What is Stonehaven known for?

Stonehaven is best known for its dramatic clifftop castle at Dunnottar, its colourful working harbour, and the spectacular Hogmanay Fireballs ceremony on New Year's Eve. The town is also home to one of the last Art Deco heated outdoor seawater pools in Scotland, a much-loved institution open each summer. It was voted Scotland's best seaside town in 2010 and has been drawing visitors ever since.

How far is Stonehaven from Aberdeen?

Stonehaven is around 15 miles south of Aberdeen, approximately 25 minutes by car on the A90 or around 20 minutes by train. It makes an excellent day trip from the city, though there is more than enough to justify an overnight stay or longer.

Can I walk from Stonehaven to Dunnottar Castle?

Yes, and it is one of the best short coastal walks in Aberdeenshire. The clifftop path from Stonehaven harbour to Dunnottar Castle takes around 20 to 25 minutes each way and offers stunning views along the coast. The walk is well-maintained and clearly signed, though some sections are close to the cliff edge so care is needed.

When is the Stonehaven Fireballs ceremony?

The Stonehaven Fireballs ceremony takes place on Hogmanay, the evening of 31 December each year. Participants march through the town swinging large balls of fire on wire cages above their heads, in a tradition thought to date back centuries. It attracts visitors from across Scotland and beyond and is one of the most spectacular New Year celebrations in the country.

What wildlife can I see at St Cyrus and Fowlsheugh?

St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is exceptional for wildflowers, butterflies, and birds, particularly in spring and early summer when the dune meadows are in bloom. RSPB Fowlsheugh, just south of Stonehaven, hosts around 130,000 breeding seabirds between April and July including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and puffins. Dolphins are also regularly spotted along this stretch of coast.

What fishing villages can I visit south of Aberdeen?

Very much so. Gourdon and Johnshaven are among the most authentic fishing communities left on the Aberdeenshire coast, with working harbours, heritage museums, and a strong local character. The Mill of Benholm just inland is a lovely stop for tea and cakes, and the coastal path connecting the villages makes for a rewarding half-day walk.

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Stonehaven & the coastal Mearns

Stonehaven & the coastal Mearns

Stretching along Aberdeenshire’s dramatic southern coastline, Stonehaven and the Mearns combine seaside charm, rugged cliffs, and rich local character.

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Stretching along Aberdeenshire's dramatic southern coastline, Stonehaven and the Mearns combine seaside charm, rugged clifftop scenery, and a rich maritime heritage that runs deep through every village along the shore. From the picture-postcard harbour at Stonehaven to the wildflower-filled sands of St Cyrus, this is a coast that rewards those who take the time to explore it properly.

Stonehaven

Stonehaven is the natural hub of this stretch of coast, a thriving harbour town just 15 miles south of Aberdeen that consistently surprises visitors with how much it packs in. The old town around the harbour is full of character, with colourful boats, waterfront cafes, and the Tolbooth Museum, one of the oldest buildings in the town and a fascinating window into local history.

Dunnottar Castle, perched on a sheer clifftop promontory two miles south of the town, is one of the most dramatically situated castles in Scotland. The clifftop walk from Stonehaven to reach it is one of the great walks on the entire Aberdeenshire coast. The castle served as the hiding place of the Scottish Crown Jewels during Cromwell's invasion and has drawn visitors from around the world ever since.

The Stonehaven Open Air Pool is another much-loved institution, a heated Art Deco seawater pool open from late May to early September and one of the last remaining outdoor pools of its kind in Scotland. Stonehaven Paddleboarding offers a more active way to experience the bay, and Bike Remedy is on hand for those looking to explore the coastline on two wheels.

For food and drink, Stonehaven has a strong offer built around its fishing heritage. The Bay Fish and Chips is one of the most acclaimed chip shops (or chippers as they are known in the North-east) in Scotland, with a long-standing reputation for quality and sustainability. Carron Fish Bar is another Stonehaven local favourite, widely credited as the birthplace of the deep-fried Mars bar. The Seafood Bothy offers a more refined take on the local catch, while Aunty Bettys on the promenade has been delighting generations of visitors with its ice cream and sweet treats.

Stonehaven is also famous for its Hogmanay Fireballs ceremony, one of the most spectacular New Year celebrations in Scotland, when participants swing blazing balls of fire through the streets to welcome in the New Year.

