Miles of rugged coastline, stunning scenery, and unrivalled outdoor pursuits mark Aberdeenshire as a beautiful beach destination. From the "Silver City" of Aberdeen with its granite architecture to Aboyne, which sits on the river Dee, to the popular commuter town of Banchory with its two famous castles-Crathes and Drum, Aberdeenshire is home to a blend of vacationers and residents alike. The towns of Huntly and Inverurie, in addition to the former fishing village of Stonehaven, are thriving with Scottish flavor.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Living in Aberdeenshire

The high standard of living, low unemployment and low crime rate make Aberdeenshire a fine place to live and there is so much fabulous countryside to be admired, from the impressive Cairngorms to the beautiful rugged and sandy coastline. There is tangible prosperity, brought by the oil dividend in Aberdeen and now the renewables industry. This keeps hotels busy and good restaurants packed – The Green Inn at Ballater is very busy after chef Chris O’Halloran won ITV’s Best Dish programme, with his bittersweet hot chocolate cake. The schools are excellent, both state and private, and the golf is world-class; three new golf courses are coming, from Donald Trump, Jack Nicklaus and Paul Lawrie.

What Is the Architecture in Aberdeenshire?

The Strutt & Parker Banchory office covers the vast majority of Aberdeen shire and city, with a very broad range of houses: country mansions, modern apartments, farmhouses, stone cottages and plenty of development opportunities, all set in stunning surroundings and with more land than you would get for your money in other parts of the country.

What to Do and See in Aberdeenshire?

The range of outdoor pursuits available is unrivalled in the UK; from salmon fishing, grouse shooting and stalking to mountain biking, kite surfing and skiing. Outdoors enthusiasts will love Aberdeenshire; there is over 200 km of rugged coast with beautiful scenery, sheltered bays and bustling fishing villages and the Cairngorms with stunning landscapes, mountains and peaceful, secluded forests. The coastline, lochs and rivers provide endless opportunities for watersports fanatics and anglers; the mountains offer 2 ski centres; and there are numerous excellent golf courses. The wild, unspoilt landscape of the whole county is fantastic for walkers, climbers and cyclists. Aberdeenshire also benefits from a very rich history; those preferring a more leisurely time might enjoy following the castle trail, which ensures you don’t miss a single one of the area’s 20 castles!

How to Get to Aberdeenshire?

Hourly trains take you from Aberdeen to Kings Cross in about 7 hours and to Edinburgh in two. Aberdeen is home to an important international airport, serving 23 European airports in addition to over 20 domestic destinations. There are a number of flights to London daily, taking an hour and a half.

What to Eat in Aberdeenshire?

Aberdeenshire is known for its fantastic local produce; fresh fish, outstanding meat, Alford oats for a great start to the day and a wee dram of local malts to finish it. Gastronomists will fall in love with the fresh produce available, which can be enjoyed at the number of wonderful eateries, markets and farm shops in the area.

Schools

Aberdeenshire has several excellent independent schools and, along with other areas of Scotland, does very well for state schools. For a comprehensive list of schools, we recommend the Good Schools Guide.

What Are the Key Towns and Villages in Aberdeenshire?

Lovely open roads for soft-top motoring, fabulous switchbacks up past the ski-resorts, unfolding grouse moors – this is what’s so special about Aberdeenshire in the summer. The quality of life is what people come for; some of the most beautiful views in Scotland, fine castles, extensive and beautiful coastline, great salmon fishing, deer stalking, skiing and riding all through the Cairngorms National Park.

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is on the North-East coast of Scotland and is sometimes known as the Silver City with the Golden Sands; much of Aberdeen’s architecture is built with the local grey, sparkly, granite and the city has long, sandy coastline. The City is the region’s economic, retail and educational hub with the thriving oil industry, numerous big name shops and two Universities. It has won the Britain in Bloom competition an astounding 10 times, reflecting the stunning scenic landscape surrounding the city; the Bennachie hill walks are long, well-marked paths with breath-taking scenery.

