20 Attractions to Explore Near Duff House

Macduff Marine Aquarium features marine life from the Moray Firth, Scotland’s largest bay, in a variety of exciting and innovative exhibits. Visitors come face to face with hundreds of native fish and invertebrates normally only seen by SCUBA divers who brave the chilly waters of the North Sea. It aims to promote awareness, enjoyment and stewardship of the Moray Firth marine environment in an entertaining and educational way.

Craigston Castle is a 17th century castle, set in 250 acres of grounds in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was built in 1607, with an ornate balcony. The interiors are largely original, decorated with portraits of Scottish kings. The castle is composed of two main wings flanking the entrance and connected by an elevated arch, and surmounted by a richly corbelled parapet. There are bases for corner turrets near the top corner of each wing, but the turrets themselves do not appear to have ever been co

Delgatie Castle is a castle near Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Like many castles, Delgatie is rumoured to be haunted. A number of reports of a ghostly red-haired figure, supposedly one Alexander Hay, were made by soldiers posted there during the Second World War. The castle's information boards, mostly written by Captain Hay who restored the house in the 1950s, recount that the ghost was first seen when a body was found bricked up in a priest hole.

Findlater is one of the most dramatical situated of any Scottish castle, perched on a promontory joined to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, with almost sheer cliffs on the other three sides. The cliffs reach 90 feet in places, while the level surface of the castle promontory is some 30 feet below the level of the surrounding mainland cliffs, meaning that it can only be reached by a steep and irregular path.

Cullen is an attractive, golden sandy beach to the west of the village of the same name. The beach is perhaps best known for its rock formation. The beach is also popular for water sports such as surfing and sailing, and for fishing, and walking. Cullen Bay is well sheltered by the surrounding cliffs and moray dolphins are often spotted from the beach and bay. There are plenty of shops in Cullen town centre, however in the summer months the beach is often serviced by an ice cream van.

Bow Fiddle Rock is a natural sea arch near Portknockie on the north-eastern coast of Scotland. It is so called because it resembles the tip of a fiddle bow. It is composed of Quartzite, a metamorphic rock which was originally quartz sandstone. This rock is part of the Cullen Quartzite formation which is seen along the coast between Buckie and Cullen. The formation is some 2,400m thick and dates from the Neoproterozoic Era, 1,000 to 541 million years ago.

Bin of Cullen is a hill in Moray, Scotland directly inland from Findochty. Bin of Cullen is 320 m in height and visible from considerable distances, such as Longman Hill to the east and Lossiemouth to the West. A good trekking destination and also it offers a good view of this area.

Craigmin Bridge is an eighteenth century bridge within the grounds of Letterfourie House, in Moray, Scotland. Spanning the Burn of Letterfourie, it once formed part of the main approach road to the house. The bridge has a very unusual two-tier design, with a lower, single-arched span supporting two semi-circular arches above, with a smaller segmental arch and a mural passage between them, and a shallow round-headed niche above in the spandrel.

Fyvie Castle’s 800-year history is rich in legends, folklore and even ghost stories. Discover the amazing collection of antiquities, armour and lavish oil paintings. Stroll around the picturesque loch, or visit the restored glass-roofed racquets court and ice house. It was a magnificent fortress in the heart of Aberdeenshire.

Huntly Castle is a ruined castle north of Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where the rivers Deveron and Bogie meet. It was the ancestral home of the chief of Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly. There have been four castles built on the site that have been referred to as Huntly Castle, Strathbogie Castle or Peel of Strathbogie. The original wooden castle was built on a motte. The second castle, made of stone, was built on the northern end of the bailey. The third and modern castles were built to the e

Strathisla Distillery is a scotch whisky distillery based in Strathisla, Speyside. The distillery was founded in 1786. Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail is a tourism initiative featuring seven working Speyside distilleries including Strathisla, a historic distillery and the Speyside Cooperage. According to a BBC article, visitors can tour the "traditional warehouse where the single malts that make up the premium and super premium blends are stored ... distinctive mellow honey flavour, offering a ful

There are two lighthouses located on Kinnaird Head, in Fraserburgh, Scotland, an historical one built in a converted castle, and its modern replacement built in 1991. The original lighthouse now forms part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.

The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses is based in Fraserburgh on the North East corner of Aberdeenshire. Situated by Kinnaird Head lighthouse, the first lighthouse on mainland Scotland, Kinnaird Head Castle contains both the lighthouse and purpose-built museum alongside. This museum tells the great story of the Northern Lighthouse Board, the engineers who built the lights and the keepers who tended them. It is a story of skill, courage, technical genius and brilliant organisation.

Fraserburgh is a long, golden, sandy beach starting at the south-eastern end of the town and stretching along the Aberdeenshire coastline to the point where the Moray Firth meets the North Sea. The beach’s proximity to all the facilities and fine golden sand make it a popular spot for families and there is usually plenty of room for everyone.

Aden Country Park has 230 acres full of things to see and do, from old buildings to explore to a farming museum to discover. There is something for everyone, you can even bring the family pooch. It is home to the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, forest walks and a ruined country house. Every year it hosts a pipe band contest which attracts bagpipe bands from around Scotland.

The historic walled garden at Castle Fraser, like many other gardens is situated a little way from the house and provides a sheltered environment for the plantings. These include shrubs, flowers, well trained fruit and vegetables. A new herbaceous border has been created on the south side of of one of the walls.The garden has views towards the magnificent castle which was completed in 1636 and has a fine interior. This includes a magnificent baronial hall, furniture and works of art.

The Moray Monster Trails in Morayshire, near Elgin, offer a real mix of off road mountain biking. Whether you’re completely new to mountain biking or an expert rider, there’s a trail for you. From an easy green-graded track to more severe black-grade trails and orange-graded downhill and Northshore sections.

Haddo House is a spectacular country house designed by William Adam and built in the years between 1731 and 1736. Today the house is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and open to the public. The surrounding country park is operated by Aberdeenshire Council, while the extremely large Haddo Estate, of which the country park forms only a small part, continues to function as a farming and sporting estate.

Gordon Castle is located near Fochabers in Moray, Scotland. Historically known as the Bog-of-Gight or Bog o'Gight, it was the principal seat of the Dukes of Gordon. Completed as one of Scotland’s largest houses in the 1770s by the Duke of Gordon, Gordon Castle is the historical home of the Gordons, one of Scotland’s oldest families. The estate nestles in the Spey valley, in the heart of whisky country, with a stretch of the Spey River running through the estate, which boasts some of the best sal

Fochabers Folk Museum and Heritage Centre houses a collection of gigs and carriages and an eclectic array of everyday objects showing the way of life and traditions of the north east of Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries. Experience schooldays of the past in the Milne's schoolroom, set up to celebrate Alexander Milne, founder of Milne's Free School, a native of Fochabers who made his fortune in America and never forgot his home town.