Visiting Aberdeenshire and Moray: Mountains, rivers and coastline in Scotland's north-east
About Aberdeenshire and Moray
Aberdeenshire and Moray is one of Scotland's most diverse regions, from the high mountains of the interior to the dramatic coastline, with a huge diversity of attractions in between:
- Aberdeen, the 'Granite City', with Scotland's second-oldest university (after St Andrews); the centre of Scotland's oil industry
- picturesque villages like Pennan (immortalized in the classic British film comedy Local Hero), Crovie, Cullen (home of Cullen Skink) and Catterline
- the attractions of Royal Deeside, such as Balmoral, Braemar, Crathie, Ballater and the Braemar Gathering, which have long been associated with the British monarchy
- long sandy beaches like Cruden Bay, Sandend, Stonehaven and Balmedie
- rivers such as the Spey, Don, Dee, and Ythan, which are reknowned for their salmon fishing
- food and drink, including Speyside whisky, Baxter’s of Fochabers and Dean’s of Huntly
- romantic castles and stately homes such as Cawdor (with its links to Macbeth, made Thane of Cawdor on his way to seizing the Scottish crown), Haddo (with its arts programme), Leith Hall, Duff House (a National Galleries of Scotland satellite) and Dunnottar
- wildlife: dolphins in the Moray Firth, ospreys at Loch Garten, golden eagles, deer, wildcats
- mountains: the Grampians, Cairngorm, Ben Macdui (second highest mountain in the UK after Ben Nevis), Lochnagar
- county towns like Nairn, Elgin, Keith, Huntly and Montrose
- spiritual communities like Pluscarden Abbey and Findhorn
- fishing ports, including Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Buckie
- outdoor pursuits such as hillwalking; long-distance walks like the Isla Way, the Speyside Way and the Lairig Ghru; fishing; skiing and snowboarding at the Lecht; and golf
