If you've been watching Granite Harbour on BBC Scotland, you'll already know that Aberdeen is as much a character in the drama as Lindo and Bart. The Granite City's streets, squares, harbourside pubs and historic landmarks are woven through every episode and with season three now airing on BBC Scotland, there's never been a better time to follow in the footsteps of the characters and explore the real Aberdeen behind the drama.
Castlegate
One of Aberdeen's most historic public spaces, Castlegate sits at the east end of Union Street on the site of the original medieval castle. At its centre stands the 17th-century Mercat Cross and the area is flanked by some of the city's most distinctive granite architecture. It is one of the city's oldest medieval thoroughfares and, on screen, it provides the kind of gritty, historic backdrop that makes Granite Harbour feel so distinctly Aberdeen.
Please note that Castlegate is currently receiving upgrades and therefore has some building works around the area, you can still visit but just be cautious of ongoing upgrades.
Footdee (Fittie)
Hannah Donaldson, who plays Bart, called Footdee her favourite Aberdeen location, describing it as a "hidden gem" - the historic fishing village tucked at the mouth of Aberdeen Harbour. Known locally as Fittie, this remarkable little community of colour-washed cottages arranged in tight squares dates from the early 19th century and feels almost entirely removed from the city around it.
The Fittie Bar on Wellington Street - one of the area’s most characterful local pubs - was transformed into "The Bodach Stone" for some shots, with the recognisable dark green sign changed for filming. The bar itself is very much open and very much worth a visit for a proper Aberdeen pub experience.
Footdee is a short walk along the beach boulevard and is free to explore. It's one of those places that surprises everyone who finds it - tucked behind the harbour, genuinely unlike anywhere else in Scotland.
Provost Skene's House and Marischal Square
Provost Skene's House features among the show's most recognisable city centre locations, alongside the leopard sculpture at Marischal Square and Broad Street.
Provost Skene's House is the oldest surviving townhouse in Aberdeen, dating from 1545, and is now home to a free museum celebrating over 100 pioneering figures from Aberdeen and the North-east, from Nobel laureates to footballing legends. It sits right in the heart of the city, steps from Marischal College, the vast granite neo-Gothic building that is one of the most photographed buildings in Scotland. The Poised leopard statue at Marischal Square, which fans of the show will recognise immediately, sits just around the corner.
The Globe Inn, North Silver Street
The exterior of The Globe Inn on North Silver Street features as itself in the series - a place where the cops gather for a drink. A long-established Aberdeen pub with a warm, no-fuss atmosphere, The Globe is very much a real and functioning local. If you want to sit where Lindo and Bart would sit, this is your spot.
Aberdeen's Esplanade and Beach
For Romario Simpson, who plays DC Davis Lindo, his favourite part of Aberdeen is "the esplanade along the coast" - you can drive alongside it and take in the coastline. Stretching for two miles alongside Aberdeen's golden sands, the Beach Boulevard is the perfect place for a walk, cycle or simply to pause and watch the ever-changing North Sea. On a clear day, the views are spectacular.
Don’t miss a bite to eat or a delicious coffee at one of the many great food trucks and cafes along the esplanade.
Plan your visit
All of these locations are free to visit and are within easy walking distance of each other in Aberdeen city centre and along the harbourfront. A self-guided walk from Marischal Square to Castlegate, The Globe, Footdee and Aberdeen Beach takes around two to three hours at a relaxed pace, giving you the chance to see some of the city's best-known sights along the way.
Browse our Aberdeen city pages for more on what to see, do and eat while you're in the Granite City.
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