In this section
Aberdeenshire
Throughout Aberdeenshire, discover charming towns and villages bursting with local independent shops selling bespoke arts and crafts, jewellery, homeware and gifts. In Stonehaven make sure to a pay a visit to the small but mighty My Beautiful Caravan, a tiny shop with a big colourful presence, specialising in quirky cards and gifts from local makers. A visit to Milton of Crathes, set on the idyllic banks of the River Dee and home to an exclusive collection of independent retail, hospitality, sporting and tourism businesses, such as Hidden Scotland, Twin Peakes Fly Fishing and Milton Art Gallery, is a must. Just along the road in Banchory, be sure to check out independent home and giftware boutique Hush Living, specialising in statement pieces, as well as family run business Country Ways, specialising in country, lifestyle and equestrian wear and offering a carefully curated range of UK and International brands. If it’s a kilt you’re after, then Kilts Wi Hae in Newmachar, a small family highland wear business and gift shop providing quality highland wear, accessories and gifts at affordable prices is the place to go!
In the heart of Royal Deeside, you will find in Ballater and Braemar a superb range of independent and artisan shops packed full of local makers, arts, craft and gifts. Why not treat someone (or yourself!) to some award-winning handmade chocolate from the Braemar Chocolate Shop or pay a visit to the Roaring Stag in Ballater for a ‘Tweedie Beastie’ (a wonderful collection of gloriously quirky and cute tweed animals). Be sure to visit Geek Bothy in Kemnay, an award winning independent family run shop stocking local artists and makers’ quirky and geeky gifts (gift shop of the year 2022 in the Scotland prestige awards).
If it’s antiques, collectables, vintage, retro or upcycled treasure you are on the hunt for, then The Old Smiddy, a former blacksmiths workshop in the village of Kincardine O’Neil, is well worth a visit with a wide range of pieces on sale. In Huntly, the Ethical Gift Shop & Refillery specialises in handcrafted, eco-friendly gifts and homewares and also have a refillery full of eco-friendly alternatives to everyday items.
Further North in Portsoy you can find The Portsoy Gift Box, a family run independent gift shop specialising in unusual handmade cards, gifts and crafts all sourced from local makers and made in Scotland. Close by in Banff you will find the famous Spotty Bag Shop, an institution in itself and famed for having almost everything you can find under one roof! From clothing to gifts, homeware, health and beauty, pets, toys, and everything in between – you’ll find it there! Plus, the spotty bags are almost as famous as the shop itself!