Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at its most majestic
26 May 2021
It's no secret that Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is a stunning example of Scotland at its most majestic. Playing home to some 263 enchanting castles and with our dramatic coastlines, rich Royal heritage and majestic landscapes, it is easy to see why Queen Victoria once described the region as “my dear paradise in the Highlands”.
Here are our top picks of things you can't miss on your trip to Majestic Aberdeenshire.
Balmoral Castle is Aberdeenshire’s most famed castle – and for good reason. It has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848. It is a breath-taking example of Scots Baronial architecture at its finest. It doesn’t get much more majestic than this!
Don't miss the chance to witness the collapsed sea cave at Bullers of Buchan, one of the most impressive geological features of Aberdeenshire's expansive coastline. Not only is the cliff scenery spectacular, the area is also home to seabirds of many species such as Puffins, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills. The birds proliferate during the spring and summer when wild flowers including campion, heather and orchids colour the cliff top.
Aberdeen's reimagined and revamped art gallery sits proudly in the heart of the city centre.
The gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the UK, including works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Claude Monet. Winner of Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020, this is a must-see when you're in the area!
No trip to Majestic Aberdeenshire would be complete without taking in the panoramic views from one of the many hills and Munroes in the area. On the eastern edge of the Grampian mountain range, Bennachie is one of North-east Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks. This distinctive hill with several tops can be seen from miles around. You don't need to be a serial Munro bagger to enjoy a walk at Bennachie though. From smooth trails to steep rocky climbs, Bennachie offers something for all abilities.
Whisky distilleries in Aberdeenshire are bottling the essence of our land into iconic blends loved the world over. The word whisky comes from the Gaelic word uisce/uisge which means water, which is likely why whisky earned it's nickname the 'Water of Life'. Aberdeenshire's clean clear springs and moorland peat help to create the perfect dram (Scottish for glass of whisky) and when nature and ingenuity combine, you create unrivalled taste.
Visit the most easterly distillery in Scotland at Glen Garioch which maintains original features like its barley mill. In the heart of the Cairngorms National Park try Royal Lochnagar which was favoured by Queen Victoria so much it was bestowed a Royal Warrant. Then there’s Glenglassaugh Distillery located on the Banffshire coast where its fans say you can taste the sea. Further inland find GlenDronach Distillery, outside Huntly where the finest sherried malts have been created for over 200 years.
That concludes our round up of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at its most majestic! Have you entered our prize draw to win a break in Majestic Aberdeenshire! Do that here to be in with a chance of winning. Terms and conditions apply and the prize draw closes 11 July 2021. Good luck!