20 Attractions to Explore Near Balmedie Beach

Balmedie is a flat sandy beach with sand dunes to the rear of the beach. At the back of the beach is a substantial area of sand dunes, where the principal vegetation is marram grass, but also contains a range of other plants at home in this type of environment.

Newburgh Beach, is one of the best places in the United Kingdom for spotting marine wildlife. Along the sandy estuary of the River Ythan, there is a large colony of around 400 seals, which make the shoreline their home, and can safely be observed from the opposite bank. Children will love watching the seals, which can be both cute and comical, going about their daily business here.

Forvie National Nature Reserve is one of our natural treasures. The large areas of bare sand and shifting dunes that dominate the southern end of the reserve have been compared to the Sahara Desert. It’s a place of stark beauty. The reserve covers almost 1,000 hectares of sand dunes and dune heath between the North Sea and the estuary of the River Ythan. It is home to a rich variety of wildlife. Forvie is particularly renowned for its birds. These include a breeding colony of eiders, four speci

Old Slains Castle is a ruined castle near Collieston in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The 13th-century castle was originally the property of the Comyn, Earl of Buchan. After the forfeiture of the Comyns in the 14th century it was given to Sir Gilbert Hay by Robert the Bruce in recognition for his support against the English.

Danny and Joan Ross opened the award-winning gallery in rural Aberdeenshire in 1987. They celebrate and promote Scottish art, showing the best emerging artists as well as established modern masters. Several hundred artists are represented by the gallery. All are carefully selected by Danny and Joan, who are always on hand and happy to discuss the work of any artist.

Tolquhon Castle is a substantial ruinous courtyard castle with a large tower and some fantastic stone carving on the gatehouse, held by the Preston family and then by the Forbeses, in a quiet spot near Tarves in Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland. The castle was built by William Forbes, 7th Laird of Tolquhon, between 1584 and 1589 as an extension to the earlier tower house known as Preston's Tower. Although ruined, the castle has been described as "the most characteristic château of the Scots R

Blairs Museum is home of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Collection. Located in Aberdeen, Blairs Museum provides an insight into Scotland’s Catholic heritage, with collections spanning over 500 years. See paintings, church textiles, Jacobite memorabilia, and the stunning Mary Queen of Scots Memorial Portrait. It was one of the iconic attractions in this area.

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.

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.

This large freshwater loch is located near Dunecht and Kirkton of Skene in Aberdeenshire. It's a very picturesque area with the loch surrounded by attractive woodland and reedbeds. It's great for wildlife too with concentrations of wildfowl in autumn and winter in particular greylag geese, goldeneye ducks and pink-footed geese. Common gulls and otters are also found on the loch.

Slains Castle is a large imposing ruin fronting directly onto south facing cliffs about a kilometer east of Cruden Bay. The ruin you see today is the inevitable result of the castle’s location and various misfortunes becoming the owners over time. The owners, the Earls of Errol, were an influential family in the Cruden Bay area for many years and prospered after William Hay married the daughter of King William IV. Overtime the Hays fell upon hard times and in 1919 the castle and contents were s

The Den and the Glen is a children's park in Maryculter, Scotland, near the city of Aberdeen. It is best known for its disformed and off-looking models of various fairytale characters, as well as some more modern characters such as Shrek and Postman Pat. The most well known statue is of Barney The Dinosaur, which became an internet meme with the caption "cha cha real smooth". It has been rated a 4-star visitor attraction by the Scottish Tourist Board.

The name Bullers of Buchan refers both to a collapsed sea cave and to the adjacent village, situated about 6 miles south of Peterhead in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The collapsed sea cave forms an almost circular chasm some 30 metres deep, where the sea rushes in through a natural archway.

East Aquhorthies Stone Circle is a recumbent stone circle – a monument type only found in north-east Scotland. It has a large stone set on its side and flanked by two upright stones, usually on the south or south-west part of the circle. The circle is particularly notable for its builders' use of polychromy in the stones, with the reddish ones situated on the SSW side and the grey ones opposite. The discovery of a possible cist covered by a capstone at the centre of the circle indicates that th

Drum Castle is a castle near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim, 'ridge'. The site is located approximately 6+1⁄2 miles northeast of Banchory and 3 miles west of Peterculter. The property is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is open to the public.

Loanhead Stone Circle is one of the best examples of a monument type known as a recumbent stone circle. These monuments are only found in north-east Scotland. They’re defined by a ring of upright stones, with a massive stone slab laid on its side between two upright pillar stones – usually in the south-west arc of the circle. The recumbent setting is at the south-south-west of the circle but the recumbent stone itself is angled somewhat towards the south.

Castle Fraser is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'. It is located near Kemnay in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. The castle stands in over 300 acres of landscaped grounds, woodland and farmland which includes a walled kitchen garden of the 19th century. From the striking simplicity of the medieval Great Hall to the well-stocked library and Victorian bedrooms, a tour of the castle gives a sense of walking through history.

The Bennachie Visitor Centre is the ideal starting point to explore the Bennachie forest and hill range. Learn about the history of the hill, its wildlife and the people that have called it home. There's an extensive network of paths to explore - from a 15 minute woodland stroll to an all day hike over the moorland hill tops.

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.

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.