The Granite Park restaurant is described as a hidden gem, holding its own in a city that is inundated with fine independent eateries. To the north of the bustling city is the beautiful and peaceful Balmedie beach, very popular with the locals for walking, horse-riding and enjoying the abundant wildlife and fantastic views.

Aboyne

Aboyne sits on the river Dee, 30 miles west of Aberdeen and just 4 miles from the Cairngorms National Park. The village was modelled by the Marquess of Huntly on an English village with a green at its centre. Sitting in remarkably beautiful and unspoilt countryside, in terrain which lends itself extremely well to gliding, the sport has become very popular in the area. The summer residence of the Royal Family, Balmoral Castle, set in 49,000 acres of rugged Scottish landscape, is nearby. Tourists flock to the village in the summer months; during the August highland games, its population doubles.

Banchory

Banchory is a popular commuter town, 18 miles west of Aberdeen, where the Feugh River meets the River Dee. The area is perfect for outdoor and wildlife lovers. The Falls of Feugh attract visitors hoping to see salmon leaping the falls. Fishing opportunities are extensive with a number of local trout fisheries in addition to the world famous River Dee. There are 3 golf courses in the town and a further 6 within half an hour’s drive. The surrounding countryside offers limitless possibilities for exploring and can be viewed in breath-taking panorama from Scolty Tower.

A town with a fascinating history, Banchory has two famous castles; Crathes and Drum, both now run by the National Trust for Scotland. As well as the castles, there is a lot to do in Banchory, including riding the steam train on the Royal Deeside Railway, the annual Banchory show and Banchory museum, which celebrates the traditional culture of the Dee Valley and has resident genealogy experts. Woodend barn, on the edge of Banchory, hosts a diverse arts programme as well as serving food made from locally sourced ingredients.

Huntly

The town of Huntly lies on the main road between Aberdeen and Inverness. Huntly is a granite town centered on the main square with shops, restaurants and a hotel, interesting historic buildings including the Victorian Town Hall, the church, and the Clock Tower dating from 1890. Huntly Castle is one of three castles nearby and, although ruined, has been restored so visitors can envisage its former glory. The Castle Hotel, partly built with stones from the ruins of Huntly Castle, gets fabulous reviews for its luxury cuisine and accommodation.

Another ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts, Huntly offers salmon and trout fishing on the rivers of Deveron and Bogie and the Highland Horseback, which starts nearby, runs the 200 miles to the west coast.

Inverurie

Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and a thriving market town located 20 minutes north west of Aberdeen, in the valley of the river Don. The town has a bustling, triangular centre with an impressive and unusually large number of independent stores to complement the big name retailers. The town is also home to a good range of eateries with Fennel serving well-received simple but tasty dishes made from local produce and the Porterhouse Restaurant, located in a traditional stone building next door to the Thainstone cattle mart, also serving good local food.

Nearby Castle Fraser which dates from 1575 is a grand tower house, managed by the National Trust for Scotland. The house is open to the public during spring and summer and the particularly popular gardens and woodland walks, are open all year round.

Stonehaven

Stonehaven, known locally as Stoney, is a former fishing village 15 miles south of Aberdeen. The town has a long beach with large cliffs at either end, home to Fowlsheugh, an RSPB seabird colony. Stonehaven has a vast amount of cultural attractions throughout the year; highland games every July, the fireballs ceremony, which forms part of the Hogmanay festivities, and the RW Thomson Classic Car Rally, which celebrates its namesake, the native inventor of the pneumatic tyre, are just a selection. Furthermore, the town has a monthly farmers market, the award-winning Carron fish and chip shop and a museum of local heritage.

Dunnottar Castle, a ruined cliff top medieval fortress, can be approached via a beautiful coastal path from Stonehaven Harbour and its fascinating history can be explored and the stunning surrounding scenery enjoyed.