Places to explore in AberdeenshireScotland · North East Scotland

A ruined stronghold on a sheer sea stack off the Aberdeenshire coast.

Britain's biggest national park — a high granite plateau of arctic tundra, ancient Caledonian pinewood and free-flowing rivers.

4,528 km²

Britain's high sub-Arctic plateau.

655 km²

Rocky gorge west of Braemar where the young Dee squeezes through a narrow chasm, spanned by an 1857 bridge.

Pink tower house with famous plaster ceilings.

One of Scotland's oldest harbours (1692), host of the annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.

Sheltered historic harbour ringed by old fishertown houses, home to the Tolbooth museum and Hogmanay fireballs.

A steep rocky peak above the Lairig Ghru pass in the Cairngorms, its Gaelic name a good deal ruder than the English

1007 m · Aberdeenshire

Ruin clinging to a coastal cliff.

Queen Victoria's retreat of Glas-allt-Shiel stands at the head of this loch on the Balmoral estate below Lochnagar.

Aberdeenshire

The royal family's Deeside estate, with gardens, grounds and the castle ballroom open when the family is away.

RSPB reserve near Gardenstown, mainland Scotland's only gannet colony, alive with seabirds in summer.