go to the Peterhead Prison Museum, a 30-minute walk from the town centre. This prison was ‘Scotland’s Hardest Prison’ until its closure in 2013 and allows tours throughout its hospital, court, prison cells and halls. Why not give it a visit during reading week?
Laurencekirk and St Cyrus
Laurencekirk is located at the bottom of the county and St. Cyrus is on the border between Aberdeenshire and Angus. It is only a 35-minute train journey but not all trains stop at Laurencekirk so make sure you get on the right one!
My favourite restaurant in Laurencekirk is the Alma, which offers Indian cuisine. My favourite starter is the tiger grilled prawns as I do not have a high spice tolerance, but don’t worry there is something for everyone!
The Cairn O’ Mount and Caterthuns are amazing walks in Aberdeenshire, close to Edzell. Both these walks are easiest accessed through driving on the A90 from Aberdeen, these roads can be windy and steep so best to travel here on a dry, sunny day. At the top of the Cairn O’ Mount, there is a pile of stones, and you are welcome to try to balance another stone on the top, but be sure not to destroy the towers.
I would recommend the Clatterin Brig restaurant and their homemade soups and traybakes. The brown and white Caterthuns are short walks uphill with amazing views of Aberdeenshire and Angus, be sure to bring good trainers as it can be rocky.
St. Cyrus is an 1hr 15 minutes from Aberdeen using the X7 bus. It is the home of a beautiful nature reserve full of nesting birds, coastal rocky walks and north water viaduct. Ecclesgrieg castle also holds regular events and can be a peaceful visit . Since the recent storms, the surrounding sand dunes have been hit hard, so be sure to visit St. Cyrus beach before its too late!
Banchory, Ballater and Aboyne
Banchory, Ballater and Aboyne are memorable areas for me as I have family from there. But because I cannot highlight my great uncle’s house as a place for you to visit, I have included all these areas together! The furthest of the three towns is Ballater, which is accessible by a 1 hour and 30 minute bus but is best by car.
There are many castles in this area, including Crathes Castle (beside Banchory) and Balmoral (beside Ballater). Crathes Castle is one of my favourites. The gardens are beautiful in summer, and they usually have a treasure hunt to find hidden figurines around the castle rooms.
You may have heard of Balmoral as it is the ancestral home of the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during her final days. The surrounding area is a beautiful walk, and it is close to Prince Albert’s Pyramid, a walk towards an honorary stone pyramid which can be quite chilly if its windy so dress warm.
Various lochs
If you take anything from this guide, I would say explore the lochs around Scotland, and there are plenty lochs in Aberdeenshire alone such as Loch Muick, Skene or Callater.
My most visited loch is Lock Lee (south of Ballater). I go there often with family as the walk is accessible to most ability levels and during the summer has rivers you could go swimming in, be sure to reapply sunscreen and midges repellent.
I hope this guide has helped you learn about Aberdeenshire and encouraged you to explore the area. Apps such as Stagecoach and Scotrail are your best options for organising public transport, as well as leaflets from the tourist information office on Union Street.
My final advice is to check the MET office weather forecasts before traveling, especially if going into the Grampian Mountains, to make sure you bring warm clothes, plenty of water and keep yourself safe!
Emma Gunn
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