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Photo of Dunnottar Castle, a ruined castle near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Dunnottar CastlePhoto Jack Granger / Pexels

Places to explore in and near Aberdeen

Built almost entirely of silver-grey granite, Aberdeen sits between the mouths of the Dee and the Don, a fishing and North Sea oil port facing the cold water. Inland, Royal Deeside climbs west past Crathes Castle and Balmoral into the high Cairngorms, where the river gathers at the Linn of Dee. The granite tors of Bennachie rise to the north-west, and south along the coast Dunnottar Castle keeps its clifftop watch.

20 places sit inside Aberdeen itself. Beyond the city, 39 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 1 is a national icon.

Open the map here

In Aberdeen itselfinside the city boundary, nearest first

Photo of Old Blackfriars, a pub in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

Old Blackfriars

Pub near Aberdeen

Characterful traditional pub on Aberdeen's Castlegate with stained glass and cask ales.

0.2 km S

Photo of Kirk of St Nicholas, a church in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

Kirk of St Nicholas

Church near Aberdeen

Aberdeen's medieval 'Mither Kirk' in the city centre, with a carillon and Drum's Aisle.

0.4 km SW

Duthie Park Winter Gardens

Garden near Aberdeen

Victorian Aberdeen park with the David Welch Winter Gardens, one of Europe's largest indoor gardens.

0.8 km S

Photo of The Grill, a pub in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

The Grill

Pub near Aberdeen

Union Street institution in Aberdeen, an Edwardian bar with a famous whisky selection.

0.8 km SW

Photo of Footdee (Fittie), a visitor attraction in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.Highlight

Footdee (Fittie)

Attraction near Aberdeen

Planned 1809 fishing village of squared cottages at the harbour mouth, a preserved corner of old Aberdeen.

1 km SE

Photo of Aberdeen Beach, a beach in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.Highlight

Aberdeen Beach

Beach near Aberdeen

Long city beach curving between the Dee and Don with a broad promenade below Aberdeen's granite skyline.

1.1 km E

Photo of King's College Chapel, a church in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

King's College Chapel

Church near Aberdeen

Late-medieval chapel of the University of Aberdeen in Old Aberdeen, keeping rare pre-Reformation carved oak.

1.6 km N

Cruickshank Botanic Garden

Garden near Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen botanic garden of rock gardens, borders and an arboretum in Old Aberdeen.

2.2 km N

Photo of Seaton Park, a garden in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

Seaton Park

Garden near Aberdeen

Riverside park in Old Aberdeen below St Machar's Cathedral, with a formal rose garden and Don-side walks.

2.7 km N

Photo: Bridge of Balgownie, a viewpoint in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.Highlight

Bridge of Balgownie

Viewpoint near Aberdeen

Steeply arched medieval bridge over the Don at Old Aberdeen, one of Scotland's oldest surviving bridges.

3 km N

Photo of Johnston Gardens, a garden in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

Johnston Gardens

Garden near Aberdeen

Small ornamental city garden in Aberdeen's west end with a pond, rockery, waterfalls and bridges.

3.6 km SW

Hazlehead Park

Garden near Aberdeen

Large Aberdeen park with a rose garden, azalea and heather beds, and a surviving privet maze.

5.3 km W

Photo: Brimmond Hill, a 266m hill in Aberdeen, north east Scotland.

Brimmond Hill

Marilyn · County top near Aberdeen

The only Marilyn in Aberdeen.

9.1 km W

St Fergus's Church, Dyce

Pictish stone near Kintore

A Pictish symbol stone in Aberdeen.

11.2 km NW

Everything else in Aberdeen (6) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of Balmedie Beach, a beach near Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Balmedie Beach

Beach near Newburgh

Long dune-backed sandy beach in Balmedie Country Park north of Aberdeen.

11.8 km N

Photo of Newburgh Seal Beach, a beach in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Newburgh Seal Beach

Beach near Newburgh

Ythan-estuary sands opposite a sandbank hauling-out ground for hundreds of grey and common seals.

20 km N

Photo of Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool, a lido in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool

Lido near Stonehaven

A 1934 Art Deco seawater pool on the Stonehaven seafront, 50 m long and heated to about 29°C for the summer.

21.1 km S

Photo of Stonehaven, a village in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Stonehaven

Village

Harbour town beneath Dunnottar Castle, famous for its Hogmanay fireball ceremony and Art Deco lido.

21.9 km S · Aberdeenshire

Photo of Stonehaven Harbour, a visitor attraction in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Stonehaven Harbour

Attraction near Stonehaven

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

22.1 km S

Photo of Pitmedden Garden, a garden in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Pitmedden Garden

Garden near Pitmedden

Spectacular re-created 17th-century Great Garden of formal parterres and box hedging.

22.2 km N

Photo of Crathes Castle Garden, a garden near Banchory, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Crathes Castle Garden

Garden near Banchory

Turreted tower house on Royal Deeside famous for its yew-hedged walled garden of eight themed rooms.

23.1 km SW

Photo of Dunnottar Castle, a ruined castle near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Iconic

Dunnottar Castle

Castle near Stonehaven

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

23.5 km S

Photo of Collieston, a village in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Collieston

Village

Whitewashed cliff-huddled fishing village beside the Forvie dunes, once a smuggling haunt.

24 km NE · Aberdeenshire

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo along the Formartine and Buchan Way, a long-distance trail running from Dyce to Fraserburgh, north east Scotland.

Formartine and Buchan Way

Scotland's Great Trail

A flat, easy rail trail across the farmland of north-east Aberdeenshire, from the edge of Aberdeen out to Fraserburgh and Peterhead

8.7 km NW · Aberdeenshire & Aberdeen

Devenick Dairy

Farm & farm shop near Portlethen

Farm and cheese dairy south of Aberdeen with a farm shop and cafe making handmade cheeses.

9 km SW

Marshall's Farm Shop

Farm & farm shop near Bucksburn

Family farm shop north-west of Aberdeen, the 2024 Scottish regional champion at the Farm Shop & Deli Awards.

15.5 km NW

Photo of Loch of Skene, a loch near Kintore, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Loch of Skene

Loch near Kintore

West of Aberdeen, this shallow loch is a haven for wintering wildfowl and once a noted haunt of whooper swans.

15.9 km W

Drum Castle Garden

Garden near Drumoak

One of Scotland's oldest tower houses with a walled Garden of Historic Roses.

15.9 km SW

Cullerlie stone circle

Stone circle near Banchory

"Cullerlie stone circle", Standing Stones of Echt

16 km W

The Store, Foveran

Farm & farm shop near Foveran

Farm shop, butchery and restaurant on a family farm near Newburgh, selling home-reared beef and produce.

17.9 km N

Photo of Forvie, a National Nature Reserve near Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Forvie

National Nature Reserve near Newburgh

A National Nature Reserve in Aberdeenshire.

18.2 km N

Photo of Udny Arms Hotel, a pub near Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Udny Arms Hotel

Pub near Newburgh

Ythan-side hotel bar at Newburgh, said to be the birthplace of sticky toffee pudding.

19.6 km N

Everything else within 25 km (21) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.