As part of VisitAberdeenshire’s Rediscover Your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire campaign, we’ve rounded up a selection of venues relating to Scottish arts and culture to visit during your next outing, as well as food and drink suggestions near each attraction.
Reimagined, reborn and ready to be rediscovered, Aberdeen Art Gallery reopened in November last year following a £34.6 million transformation.
It is home to one of the finest collections in the UK.
There are works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Claude Monet.
A wide range of art forms and media, the use of colour, hands-on interactive experiences, music, innovative display methods and engaging interpretive information combine to create a range of experiences, moods and stories for visitors.
Food and drink suggestions nearby include Chop Bar & Grill on St Andrew Street, Jack’s Grill at 150 Union Street, the Esslemont at 38 Union Street, Kirk View Cafe & Bistro at 27-29 Union Terrace, Ninety-Nine Bar & Kitchen at 1 Back Wynd, and Chaophraya at 1 Union Terrace.
Outwith the city, the magnificent Georgian mansion Duff House – which was designed by the famed William Adam – contains a collection of important works from the National Galleries of Scotland and the Magdalene Sharpe Erskine Trust.
Visitors have the opportunity to get up close to wonderful artworks and special exhibits, learn the many stories of Duff House’s history, and wander through landscaped grounds which have been set out with carriage drives and ornamental follies.
Nearby in Macduff you’ll find Annie’s Cakery on Station Brae, the Knowes Hotel at 43 Market Street and the Seafront Macduff at 33 Shore Street.
In Banff, meanwhile, there’s the famous Spotty Bag Shop at 13 Old Market Place and the Fife Lodge Hotel on Sandyhill Road.
Further south, Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic and evocative ruined cliff-top fortress that was the once the seat of the Earl Marischal.
Steeped in history, this romantic and haunting ruin is a photographer’s paradise, a history lover’s dream and an iconic tourist destination for visitors the world over.
Stonehaven offers a wide range of places to eat and drink on a day out to the coast, with pancakes and waffles at Shamrock & Thistle, found at 6 Arbuthnott Place, while the Old Pier, by the harbour, boasts the Old Pier Coffee House and the Tolbooth Seafood Restaurant, among others.
The Marine Hotel can be found at 9-10 Shorehead, while there’s the Bay Fish & Chips on Beach Road, and Nikki’s Coffee Shop & Bistro at 25 Market Square.
The former Victorian HM Convict Prison Peterhead is now one of the north-east’s most iconic attractions.
Visitors will visually see what “real” prison life was like, while listening to the officers speak of their experiences as part of the audio description that accompanies the tour.
Food and drink suggestions in Peterhead include Harbour Spring Peterhead on Buchan Way, Symposium Coffee House at 21 Queen Street and the Dolphin Cafe at Merchant Quay on Greenhill Road.
Zanres Fish & Chips can be found at 35 Queen Street.
Lettuce Eat Healthy is a few doors down at 90 Queen Street, while Brew Toon is at 72A St Peter Street.
Meanwhile, the sweep of 700 years of history can be seen at Drum Castle Gardens and Estate, from the battlements to the medieval square tower and sprawling extensions.
The beautiful Garden of Historic Roses is divided into quadrants that show how roses have been cultivated from the 17th to the 20th Century.
Nearby, in and around Banchory, you’ll find Courtyard Cafe at Crathes and the Mains of Drum at Drumoak and the Milton Brasserie at Milton of Crathes.
In Banchory itself there is Buchanan Bistro on Burn O’Bennie Road, the Birdhouse Cafe at 74 High Street, and also the Banchory Lodge Hotel on Dee Street.
Finally, you can enjoy a superb day out for all the family at Grampian Transport Museum in Alford.
Open daily, the museum showcases everything from supercars to stagecoaches, one of the police cars that used to patrol the region’s roads and one of Aberdeen’s last remaining trams.
It is recommended you allow half a day for your visit.
Food and drink suggestions include the Alford Bistro at 40 Main Street, the Haughton Arms Hotel in Main Street, the Kildrummy Inn at Kildrummy, Frank’s Fryer in Main Street and also the Alford Tandoori on Watchmaker’s Lane.
For more information, pay a visit to yourabdn.com
Social Media Campaign
VisitAberdeenshire, The Press and Journal, Evening Express, Society and Original 106 are encouraging people to share an image of their favourite part of the north-east throughout the #RediscoverABDN campaign. To take part, simply follow the steps below:
- Take a picture of your favourite north-east attraction, venue, product or landmark
- Upload the image to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter including the hashtag #RediscoverABDN and tag @visitabdn
Social Distancing Guidelines
When visiting these locations, it’s important to adhere to the social distancing guidelines currently in place across Scotland – with regards to outdoor activities. These guidelines are below.
- People can meet in groups of up to 15 people outdoors, from up to five different households, including your own household. However, children aged 0-11 should not meet in groups larger than 15 people in total at a time.
- Keep two metres apart from anyone you meet from outside your household, and don’t share food or utensils.
- You should not meet with more than four different households per day, whether indoors or outdoors.
- Follow physical distancing guidance and hygiene rules.
- There is now no restriction on travel within Scotland as long as individuals are acting in line with all other guidance that supports the route map.
All guidelines can be viewed at www.gov.scot