Explore Stonehaven

The coast south of Stonehaven

RSPB Fowlsheugh, a short drive south of Stonehaven, is one of the most spectacular seabird colonies on the entire east coast of Scotland. Between April and July, the cliffs are home to around 130,000 breeding seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and puffins, and the sight and sound of the colony at its peak is something genuinely unforgettable.

The clifftop village of Catterline, beloved by the painter Joan Eardley whose dramatic paintings of the sea and local community brought the village to wider attention, is worth a quiet wander. Just inland, Kinneff Old Church is where the Honours of Scotland, the crown jewels, were secretly buried and hidden from Cromwell's troops for over two years, one of the most remarkable episodes in Scottish history.

Gourdon and Johnshaven

The small fishing villages of Gourdon and Johnshaven sit close together along the Mearns shore, both built on the fishing industry and both retaining an authentic, working character that is increasingly rare on the Scottish coast. Gourdon's compact harbour is still active, with creel fishing boats landing lobsters and crabs, and the Anchor Hotel and Harbour Cottages is a welcoming spot for food and a drink overlooking the water.

Just inland, the Mill of Benholm is a beautifully restored historic water mill set in peaceful surroundings, and a popular stop for tea, cakes, and a look around the mill workings. The Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Museum tells the story of these communities and the herring industry that once defined life along this stretch of coast. The Maggie Law Museum in Johnshaven commemorates one of the last traditional Mearns fishing boats, combining a museum with a secondhand bookshop in a distinctly memorable combination.

Sillyflatt Fare, Fields and Gatherings offers a unique farm-based experience just between Gourdon and Inverbervie, combining food, nature, and community events in a setting that reflects the rural character of the southern Mearns at its best.

Image: Sillyflatt Fare, Fields and gatherings

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St Cyrus

At the southern end of the Mearns coast, St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is one of the most diverse and rewarding nature reserves in Scotland. Towering volcanic cliffs rise above a wide sweep of beach, and the dune grassland behind the shore supports an extraordinary range of wildflowers, butterflies, and insects, many of them rare. The reserve is at its most spectacular in early summer when the wildflower meadows are in full bloom.

Itineraries In Stonehaven & the coastal Mearns

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Businesses In Stonehaven & the coastal Mearns

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Anchor Hotel and Harbour Cottages

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Rabbie's Tours

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Blackrock House

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Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Museum

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The Maggie Law Museum Book Store

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Cloak Caravan Park

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Frequently asked questions

What is Stonehaven known for?: Stonehaven is best known for its dramatic clifftop castle at Dunnottar, its colourful working harbour, and the spectacular Hogmanay Fireballs ceremony on New Year's Eve. The town is also home to one of the last Art Deco heated outdoor seawater pools in Scotland, a much-loved institution open each summer. It was voted Scotland's best seaside town in 2010 and has been drawing visitors ever since.
How far is Stonehaven from Aberdeen?: Stonehaven is around 15 miles south of Aberdeen, approximately 25 minutes by car on the A90 or around 20 minutes by train. It makes an excellent day trip from the city, though there is more than enough to justify an overnight stay or longer.
Can I walk from Stonehaven to Dunnottar Castle?: Yes, and it is one of the best short coastal walks in Aberdeenshire. The clifftop path from Stonehaven harbour to Dunnottar Castle takes around 20 to 25 minutes each way and offers stunning views along the coast. The walk is well-maintained and clearly signed, though some sections are close to the cliff edge so care is needed.
When is the Stonehaven Fireballs ceremony?: The Stonehaven Fireballs ceremony takes place on Hogmanay, the evening of 31 December each year. Participants march through the town swinging large balls of fire on wire cages above their heads, in a tradition thought to date back centuries. It attracts visitors from across Scotland and beyond and is one of the most spectacular New Year celebrations in the country.
What wildlife can I see at St Cyrus and Fowlsheugh?: St Cyrus National Nature Reserve is exceptional for wildflowers, butterflies, and birds, particularly in spring and early summer when the dune meadows are in bloom. RSPB Fowlsheugh, just south of Stonehaven, hosts around 130,000 breeding seabirds between April and July including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and puffins. Dolphins are also regularly spotted along this stretch of coast.
What fishing villages can I visit south of Aberdeen?: Very much so. Gourdon and Johnshaven are among the most authentic fishing communities left on the Aberdeenshire coast, with working harbours, heritage museums, and a strong local character. The Mill of Benholm just inland is a lovely stop for tea and cakes, and the coastal path connecting the villages makes for a rewarding half-day walk.