Aberdeen(shire) & Moray
This region between the mighty Cairngorms, the Moray Firth and the North Sea is a treasure house for castle baggers, walkers and nature lovers. Here the Picts held sway, here Robert The Bruce harried his enemies the Comyns and it was in this region that James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose clashed with the fanatical Covenanters.
Aberdeen(shire) & Moray, gently undulating farmland, deep gloomy forests and grey blue mountains (very high hills) on the horizon.
Site rating:
Although the featured attractions, sites and landmarks are always chosen by me, I have made a serious effort to differentiate 4 levels:
- (***) This is, for whatever reason, a very personal favourite! Will definitely be on my itinerary! Could possibly be disappointing for someone else though.
- (**) A major must-see tourist attraction that you can find in many a brochure.
- (*) Worth seeing and possibly interesting if you happen to be in the vicinity.
- (-) A hefty dollop of imagination is a must, but it might be interesting if you know the background.
Courtesy Photography by Lors
Favorites:
- Auchindoun Castle *** Location: Laggan / Plus code: CWF7+4P Keith
- Boyne Castle *** Location: Portsoy / Plus code: M8HW+JR Banff
- Cairngorms National Park *** Locations: Aviemore / Plus Code: 394W+X4C Aviemore
- College of Scalan *** Location: Chapeltown / Plus code: 7P5X+VQ Ballindalloch
- Battle site of Corrichie (1562) *** Location: Banchory / Plus code: 4F6X+H49 Banchory
- Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve *** Location: Clova / Plus code: VQ7F+3M Kirriemuir
- Battle site of Culblean (1335) *** Location: Dinnet / Plus code: 33Q8+X4, Aboyne
- Den Finella Waterfall *** Location: St Cyrus / Plus code: QJQF+RW7 Montrose
- Duffus Castle *** Location: Duffus / Plus code: MJQQ+55 Elgin
- Dunnottar Castle *** Location: Stonehaven / Plus code: WRW3+C5 Stonehaven
- Battle site of Harlaw (1411) *** Location: Balhalgardy / Plus code: 8H4P+J8 Inverurie
- Kildrummy Castle *** Location: Milltown of Kildrummy / Plus code: 63MW+W5 Alford
- Findlater Castle *** Location: Sandend / Plus code: M6RH+XQ Banff
- Gight Castle *** Location: Methlick / Plus code: CPV5+4M Ellon
- Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve *** Location: Aboyne / Plus code: 24WH+VX Aboyne
- Huntly Castle *** Location: Huntly / Plus code: F649+28 Huntly
- Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve *** Location: Braemar / Plus code: XFQ4+RJ Braemar, Ballater
- Red Castle *** Location: Redcastle / Plus code: MF2Q+5M Arbroath
And than there are.......
- Aikey Brae Stone Circle * Location: Old Deer / Plus code: GW7H+HQ8 Peterhead
- Battle site of Alford (1645) * Location: Alford / Plus code: 67PF+MC8 Alford
- Balmoral Castle ** Location: Crathie / Plus code: 2QQC+V8 Crathie, Ballater
- Battle site of Barra (1308) * Location: Oldmeldrum / Plus code: 8MH6+752 Inverurie
- Blairs Museum ** Location: Aberdeen / Plus code: 3RX4+H4 Aberdeen
- Braemar Castle ** Location: Braemar / Plus code: 2J75+RG Braemar, Ballater
- Castle Fraser ** Location: Craigearn / Plus code: 6G3Q+5Q Inverurie
- Corgarff Castle ** Location: Cock Bridge / Plus code: 5Q78+38R Strathdon
- Coull Castle * Location: Coull / Plus code: 455V+CCR Aboyne
- Craigievar Castle ** Location: Kintocher / Plus code: 57FJ+MQ Alford
- Crathes Castle ** Location: Crathes / Plus code: 3H66+J3 Banchory
- Crawton Waterfall ** Location: Stonehaven / Plus code: WR52+XW Stonehaven
- Battle site of Cruden Bay (1012) - Location: Cruden Bay / Plus code: C44Q+953 Peterhead
- Drum Castle ** Location: Drumoak / Plus code: 3MW6+2R Banchory
- Dunnydeer Castle * Location: Dunnydeer / Plus code: 89R3+WH Insch
- Dunphail Castle * Location: Dunphail / Plus code: G86R+V8G Forres
- Battle site of Elgin (1040) - Location: Elgin / Plus code: MPGH+RX6 Elgin
- Elgin Cathedral ** Location: Elgin / Plus code: MM2V+6HW Elgin
- Esslemont Castle * Location: Esslemont / Plus code: 9V5P+775 Ellon
- Forvie National Nature Reserve ** Location: Kirktown of Slains / Plus code: 9324+C3 Ellon
- Battle site of Fyvie (1644) * Location: Fyvie / Plus code: CJR7+V8V Turriff
- Fyvie Castle ** Location: Fyvie / Plus code: CJV4+93 Turriff
- Glenbuchat Castle * Location: Glenkindie / Plus code: 62C2+73 Strathdon
- Gordon Highlanders Museum ** Location: Aberdeen / Plus code: 4VP3+XG Aberdeen
- Kindrochit Castle * Location: Braemar / Plus code: 2J42+5F Braemar, Ballater
- Leslie Castle ** Location: Leslie / Plus code: 886M+RX Insch
- Macbeth's Cairn * Location: Lumphanan / Plus code: 48P2+RCC Banchory
- Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve ** Location: Dinnet / Plus code: 33M4+WH Aboyne
- Peel of Lumphanan * Location: Lumphanan / Plus code: 47CX+W8 Banchory
- Pitsligo Castle ** Location: Rosehearty / Plus code: MVRV+W6 Fraserburgh
- Battle site of Slioch (1303) * Location: Huntly / Plus code: C7V6+7FF Huntly
- St Cyrus National Nature Reserve ** Location: St Cyrus / Plus code: QH6G+F7 Montrose
- Battle site of Tillyangus (1571) * Location: Clatt / Plus code: 8655+JJ8 Huntly
- Tolbooth Museum * Location: Aberdeen / Plus code: 4WX4+69 Aberdeen
- Tolquhon Castle ** Location: Pitmedden / Plus code: 8QXP+6P Ellon