Sail into the port of Aberdeen and you sail into the heart of Scotland’s historic ‘Silver City’ where the imposing granite architecture can literally be seen to sparkle in the sunshine. You are also at the gateway of all the best that Scotland has to offer from the tumbling waters of Royal Deeside to the splendour of the Grampian Highlands. The cosmopolitan city centre is just a five-minute walk from the modern, bustling harbour. Superb shops and department stores, including three major shopping malls, are to be found in and around the impressive architecture of the milelong Union Street.
There are world class museums and art galleries, a magnificent theatre and annual youth and arts festivals featuring entertainment from around the world. There is also a wide choice of friendly pubs and first-class restaurants. A short distance from the modern centre are the cobbled streets of Old Aberdeen. Here, overlooking the lovely parks by the River Don, is one of the city’s three cathedrals, St. Machar’s, a magnificent twin-spired fortified building dating from 1357 which stands on the site chosen for a church by St. Machar in the sixth century.
Along the High Street are the buildings of King’s College, Aberdeen’s first university founded in 1495. Work on the beautiful college chapel started in 1501 and the building is surmounted by a distinctive crown tower which, to generations of students, has symbolised not only the university, but the city itself. A short drive from Aberdeen finds thecastle country and boasts Scotland’s only Castle Trail. Balmoral Castle remains a favourite with the Royal Family and is a must for most visitors to the area. Ballater, the nearest village, is a delight of shops, many proudly bearing the Royal Warrant over their doorways. The Grampian Highlands are home to the world’s only Malt Whisky Trail. Visits to distilleries such as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet or Glen Grant generate unforgettable experiences – particularly when free drams of the unique amber liquid are readily to hand. And then there is the Coastal Trail with intriguing fishing villages and secret coves, where the scenery varies from the broad sweeps of sandy beaches to dramatic cliffs, home to countless seabirds.
