Aberdeenshire - 91 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It has a rich prehistoric and historic heritage. It is the locus of a large number of Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites, including Longman Hill, Kempstone Hill, Catto Long Barrow and Cairn Lee. There are also so many other things to see and do around this county.

Types of Attractions in Aberdeenshire

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Aberdeenshire

Cairn Toul

Cairn Toul

Mountain Peaks

Cairn Toul is the fourth highest mountain in Scotland, The United Kingdom, and The British Isles, after Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui and Braeriach. The summit elevation is 1,291 metres AMSL. It is the second highest point in the western massif of the Cairngorms, linked by a bealach at about 1125 m above sea level to Braeriach.

Cairnwell Pass

Cairnwell Pass

Mountain Passes

Cairnwell Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 670m above the sea level, located in the Scottish Highlands. It's one of the highest roads of the country, and at the summit is the Glenshee Ski Centre, Scotland's largest and oldest ski centre. Historically, the pass was a drover's route from the Lowlands to the Highlands. The road is often blocked by snow in the winter.

Càrn a' Mhàim

Càrn a' Mhàim

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Càrn a' Mhàim is a Scottish mountain situated in the inner part of the Cairngorms range, some 15 kilometres west of Braemar in the county of Aberdeenshire. The mountain is located on one of the two long ridges which radiate south from Ben Macdhui; it reaches a height of 1037 metres and along with Macdhui and Derry Cairngorm forms the central body of the Cairngorms that lie between the two major passes of the Lairig Ghru and the Lairig an Laoigh.

Carn an Tuirc

Carn an Tuirc

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Carn an Tuirc is a mountain in the Grampian Mountains of Scotland, located about two miles from the Glenshee Ski Centre near Braemar. has a flat summit with steep slopes to the S and W, steep and craggy slopes into Glen Callater to the E but gentle slopes to the N.

Càrn Aosda

Càrn Aosda

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Càrn Aosda is a Scottish mountain situated 12.5 km south of the town of Braemar, in the county of Aberdeenshire. It stands near the summit of the Cairnwell Pass on the A93 road, in the midst of the Glenshee Ski Centre. Apart from being the easiest Munro, Càrn Aosda also has the reputation as being one of the most despoiled, with the mountain having snow fences, ski tow supports, huts and vehicle tracks right up to the summit as part of the Glenshee ski centre.

Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate

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.

Clachnaben

Clachnaben

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Clachnaben is one of the best known of Aberdeenshire's lower hills, celebrated together with Bennachie in an old couplet. Its fame rests on the magnificent granite tor on its summit, a superb viewpoint and a worthy objective for any outing. A popular walk starts at the car park on the Cairn O' Mounth road, 10 kilometres south of Banchory. Popularity has caused some erosion on the old steep path which climbs this hill directly; however, efforts have been made to stabilise the erosion.

Corgarff Castle

Corgarff Castle

Iconic Buildings

Corgarff Castle is a tower-house, located on sloping land to the south of the River Don. Built as a hunting-lodge in the mid-sixteenth century, it was converted into a Hanoverian garrison in 1748. The lodge was reputedly built by the Earl of Mar, but passed to the Forbes family soon after. Corgarff itself briefly housed a distillery in the 1820s. A small whisky still from the period is displayed in one of the two pavilions added to the castle by the army.

Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle

Iconic Buildings

Craigievar Castle is a picturesque fortified tower house in Aberdeenshire, said to be the inspiration for the fairytale Disney castle. The setting is among scenic rolling foothills of the Grampian Mountains, and the contrast of its massive lower storey structure to the finely sculpted multiple turrets, gargoyles and high corbelling work to create a classic fairytale appearance. It was the seat of Clan Sempill and the Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963.

Craigston Castle

Craigston Castle

Iconic Buildings

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

Crathes Castle

Crathes Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Crathes Castle is one of the most impressive castles in Scotland. With its classic Scottish tower house design, featuring a jumble of cone-roofed turrets, ramparts, and towers, there’s something pleasantly Disneyesque about Crathes Castle, which is magnified by its faintly pink harled exterior. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for almost 400 years. The castle and grounds are owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland and are open to the

Crathie Kirk

Crathie Kirk

Churches

Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the Scottish village of Crathie, best known for being the regular place of worship of the British royal family when they are in residence at the nearby Balmoral Castle. Crathie Kirk is now united with neighbouring Braemar to form a single parish with two places of worship. Eventually this parish will be further enlarged to include Glenmuick. The minister is the Reverend Kenneth Mackenzie. Mackenzie was previously minister of the Church

Delgatie Castle

Delgatie Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

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.

Derry Cairngorm

Derry Cairngorm

Mountain Peaks

Derry Cairngorm is a Scottish mountain in the Cairngorms range, 14 kilometres north west of Braemar in the county of Aberdeenshire. The easiest access to gain the Munro summit of Derry Cairngorm, is to approach by bike on the fine estate tracks from Linn of Dee and Derry Lodge to the south. This option goes through some forestry and woodland and traces faint paths higher up.

Drum Castle - Garden & Estate

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.

Duff House

Duff House

Iconic Buildings

Duff House is a Georgian estate house in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, it is part of the National Galleries of Scotland and is a Category A listed building. The house and the associated Fife gates, walled garden, Collie lodge, mausoleum, ice house, Bridge Gates House and the Eagles Gate lodge are designated as Category A listed group of buildings.

Dunnideer Castle

Dunnideer Castle

Iconic Buildings

Dunnideer Castle is one of the most visible castles in Aberdeenshire. It can be see on its hilltop site just west of Insch for many miles, and has extensive views in all directions except the south. The hill it is built on overlooks the Shevock, a burn which flows into the River Urie about four miles to the east. The valley of the Shevock links upper Strathbogie with the Garioch, and therefore the castle guards an important route – which has been important for thousands of years.

Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle

Iconic Buildings

Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress that was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over. Dunnottar is best known as the place where the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century.

Dunnottar Woods

Dunnottar Woods

Outdoors- Other

Forests

Dunnottar is a wonderful woodland for all the family to enjoy with wildlife, a rich diversity of wild flowers, and many historical features such as Lady Kennedy's Bath, an ice house and the Shell House. Enjoy a walk with the family through the spectacular woodland, watch the bodging group turning wood, discover the rich history whilst exploring the woods to find the Shell house, the Ice house, Lady Kennedys bath and Gallows hill.

East Aquhorthies Stone Circle

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

Map of attractions in Aberdeenshire

Comments

For more information about Aberdeenshire, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeenshire