Great little castle ruins which is free to walk around in a nice countryside setting, small car park at the entrance/foot of the castle grounds with a trailer cafe and wooden seating. Also if a plane spotter it's a good base to get a coffee and watch the RAF lossiemouth planes coming in to land.

Amazing place and obviously well cared for. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring it. As an added bonus there’s a hut that sells coffee, cakes etc. Outdoor seating which is covered in parts (we didn’t need it as the sun was out all day!) and dog friendly. Even has wee complimentary dog biscuits and puppaccinos too.

This was a lovely old ruin to walk around. There was free parking, with a van to buy hot and cold drinks from, and a toilet. It was free entry. I liked looking at the part of the castle that sunk into the ground. There was a moat around the castle, and great views.

Free to enter, there is a small car park with a coffee trailer for refreshments and a toilet. There is also a 13th century bridge to cross the moat alongside a more modern version for a slightly shorter walk to the castle. Don’t build stone castles on a motte and bailey site!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Majestic Ruin Steeped in History Duffus Castle is a hidden gem in Moray that effortlessly blends dramatic history with serene beauty. Perched on a grassy mound, the ruins of this once-mighty motte-and-bailey fortress evoke centuries of Scottish heritage. The leaning tower and crumbling stonework tell tales of medieval ambition and architectural resilience. What makes Duffus truly special is its atmosphere—quiet, contemplative, and perfect for a reflective walk or a family picnic. The views across the surrounding countryside are breathtaking, especially at sunset when the golden light dances across the ruins. Interpretive signs offer just enough context without overwhelming the experience, and the site is free to explore, making it accessible and welcoming. Whether you’re a history buff, a photographer, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, Duffus Castle delivers. A must-visit for anyone exploring the Moray coast.

Lovely place to visit its free to go Parking for about 12 vechicles great views n signs telling you about the history of it If your lucky raf Lossiemouth is only down the road you might get a few typhoons flying over In the carpark there a place you can get a coffee n there's a toilet not open every day

A well documented piece of local history. Great example of defensive groundwork. Small but free car park and a little coffee hut on site. Free entry but not suitable for anyone with walking aids since entrance is through a kissing gate and then a combination of grassy path and cobbles.

Very nice ruin. Well maintained. Very nice staff at main entrance who gave us a snippet of what to see and expect. Lovely view of Elgin from the top. The stairs up were well maintained, not too narrow, not a hard climb either. I do recommend. We used explorer pass to enter.

Signed up for annual Historic Scotland pass. Visited the cathedral while touring the Moray Firth area. Found the site to be well kept with loads of informative information on it's history. Staff were great and answered my questions. Recommend

remarkable abbey ruin ...would've been amazing to see in its day as what's left is looks pretty amazing ...lots carvings as well. . Even as a ruin, the cathedral shines out as one of Scotland's most ambitious and beautiful medieval buildings. Begun in 1224, Elgin was the principal church of the bishops of Moray. It lost its roof shortly after the Protestant Reformation of 1560, and later its central tower fell.

We visited Elgin Cathedral today and absolutely loved our experience. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, and to our delight, we were even allowed to bring our dogs with us onto the beautiful grounds. That made the visit extra special and unforgettable for us. We are so grateful for this wonderful experience!

Hauntingly evocative ruins in stone. Curated exhibitions in the surviving snd partially restored towers add to appreciation of the time and place when Elgin was an active cathedral. The decorative stone sculptures are unique surviving treasures; some are whimsical and others are quite skillfully made. There is a nearby parking lot for easy access.

This cathedral ruin was awesome, I really enjoyed walking around this place, reading all the information boards, seeing all the old stone work, and fragments. You have a great view over the entire area from the top of the tower. There are steep spiral stairs, but well worth the climb. £11 entry per adult.

Absolutely fantastic place to visit, with so much history and so much of the building to see, you could literally stay an entire day. Also home to Scotlands tallest gravestone, at over 5 meters long!

Historical & fabulous Whisky & Tour Cardhu has ALWAYS been my favorite whisky. Even whilst living abroad (Switzerland, France, etc), I would always drink Cardhu. Not sure if it is the bottle, the colour of the whisky the taste & smell, but this was always clearly my favorite (since the end of the 90's probably). Therefore obviously visiting Scotland, this was a must stop for me. We visiting the Distillery with my family and really enjoyed it. The kids too thought it was really interesting. The tour is super informative but also fun. To be noted you end with a little tasting then you can also sample the shop, which is beautiful and one of the nicest I have seen for a distillery shop. This is a highly recommended tour by me!

Really enjoyed our tour of Cardhu. Very informative, interesting and very well presented y Alicia. I am not usually a whiskey drinker but would highly recommend doing this tour. We felt very welcome from the minute we walked through the doors. Lovely setting too. Great tour thanks so much!

Before visiting Scotland, my boyfriend and I weren’t familiar with Cardhu. We actually got the tip to visit Cardhu Distillery from an associate at the Johnny Walker Experience in Edinburgh. We booked ahead of time and had the pleasure of taking a tour with Erin. We ended up being the only ones who signed up for our tour time, which ended up being fantastic as we had a lot of questions! Erin is very kind and has a strong knowledge of whisky and we learned a lot about the whisky process. We truly enjoyed our visit to Cardhu Distillery thanks to Erin’s excellent tour.

Raise the red flag of Cardhu and many thanks to Kirsten for a fantastic tour and tasting! Perhaps the most compelling and enduring story of 2 women leaders, one a founder (Helen Cumming). Started as an illicit distillery (13 years) around 1811, before becoming legal and then combining forces as Johnny Walker’s supplier. Don’t miss the golden statues of Helen & Johnny walking into the bright future together!

We had a very nice family tour! If you want a real whisky journey and learn reasons behind each taste note in your sips of whisky, it’s your place! Zoe was a very good guide and we thank to her as whole family!

Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and passionated by the handcrafting of Cadhu whisky. Very detailed and friendly presentation of all the steps of distillation. The place is absolutely beautiful, lost in the middle of the Speyside. Worth a visit if you’re around the region.

Absolutely lovely guided tour. I strongly recommend it! If you drive, do not worry, they will provide for free small nice bottle kit for you to carry away after the tasting.

A Fantastic Experience at The Glenlivet! Our visit to The Glenlivet was absolutely wonderful! The distillery itself is stunning — surrounded by breathtaking scenery and beautifully maintained inside and out. Our tour guide, Caitlynn, made the experience even better. She was fun, friendly, and incredibly informative, sharing the history and process behind The Glenlivet with great enthusiasm. It was the perfect balance of education and enjoyment. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Speyside!

Wow, what a beautiful distillery and tasting room. We came in to the distillery while we were out hiking the Drumin Castle Circuit, which is the same hike as the George Smith Smugglers Trail, except for the starting point as the Smugglers Trail starts at the distillery. We had tastings, and my hen and I also had margaritas made with the Caribbean Reserve. Our tasting consisted of very generous pours of the Captain's Reserve, Caribbean Reserve and 15 years of age single malt scotch whisky. Honestly we were not too keen on any of them. I would say we may had needed to push on and try some more until we found the one to our liking, but we needed to finish our hike. If we had drank anymore I sure we would had crawled instead of walk the rest of the trail 😂 We did very much enjoyed the margaritas, but I think we will just keep using tequila instead of the Caribbean Reserve, as it cost £30 for a 70 cl bottle. We would like to thank the Glenlivet Estate and The Glenlivet Distillery staff for their wonderful hospitality as we had a grand time!

Wonderful tour, our tour guide (Jamie) has been wonderful. The tour itself it is a combination of a beautifully made visual experience, walk through the distillery, and whisky tasting. All in all a very nice way to get to know the Glenlivet even better.

We had an amazing time at The Glenlivet Distillery, Ross was an outstanding guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and made the whole experience both educational and fun. The history, the behind-the-scenes look at the whisky-making process, and of course, the tasting, absolutely top-notch. If you're visiting Speyside, this tour is a must. Thanks, Ross!

Had an awesome time at The Glenlivet Distillery! The tour isn’t as pricey as some others, but it’s packed with history and fun facts about both the brand and Scotch whisky in general. You get to try three whiskies at the end — the 12, 14, and 16-year-old — which is a nice change from the usual 12, 15, and 18. They also give you a 10% discount voucher for any whisky purchase, and you can sample more before you buy. Great whisky, great value, and a really enjoyable.

Although we didn’t get to join the tour, we were totally impressed by the place! The bar was exceptionally nice, and the staff were so sweet and welcoming. We picked up a few souvenirs on our way out and hopefully, we’ll get to try the tour next time!

During my visit to Scotland I wanted to have a whiskey tasting experience and I was thrilled to see the Glenlivet distillery was couple ours away from the place I stayed as Glenlivet is one of my favorite whiskeys. The day I had booked I was running late and called them and asked can they accommodate me and my friends for a later tour. Even it was clearly said they would not be able to reschedule for later time, in the booking details, they told me they will try their best to include me in a later tour as I mentioned I was visiting all the way from New York. Now for the tour I should mention, Amber was really welcoming, knowledgeable and very pleasant the way she interact with guests. Thanks Amber. The Distillery itself sits in a nice estate with beautiful surroundings. Inside the building is modern with a nice waiting area a bar and a store. Although they could improve the variety of merch they have in the store, they have decent offerings.

Even with construction, the visitor's center and tastings were available (July 2025). My two friends and I stopped in as Aberlour is one of our favorites. First, Allison is amazing. Her knowledge of current and older releases and the process to make each expression was impressive but her congeniality and communication were what sets this experience apart. She was friendly, funny, and responsive. The tasting room is small but beautiful and sufficient since there are no large tour groups finishing there.

Great tasting experience (Deconstructed Scotch Tasting). Distillery is undergoing massive reservations so no tours. Still, the tasting was a lot of fun with Allison, our tasting guide, taking us through a flight of five different Abelour scotches. All of them were incredible and 45 minutes wasn’t nearly enough time to cover everything (we went a tad over). Loved it so much, ended up purchasing a bottle of their award winning 18 year old Double Sherry Cask finished scotch. Definitely a great experience and more personable (to me) vs. nearby big distillery tours. Thanks Allison and Abelour!!

What a brilliant experience. It was fascinating to learn about the history of the Arbelour distillery and the process of making one of my all time favourite malt whisky’s. Lindsay (my host) was very good at both the history and the process and clearly has her roots in making premium malt whisky and answered all of my questions despite some being in the stupid category. The absence of not being able to have a tour of the distillery didn’t reduce the overall experience. The tasting session is highly recommended

Attended the tasting room for the Aberlour Deconstructed Tasting. Enjoyed a really good session with an excellent guide and some fantastic drams.

Exceptionally Charming Experience with rare editions of Aberlour Expressions. Hostess was very knowledgeable and it was interesting to learn about their next generation plans regarding the distillery.

Yesterday I visited the Aberlour Distillery for a whisky tasting with two friends — and it was absolutely top-notch! Everything was so well organized and thoughtfully presented. What stood out the most was the incredible attention to detail in the storytelling — we were completely immersed in the history and craft behind each expression. The presentation was beautiful, full of character and small touches that made the experience feel truly special. A lovely surprise was the Walkers shortbread, a delicious and elegant little bonus that added a true taste of Scotland. Also appreciated the exclusive discount in their shop — a great opportunity to take home a bottle (or two!) at a better price. Highly recommended to any whisky lover or curious traveler in the area! Valeriia

We booked the Aberlour Uncovered experience. This was the more humble experience we had as was the only one of the eight distilleries we visited that did not include a visit to the facilities. They said that it is because of safety reasons. Despite that the staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. The Whisky selection was also great.

Good little cafe and exhibition. Easy access to the shingle banks. Guided tours of the ice house available. Great walk around the nature reserve too. Managed to see an osprey too as an added bonus.

This is a beautiful centre, with a lovely cafe, where you can learn, explore and see dolphins enjoying their natural habitat. We were lucky enough to enjoy other wildlife on our visit such as ospreys, lizards and kingfishers. The staff are incredible, they shared so much knowledge and insight with us. You must listen to the informative talk about bones and join the Ice House tour for a real insight into our history. James and Hope were exceptional. A must do and see if you are in the area!

We didn't see any Dolphins but they don't guarantee that you will. Lovely walk on the beach, it is all pebbles so thick soled shoes/boots are advisable. Food and hot drinks available in cafe. Small gift shop.

Lovely place to visit lots of wildlife if you're lucky dolphins passing great for a walk with the dog there's toilets shop coffee

Really nice little cafe & Shop X the exhibition on the dolphins is full of useful information X lovely setting, and views X we were fortunate enough to be able to watch the Osprey hunting while we were there, he flew right over our heads & gave us both (separately) a 10/15 minute display x unfortunately didn't see any 🐬 dolphins but they hadn't been recorded for 2 days so clearly tides & winds weren't right X would recommend it to anyone x

Amazing place, amazing people, an absolutely amazing cause. Cafe is also excellent, very nice fresh food served with very little wait (as its all freshly prepared) they don't like waste and nor do we. Its also very very environmentally friendly both cafe and shop. Amazing products, supporting local artists as well as their own clothing which is all recycled 100% cotton, also supporting so many people with their citizen science programme. I can't say enough about how amazing this place is. Their is also a bird reserve just by as its at the mouth of the river Spey. Dolphins, porpoise seen nearly daily.

Wonderful place to visit. Be prepared to climb over rocks and the pebble beach to look for the Dolphins, although we did not see any the visitor centre was well worth a visit and cafe serves lovely food

Beautiful & Legendary Distillery We decided to visit Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, as we were visiting the nearby Balvenie castle. We really enjoyed it and thought this place was great. It looks the part, a bit Victorian a bit Scottish, it is really nice & well maintained. I have know this Whisky my whole life, even living in Switzerland, somehow it was always in the bars, clubs I was going to. I imagined it would of been a larger and more industrial place. I was happy to see it was more normal, smaller, etc. This is somewhat in the heart of Speyside's whisky region do visit if you can! The tour (like most of them in Scotland explains the production and making process, of whisky. Really worth your time and highly recommended from us. Note they also have a great shop and bar.

Had my first-ever distillery tour at Glenfiddich! Our guide was hilarious! super engaging and very informative 😂 The place itself is absolutely stunning and filled with history. The whisky tasting was alright, but it was still really fun to learn the story behind the drinks. Such an interesting and memorable experience!

Our tour guide was super knowledgeable, friendly, always stopped to ask us if we had any questions, and took his time with us and didn’t rush things along. The tasting room was super nice, very exclusive feeling, and there were only a handful of us on the tour together, so it felt very personal. 100% recommend.

Unforgettable Tasting Experience The Glenfiddich 1990 and 1992 Sherry Oak casks are hands down the best whiskies I’ve ever tasted, truly exceptional! Deep, rich, and perfectly balanced. A standout moment in an already fantastic tasting.

We were passing the Glenfiddich Distillery when we met a very friendly security guard. He invited us to have a look around so we did. All the tours were booked up. We chatted with various people and visited the shop which was very busy. Next time we visit we might book a tour and that would give a better understanding of this very popular industry.

Of course, Glenfiddich isn't exactly an insider tip. But the tour of the distillery is unparalleled—and we experienced many on our tour. Glenfiddich is one of the gold standards when it comes to Scottish whisky and shows that even a large distillery can impress with individuality and quality.

Visiting the iconic Glenfiddich Distillery near Dufftown, the heart of Speyside's whisky region, is a must. The tour offers a fascinating glimpse into their whisky-making process, from mashing to maturation. Tasting their renowned single malts is a highlight. While it can be busy, the chance to experience this Speyside icon and learn about their family history and innovative techniques is well worth it for any whisky lover in the area. The visitor center and shop are excellent too.

June 2022, nice location for a coffee and bite, great roads to its destination, great scenery, food choice is limited but overall it’s worth a stop

My son and I spent Friday 31 January 2025 practicing our recently learned basic snowboarding skills on the slopes of Glenshee. What an absolutely beautiful day. No wind, some sunshine and lovely snow. We first went to the training area for a bit of a warm-up and an introduction to the poma lift (a new experience for us). Then off to the bigger slopes with longer and faster poma lifts. All of the Glenshee team were great. Our thanks to Ben (equipment hire) for getting our kit sorted and a huge thank you to Colin who was manning the Claybokie lift. Colin, you made my day by helping me get to grips with the lift. Thank you. We will definitely be heading back for more at Glenshee.

Brilliant run on my bike to Glenshee. Nice to visit in the summer, great cup of tea and biscuits. Usually visit in the winter for the last 30 odd years brilliant skiing on the tiger 🐅 and over the back of sunnyside. Maybe next year xx

Great place to learn to ski and improve. Despite there not being any heavy snowfall, the centre makes sure to make snow for the two beginner slopes and a blue run. The cafe is clean and warm with reasonably priced food and drinks available. The cafe has free WiFi, is dog friendly and provides food options for Gluten Free and Vegetarian upon request. We camped with our roof tent on one of the electric hook up spaces the centre has. Great price, but a lack of facilities (no showers or water tap) but staff will fill water containers in the cafe for you upon request. But just something to be aware of if you're planning on staying for more than a night or two. Also worth noting that if you're staying with a roof tent to check the wind speeds and gusts as they can get very high. All the staff we encountered during our stay were amazing! Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. This especially goes for the staff in the ski hire, who are able to help find the right equipment for you, and providing enthusiasm needed for a nervous beginner. Overall we had a fantastic stay and time here.

I used to make a point of stopping off here for coffee & cake, not because I particularly wanted to but to support the company & ski industry. But last winter, I arrived for a walk in the snow, I also had my ski touring kit. The snow was awful & only 2 lifts were open. On the opposite side of the road to the open lifts, I thought a I saw a possible line of ascent with ski touring gear. So I went up for an hour or so. The snow cover was poor & very thin. I met a maintenance guy, Angus, son of the owner. Had a pleasant chat with him, he explained that to “ski” on this land within the ski area boundary, I needed a £25 ski tourer pass. So I said I’d buy one at the bottom. Once I’d descended, I got hassled by an older guy, who was less pleasant and told me to get a ski pass. I told him that’s what I was doing & I’d spoken to Angus earlier. He just wouldn’t let it go. So I just walked off & bought said pass. So, in summary, I paid for coffee, cake, parking & a ski pass, for a couple of hours padding about on crappy snow, didn’t even use the lifts. I haven’t stopped there since and probably never will. I live in Perth & drive past fairly regularly. So that’s 1 customer lost forever.

I love Glenshee. Staff are decent people and facilities are good for what it is. Yes you may have some small queues for ski hire and restaurant at lunch time but if you take your own gear and packed lunch that avoids the hassles! There’s loads of rental places from the south side (after Blairgowrie) of the ski centre if you need to rent and they’re cheaper. I consider myself a fairly rubbish boarder to be honest but I found I had plenty of space and time do dart about at my own pace. Staff are good on the pomas too so I didn’t feel too rushed. Guys do a good job or trying to keep runs open and covering bare/icy spots where possible. I saw a few staff on skis so I felt super safe too. I hope the weather is kind to these guys and they get loads of good seasons in the future. And the views. WOW! This is the longest review I’ve left ! Haha. Recommended.

Stopped by while visiting Scotland, bought a sled for my little boy to have his first ever go at sledding and we had a great time. We didn’t get to sample the cafe as the cue was out the door but that says it all a very popular place. Plenty of toilet facilities, great when you have a health condition like myself so felt comfortable there. Car park was a mix of snow ice and flooded in areas so not for a none confident driver. Overall a lovely time spent exploring Glenshee Ski Centre and would love to return.

Great looking church. unfortunately closed when I went. Benches outside to sit with fantastic views.

We came there in a Friday and were honing on burning a canule. But unfortunatly it wss closed at that moment. But the building is beautiful as are the surroundings. Worth a visit.

Would have given 5 stars if the church had actually been open. I'm disappointed that I was not able to get in and see the stuff that was donated to the church by the Royal family. It is very well maintained and in a lovely setting. I can see why people want to come and visit this lovely historic church

Friendly and welcoming church. Traditional service and good teaching. Park across the road for £5.

It was closed when we visited but did have a nice view that's all

Absolutely gorgeous, I can see why the Royal family use Crathie. Secluded from the road, very quaint and quiet. If you visit Balmoral Castle then you have to cross the main road and walk up to Crathie Kirk. Well worth a visit, we went on a Tuesday and unfortunately it was closed. But thankfully outside was so pretty with the autumn colours

Website shows church open. Reality only opened on sunday for services. There is no notice of this at car park and £5 charged for carpark for 10 minute walk around church. Excessive charge for misinformation.

Firt class ice cream shop / sit in. An amazing choice of Ice cream and desserts tucked away on the lovely village of Portsoy. An incredible array of flavours and toppings. Bubble waffle seems to be a popular choice in my family. I total recommend a visit , I will be returning.

Really nice place. Large variety of ice cream ,waffles etc. Good coffee. Friendly staff. Clean.

Great ice cream shop on the main street opposite the bakers and the church, which has a low wall and handy benches to sit on when eating your ice cream. Just watch out for the gulls! Make sure you head down to the Quay side, it is a very lovely location.

Never miss this place if you are in Portsoy.Best icecreams and sorbet bowls. Tried 3 scoops bowl of lotus biscoff, strawberry and cookies andcream. And a sorbet bowl with nuts and coconut bits and banana and raspberry with hot milk chocolates sauce. If sugar wasn't that diabetic I could eat this everyday 😍

Delicious ice cream with all the delights! We also bought a souvenir made from local driftwood to bring home.

Very busy. Queues likely to be long. The options and quality are amazing. It’s worth the wait, you’re not rushed. The area around is amazing too, close to a park so the kids can enjoy after all that ice cream! There is also plenty of free parking around the area.

Travelled a long way for this. Has been highly recommended. Great choices and was absolutely buzzing. Was very popular. Good value and tasty ice cream. Would recommend trying the cinnamon bun with ice cream in the middle 👌

A car park big enough for over 6 vehicles. Short walk to entrance building with small shop selling gifts and treats. Entrance fee payable. The castle is big and an outhouse also exists to explore. The main castle has some restrictions to access and intricate details have been protected from the weather. Still an impressive size with prison, cellars, great hall, kitchen, bedrooms etc. Outside is a building with a bakery and a brew house. Part of the original medieval road exists just outside.

The castle ruins is incredible. The size is quite impressive, between the cellars, the prison, the living rooms and the different rooms you will spent 1h . All the explanations are really good, the story of it is fascinant. Highly recommanded.

Went first thing it opened, the older gentleman we chated with inside the castle was super happy to be there, he felt like a personal tour guide and you could tell he loved what he was doing.

this is a wonderful castle ruins and so definitely worth a visit...the site is home to a number of castles during its history ...a medieval road lays next to the current ruin as well ...Once a magnificent, sumptuous and ornate building, Huntly Castle is a large and ruinous old stronghold and palace in a pretty wooded location, long the seat of the powerful Gordon Earls and Marquises of Huntly and with a long and violent history, just north of the Aberdeenshire town of Huntly.

Huntly castle is a must see castle whilst visiting aberdeenshire for all its a ruin there is still allot to see and you can use your imagination to fill in the blanks. There is a well stocked shop that sells everything from books to souvenirs to fridge magnets the people who run the site are very friendly and welcoming and happy to answer any question that you might have. There is decent parking next to the castle so no issues there also toilets are avaliable. The views from on top of Huntly castle are well worth the effort. 10/10

A very beautiful Castle, I spent hours exploring and there are beautiful walks and praks in the surrounding area. A fantastic day out. 🤩🤩

Enjoyed a lovely family day out. Admission was reasonably priced. Walked around the ruins had inside and outdoor areas. Some pebbled areas, steps to climb and different levels to negotiate but not to much for the young children in the party aged between (3 and 6) Disabled access is limited to the surrounds as climbing stairs inside the towers may present difficulties. There was parking facilities outside and a nice park with play area and picnic area close to the river which was very picturesque.

Lovely house steeped in History. Lovely staff. There are a lot of stairs, but there is a lift. It looks like they have a wee cafe on site. But sadly it was closed.

Fabulous house restored to contain wonderful art from the national collection. Glorious 2 floors telling the story of how not to deal with your architect even if it is William Adam! Top floor is exhibition space currently recounting story of Polish war time residents. Staff fabulous and keen to share passion for an amazing site. Closed over lunch and no cafe but sustenance is available in Banff walking distance away

This place is super cute for a quick walk. If you want to go inside, mornings are best. It's less crowded then, so you can really enjoy it. I highly recommend checking it out! Just make sure to go early if you want to head indoors.

Highly recommend a visit to Duff House. Staff are highly knowledge and happy to have a good chat. The artwork inside is stunning, floor to ceiling paintings from many famous artists.

Loved this place . Very helpful, welcoming and informative staff. Thank you for making our visit enjoyable and accommodating with access for my daughter as she is unable to walk up stairs they helped with the use of the lift. Highly recommended x Morag

This was good, however I felt cheated knowing most of the paintings and furniture are on loan from National Gallery etc, and there isn’t much to do with Duff House. However I do understand that it may be difficult finding original items, it felt off. Also the staff are nice but do follow you around, ready to pounce with facts and talking when you just want to look at areas. Although this may be informative to some people, I just wanted to look at everything in peace.

Absolutely stunning! Visited in the pouring rain, staff welcomed us and was very informative throughout our visit.

A distillery that stays true to its roots, and offers a strong selection of drams with no compromise. Masters of Oloroso and PX casks, Glendronach sets the benchmark for sherry, in the whisky market. Would like to extend my gratitude to Lizzy for taking the time and effort to show us around for a tour. Energetic and enthusiastic, she made us feel just at home, imparting knowledge of the whisky making processes and what gave Glendronach its' signature flavours. Perfect experience.

Enjoyed the ‘Revelation in Flavour’ tour with Lynn. The distillery is nestled in a lovely glen through which flows the Dronach Burn. Lynn was extremely knowledgeable not only about the history of the distillery but the entire process of whisky making. The distillery is currently under renovations to increase production but was still able to see most of the production facilities including an aging warehouse (personal highlight for me to see the port and sherry casks). The tasting to finish the tour was paired with chocolates and again Lynn showed her knowledge walking us through different expressions and the reasoning behind certain flavours in certain expressions. Highly recommend a tour of Glendronach!

I had a wonderful drams at the bar with Kevin. He had a great knowledge and experience. His recommendation dram was also a decent dram. I would recommend to enjoy the bar as well with your visit or tour because it is hard to find this variation of Glendronach drams as well as staff with knowledge on each dram.

Had the pleasure to be on the Glendronach distillery tour. You will be greeted with a strong aromatic smell of oak + whisky when you entered the visitor Center. The facility is still under renovating to be ready for 2026 - which marks the 200th Anniversary of the distillery. Sounds like many exciting things will be lined up for 2026. Loved the sherry, olorosso and px bottles.

I had an incredible experience on the Glendronach Boyns Mill tour with Lizzy. The tour was both fun and very informative, and Lizzy’s deep knowledge and passion for whisky made the visit truly special. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in whisky.

What a distillery! I visited Scotland last month with a group of friends on a Scotch tour and we decided to stop at The Glendronach Distillery. We were greeted by Lizzie/Lizzy for a scheduled tour and it was perhaps my favorite tour of them all. The history behind the distillery was truly amazing. Her attention to details during the tour was impressive and what the mere representation of how majestic their Glendronach product is. I have been a huge fan of Glendronach for years with a huge collection of their products and their tour and distillery didn't disappoint. We finished the tour with a fantastic tasting of several of their whiskies. Even though their distillery is under remodeling, their bar is top to none with excellent choices. You won't find a variety of different aged whiskies in other distilleries like you find them at The Glendronach. Lizzie/Lizzy(sorry if I mispelled your name) and her attention to details made this a pleasant afternoon. Kudos to Rachel for creating an unforgettable product and to The Glendronach staff to makes us feel welcomed. Will definitely come back. Huge hugs from Texas.

My favourite distillery. Amanda was wonderful she explained in detail the history of the distillery and the whiskey we tasted and purchased. Looking forward to drinking them back home in Australia.

Superb aquarium. Weather was looking iffy so we looked for something to do indoors. One of our teens chose this so off we went. Friendly staff and a large variety of fish. What made this especially interesting was that all the species were Scottish. Staff were excellent and the presentations informative but also child friendly: the staff obviously knew their stuff. We spent two hours here but would happily have spent longer.

This is one of the best aquariums I have ever visited. It may not be the biggest, but you'll see a lot in the space that is there! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff- we caught the jellyfish feed, and the feeder, Hannah, was very knowledgeable and was happy to answer questions. The Price Is super reasonable, and there's definitely something for everyone to enjoy- a great attraction!

Not been in some time but was brilliant. Not the biggest but it’s focus is our waters and they have done an absolutely tremendous job. A great catalogue of local marina. Was a good day out and the wee man had a smashing time. The staff are all so friendly and helpful and the feeding times were nice, get to learn more about the fish etc. will be back sooner this time.

Brilliant high quality family experience. Accessible for all. Packed with wonderful sealife viewing areas, informative displays and interactive features. We were very lucky and had opportunity for a hands-on experience with the starfish, crabs and anemones. A memory that will be with us forever. Thank you. Super scientific information and equipment such as digital magnifier and microscopes to use. Fun checklist sheet to do whilst going round. Challenged the adults too! Best of all, the most welcoming, knowledgeable and friendliest of staff! A thoroughly great afternoon out.

Spent a great time here yesterday with the visiting family. Friendly and informative staff on hand. Interesting and well set out aquarium with lots to see and lots to read. Came away with many lovely photographs and five grandchildren were kept completely entertained for the duration of our visit. Thanks very much :)

Fantastic aquarium, great value and very enjoyable. Kids loved it and the feeding and diving sessions were fun to watch! Staff were knowledgeable and friendly.

Still a hit with the kids, lots of different species to see. Some new bits and bobs since we were here a couple of years ago, as well. Managed to catch the show this time, too, good for kids and adults.

Had a great couple of hours looking around the museum. We especially enjoyed viewing the Top Gear and Guy Martin exhibitions - Guy's world record bicycle and the crazy (smashed up) go kart are particular highlights. There's a lovely cafe with a good selection of gluten free lunches. It's all dog friendly and the staff were super friendly, even giving the dogs a gravy bone on arrival. It's well worth the fee to enter.

This is a lovely old school museum. Incredibly friendly staff, plenty to see and the Top Gear exhibition is well worth the lengthy drive from almost anywhere else in the country! It's totally accessible and set in a lovely part of the world. Gift shop and cafe are great and well priced too.

My partner and I visited the Grampian transport museum and was thoroughly impressed by its excellent presentation. It's a must see attraction for any car enthusiast, Top Gear or Guy Martin fan. It almost goes without saying but it's the Top Gear cars that brought me to the museum. I had only found out about it just days prior to my trip when Drivetribe (a popular YouTube channel) had released a video on the indestructible Toyota Hilux that Grampian are now the proud owners of. However, it doesn't stop at just the Hilux, they own many of the iconic TV cars such as the Rambulance, the P45 and even the amphibious vehicles that the legendary trio of Clarkson, Hammond and May tried crossing the English Channel in. Explaining the history of each vehicle was a passionate volunteer Finlay McHardy who really made the day for us. Listening to him talk about the episodes each vehicle was featured in and sharing knowledge not found on the information boards. He even shared some details about what the future may hold for the vehicles... Meaning, if you're thinking they might try and start the Hilux. You may be right. The team at Grampian are sent on courses and trained to try and preserve the exhibits they have on display. The Hilux being no exception. If the pickup truck does indeed still run after time has been added to the concoction of death it's had to endure then it'll be because of the amazing team at Grampian and not the Smallest Cog as many suspect. Moving away from the Top Gear exhibit the museum also features trams, bikes in both push and motorised varieties as well as historic 'transportation of the future' such as the Sinclair C5 a vehicle that I believe was ahead of its time. The museum really is a treasure trove of information with the sheer diversity it has to offer and with plenty to read for those that wish to do so. It's very clear a lot of care has gone into making the exhibits as enjoyable and informative as possible. If all of this sounds tiring or perhaps you're not as passionate as a partner, child or any other acquaintance that you may be travelling with is. Then not to worry there is a lovely café located inside the museum called Motorbites which I feel is a worthy pun. It offers a great range of food and drink at what I found to be a very reasonable price, making it the perfect spot for lunch or just a break! The only negative I can draw from my visit is the behaviour of a school group. The children seemed to treat the museum like a playground, running around without much supervision or respect for the exhibits. While this didn't entirely detract from my experience, it was a minor disruption. However, this is not Grampian's fault and more so the lack of supervision from the responsible adults of the school trip. Overall I had a great time. So much so that if you look hard enough you may find my name, Finlay's name or many others dotted around the exhibits as the museum offer a vehicle adoption scheme for a one of fee of £25. This goes towards running the museum and the upkeep of the exhibits as Grampian is owned and operated by a registered charity of which I was more than happy to support. So on that bombshell, it's a 5/5 from me

As someone who has watched endless Topgear, it was great to see some of the special episode cars here. The staff were all friendly, small cafe on side. Would recommend. Slight inconvenience we turned up at 3:30pm and were told they shut at 4pm despite it saying 5pm on the website. Came back in the morning though

Delightful small museum which I’ve visited several times over the years but never taken my granddaughter so decided to go yesterday & support local. Some new items since last time there. Top gear really good as you remember it from seeing it on tv & good to see their creations in real life. Sadly what let’s the place down is the cafe as my granddaughter wanted the kids lunch box which is a sandwich, juice, etc. they couldn’t do a tuna sandwich at 2.12pm ?? However said we could have egg /bacon? how difficult would it have been to make a wee tuna sandwich ?? So we didn’t have lunch. I mentioned this at desk on way out as a suggestion to do sandwiches at any time of the day but he didn’t seem very interested to hear what I had to say. Outdoor play area is disappointing- not kept well not clean. They used to have a super bit for kids to go round small circuit in cars in the play area but that’s not there anymore. So all in all they happy to charge £27 for 2 adults 1 child but clearly doesn’t go into maintaining the kids area.

The visit was great, there was lots to see while the top gear exhibit was on, it was like meeting my childhood heros 🤣

Great museum with information boards across all different cars, bikes and carriages. The top gear cars are brilliant for anyone who is a fan.

Wonderful Castle! Very unique castle in comparison to many we had toured. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. The walled garden was enjoyable to walk thru despite the rain. The fruit we purchased in the garden hut was very delicious after our tea!

Great time had, while they went inside for the guided tour, myself and the dog enjoyed the outdoors. The guided tour took about 2 hours, while we sat outdoors on picnic benches at the cafe. They loved the tour and the guide knew her stuff. Very impressive castle inside and out. Disabled parking right at entrance or your in the main car park 5-10 mins walk down a hill

I wasn't sure about our tour guide at first, honestly. But wow, they were amazing! The whole tour was hilarious thanks to their sarcastic and charming personality. Definitely made the experience 100% better. Beautiful castle inside and out.

Amazing place. Great tour of the castle. Tours run every 45mins. Nice cafe and shop. The gardens are nice to walk around.

What a beautiful castle! And the guided tour was amazing! It was totally worth it and I definitely recommend a visit!

Great place to visit you can only go round the inside of the castle as part of a guided tour witch we didn't mind because you get to understand the history of the place instead of just walking around looking at things our guide was very knowledgeable and great at telling us all about the castle through the years I definitely recommend a visit

Beautiful grounds to walk around. The tours are guided but worth it as it was very informative. Would recommend a visit.

This is a gem of a castle and grounds located near the beautiful village of Edzell. We were lucky to time our trip for the sunshine and to see reenactment camp from the Sir Arthur Erskine’s Regiment. Great displays and knowledge from this team and really made the day special. Dale from this team offered guided tours and his knowledge was amazing. Listening to the surgeon and seeing his props still makes me shiver. All the Historic Environment Scotland team as well were very polite and helpful from the moment we arrived and we had great fun exploring the castle and grounds. Next time we will take a picnic and stay longer. Parking for about 30 normal sized cars with small gift shop and toilets on site. Grounds and walled garden easy to explore but some surfaces in and around the main castle are unsuitable for wheelchairs etc as is be uneven. Well worth a visit.

Wee ended up having the place to ourselves, after lunch break and was good to be able to search without interruptions. Kids enjoyed a run about the wide open spaces. Some of the best gardens and carved surroundings I've been to yet.

Wonderful castle and beautiful walled garden. Castle mainly ruins with the ground and first floor of the Tower available at the moment due the other section being off limits due the unsafe platform. The walled garden has rare roses and well landscaped hedges plus a bonus Summer House to explore. Small visitor centre and unisex toilets. Two picnic tables on site. Car Park has approx 30 spaces. 5 mins from Edzell. 15 mins from A90.

Review by Toby the Castle Connoisseur Greetings, peasants. I am Toby: adventurer, castle connoisseur, part-time philosopher, and full-time Very Good Boy. I recently had the honour of visiting a splendid ruin of a castle, and I must say — it was simply divine. Crumbling in all the right places, sturdy where it counts, and absolutely perfect for dramatic wind-blown poses atop ancient stones. Let’s begin with the rose garden. Immaculate. Truly fit for a royal wee like myself. Every bush pruned to perfection, every petal in place, and not a single squirrel in sight (a minor disappointment, but I respect the discipline). I trotted among the blooms like the flower prince I was born to be, pausing occasionally to sniff like I was rating each plant on its fragrance and regal energy. The purple flowers were, of course, my favourite. Regal. Mysterious. Slightly edible, if no one’s watching. Now, the castle itself. A lovely ruin. Not too restored (no offense to modern plumbing, but where’s the romance in that?) and full of interesting nooks to explore. I investigated every room. Some twice. Some five times. Each with the serious contemplation of a dog picturing his future rule. The main hall? My nap chamber. The tower? Obvious look-out post for my loyal feathered spies. The kitchen? I would like that refurbished immediately. Double the meat hooks. At one point I stood on a high ledge, wind tousling my ears, gazing out over the grounds. Below me: the rose garden, a canvas of purples and greens. Beyond: a sea of sheep. My people. Quiet. Fluffy. Slightly confused. I nodded at them like a king surveying his woolly kingdom. One nodded back. We understood each other. Now — the birds. I’m not sure if they were ravens, crows, hawks, or just very well-dressed pigeons, but they were everywhere, strutting around like they owned the place. I tried befriending a few, but they were on tight schedules and had Important Castle Business. I respect that. I, too, am often busy with Important Castle Business. In summary: 10/10. Exceptional ruin. Excellent flower selection. Ideal sheep-to-tower viewing ratio. I would move in tomorrow, given the slightest invitation, and begin ruling with a firm but cuddly paw. Yours regally, Sir Toby Fluffington III Castle Connoisseur, Biscuit Enthusiast, Lord of the Purple Flowers

Brilliant place to spend a couple of hours.

Castle was fascinating and the gardens beautiful. Lady in charge gave us lots of historical information. Just disappointed that it is only open from April to September as we hoped to revisit in October.

Truly beautiful and interesting place to visit. Exploring the ruins is fun and the gardens are inspiring. Wonderful setting besides.

I had the pleasure of visiting Glen Garioch Distillery after a quick stay at Meldrum House. Initially, I thought this was just a convenient visit but it turned out to be so much more. Everyone here was super welcoming and accommodating. Even though I didn't had time for a tour, I was able to bottle my own Sherry Butt 2198! Didn't get her name but kudos to the wonderful lady who guided me the bottling!

Me and my boyfriend are from Argentina. We did the whisky tour few days ago. Hazel was out tour guide. The whole experience was amazing, and Hazel was very clear in her explanations (which was very important for us since we are foreigners) and also very very kind. She didn't do everything on a rush and took her time to explain everything very clearly and in detail. The rest of the staff was also very thoughtful and kind. The distillery is very beautiful and the whisky is excellent! Great experience for us in Glen Garioch.

We absolutely loved our tour at Glen Garioch Distillery! It was such an amazing experience. Our guide, Eddie, explained everything so clearly and with great enthusiasm. We learned a lot and enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend this tour – we left truly impressed and delighted!

BWhat an experience! One of my best tours in a distillery ! Eddie was super nice, very engaging and so charismatic ! I definitely would go back but this time in winter when they are actually producing this beautiful and rich single malt. ❤️ and the best part is that you get to taste 3 samples! Don’t worry if you are driving or not drinking that day, you can let them know and they will give you a “to go” dose. ☺️

Great Tour! Thx to J(G)ill. Great Experience and good prize for Sample! We come back! More Bourbon Cask please! Thx For all

Stuart was excellent, explained the processes and history with charm and a great sense of humor whilst being full of facts and knowledge along the way. Great experience and a warm staff throughout. Recommend the Warehouse 4 Experience.

So happy that we chose Glen Garioch for our whiskey distillery tour. We happened to be going through the area and decided to stop for a tour and it was a great decision. Old Meldrum is a cute little town and the distillery was absolutely fabulous. Just a beautiful and historic facility where they still malt their own barley, which apparently is rare these days. We met Gill when we arrived and were able to get on a tour after a cancellation. Gill was charming and funny and very knowledgeable. She shared every detail of the whiskey making process and answered all questions with clear and concise answers displaying her knowledge. Highly recommend this place and the tour. I loved the 12 year old scotch and the whiskey cheese was delicious.

Have visited twice now. Once for coffee & cake and once on a Sunday for food. Cool place with a relaxed vibe and great views. Food was great too. All home made stuff. Dog friendly.

Amazing food at the Falls of Feugh Restaurant. I only went to have the highly recommended Cullen Skink, which is truly amazing. This then led onto the Venison Stew and the Strawberry and Lime Cheese Cake to finish. Summer body can wait until next summer. 😆

We had a beautiful lunch. The weather was sunny and cool, the flowers were blooming, the ambiance was relaxing and refined, service was wonderful, and lunch was delicious. I'm so glad we made a reservation here.

We chose the Falls of Feugh as our wedding venue and had the most wonderful day. The food was absolutely incredible—so many of our guests commented on how delicious everything was. The team were great and went out of their way to accommodate our requests. On the day itself, the staff went above and beyond to make everything run smoothly. We’re so grateful for their kindness and professionalism. Thank you for making our day so special.

Fantastic real Scottish dishes. The best Cullen skink I've ever had, followed by perfectly-cooked venison loin served with beef stovies potato and seasonal vegetables.

Impromptu visit on a Sunday to get out and enjoy the warm mild weather, we turnt up just before they closed but they were still very happy to serve us tea and cakes, a beautiful calm spot, well sheltered and scenic. The staffs were very friendly and the food was delicious. We had tea and a couple of tray bake slices and shared a scone, everything was lovely. We will be coming back for a proper meal here soon. Prices were very reasonable. Parking onsite or just across the road. Dog friendly outside.

Lovely staff. It was my birthday and they were very kind and made it very special. I also have a nut and peanut allergy and they were very reassuring. We didn’t have any cash and couldn’t tip with card machine unfortunately but we will remember next time! Recommend!

The sun was splitting the sky today so we decided to visit Crathes Castle & Estate. The location was very busy as there were extra activities on in the grounds, bouncy things of several shapes and sizes, face painting, arts and crafts etc. It Is a self guided tour through the castle going up one set of very tight circular stairs and returning back down to ground level on a second set of stairs. You do need good mobility to manage these stairs. All the rooms were temperature and humidity controlled to try and preserve the fabrics and furnishings within each room. All the items were most interesting to see but not as old as those in Glamis castle. One advantage of this castle Is that you may take photographs except for one small area. After we completed the tour the heat from the sun guided us to the nearby ice cream vendor followed by a walk around the gardens. The gardens are large and are the home to many exotic plants, trees and shrubs. It Is a full time job for five volunteer gardeners to keep the gardens and grounds in such a wondrous condition. We finished off the day with a quick snack in the cafe. Soft drinks, cakes and cappuccino were enjoyed at a leisurely pace. A great day out, highly recommended.

What a great castle, so well kept and the staff are so full of knowledge The gardens are fabulous and I would suggest a while day, half day at least in the castle if you want to read all the details and do it justice, then a good couple of hours minimum in the gardens. Also great walks around the area also and. A lovely cafe.

This was an absolutely lovely location to come for a day out. The place was really busy due to a family fun day event being on, but there was still so much open space that you never felt hemmed in or on top of other visitors. The lady in the gift shop, and indeed all of the staff we encountered, were very friendly and happy to help us out. The only sad thing was that, whilst the garden was amazing, me and my wife couldn't go in together because we brought our dog. I feel that it should be the case that as long as your dog is kept on a short lead, is well behaved, and they are picked up after (which should be the case on the whole estate anyway) then they should be allowed in the gardens too. Overall a lovely site to visit.

i absolutely loved this castle ...the painted ceilings are just amazing ...Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and set within its own glorious gardens, Crathes Castle provides a memorable experience with its towers, turrets and stories of its resident ghosts. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to the Burnett family in 1323: the ancient Horn of Leys, which can be seen today in the Great Hall, marks his gift. Inside you’ll find a labyrinth of cultural history, from family portraits to fine antique furniture. The walled garden is a wonderful jungle of history, split into eight sections that encompass every green delight imaginable a sculpted topiary, soft herbaceous colours and modern exotic blooms. The massive yew hedges are thought to have been planted as early as 1702. Crathes Castle Estate was once part of the Royal Forest of Drum. Today there are a range of waymarked and clearly signposted trails. Look out for wildlife along the way – you may see red squirrels, woodpeckers and herons.

We are having a family holiday in Crathes. My wife and I have spent the last two days driving to here, so were pleased of a quiet day. After breakfast, we walked along the Deeside Way, a relatively flat walk from Aberdeen to Ballater, which was as far as the Deeside Railway went. Queen Victoria didn't want the railway to spoil the countryside around Balmoral. We soon came across Crathes signal box now a private residence and the remains if the platforms. Walking on, we came to a fork, with the Deeside Way going left over a pack horse bridge or right, under the road. Little did we realise what a difference taking the right fork would make. Continuing on our walk we came across the Milton of Crathes, a selection of independent shops. From here, we passed some railway carriages and still no signs directing us to the castle. Eventually, we came out beside the main road at Banchory, nearly four Mike's away. It was a very day and would get hotter as the day went on. We asked a local lad which way to the castle and he directed us up a road. It was not the main entrance but one used countries ago. It was a long uphill climb through the welcoming shade of huge trees of all descriptions. Eventually, we arrived at the castle and it looked very different to other castles we have visited. The castle is steeped in history, the one notable thing being it was lived in by the same family for centuries. We had a walk around inside, partly to cool off and partly to find out more about its history. We had a fascinating journey throughout most of the castle. The most fascinating were the painted ceilings, especially the Room of the Nine Nobles, based on great heroes from the past and the Muses' Room, with paintings of nine Muses and seven Virtues. From here, we walked to the cafe to get refreshments, but could believe the scores of wasps making most families lives a misery. In all my years, I have never so many wasps in one place. We drank up and departed for the welcoming shade of a hirse chestnut tree where we ate our lunch. From here, we walked down to the garden where a token allows families access to the gardens. The tokens can be collected from the main desk. The garden is a place of wonder, as with every turn, you see something different and interesting. You can see the castle from different angles which is a treat. Considering the hot sommer we are experiencing, the gardeners have produced a magnificent show for everyone. It seemed every colour was on view, depending on the flowers and which garden beds we were at. We even passed a couple getting married in a centre piece of the garden. We were intrigued by two large bushes close together at the side nearest the castle. It was while we were sat in the gsrden entrance building that we found the answer. The trees were planted in the 1700, and clipped in what we would describe as small urns. (They obviously had some meaning!!) Today, one is an egg sitting on a eggcup and the other is waiting for an egg. We much prefer the latter version. From here, we walked down the main path, the white trail, to the main entrance , stopping to look at the Highland cattle. We came across a bridge which I guess would have been part of the old road. Underneath, water from the large pond flowed down to the river. We followed a path and lo and behold came out at the road bridge we saw earlier on. We were no walking home knowing we didn't have as long a walk as this morning. By now, the heat was building, so a shorter walk was very welcome. Crathes Castle is an interesting place to visit, with lots of space to run around. There is a children's play area and well behaved dogs are welcomed. Crathes Castle has a cafe catering for all tastes and a great gift shop, selling a range of gifts and food.

We didn't go to the castle but WHAT a garden! We went twice and even in the space of 10 days there were different things to see. Absolute must for garden enthusiasts, whether you enjoy the formal topiary or the amazing themed borders. We chatted for a long time with the volunteers, who were very informative. Will happily come back again and again.

It was very nice on the outside, but it was quite expensive to go in (I paid €17), it didn’t really feel like a castle on the inside, felt maybe too modernised? I was expecting something a little bit more medieval with more rooms and corridors to explore, but that’s my fault for not reading about it first! Staff very friendly though, and the gardens were very nice! lots of grass to sit on and relax.

Review by Toby the Fluffy Pumpkin King Greetings once again, dear readers. Sir Toby Fluffington III here — explorer of ruins, conqueror of mountains, and now, esteemed visitor of farms. My most recent royal expedition took me to a charming countryside estate, where my noble quest was simple: secure the finest pumpkin in all the land. Upon arrival, however, I discovered that the farm was hosting a makers market. Delightful chaos! The air was filled with the smells of baked goods, candles, and possibly three different kinds of cheese. Naturally, as an ambassador of charm and fluff, I was immediately surrounded by adoring subjects eager to bestow pats and compliments. I accepted each with grace and a wag of the tail, though I regret to report that in all the excitement, there was no time for royal portraits — the place was simply teeming with people. I perused the stalls, sniffing out local crafts and intriguing human trinkets. There were treats, soaps, knitted items, and mysterious shiny things I wasn’t allowed to lick. The humans chatted; I networked. It was, in short, a very successful diplomatic outing. But the true heart of my mission awaited: the pumpkin patch. Before proceeding, I made a quick stop to greet the chickens and ducks in their pen. We exchanged polite clucks and quacks — fine farm folk, if a bit gossipy — before I trotted off to complete my royal inspection. The field stretched before me, a sea of orange treasures basking under the autumn sky. I took my time, nose to the ground, surveying each pumpkin carefully like a gem appraiser. Too small. Too lumpy. Too pedestrian. And then… there it was. The one. Vast, round, and gloriously orange — a pumpkin fit for a king. With a decisive bark, I declared it mine. My loyal humans obeyed immediately, fetching a wheelbarrow for the royal transport. Naturally, I climbed aboard beside my chosen pumpkin, riding regally through the fields as the crisp wind ruffled my fur. Onlookers surely whispered, “There goes the Pumpkin King.” And so, dear subjects, my farm adventure concluded in triumph: new friends made, local wonders discovered, and the grandest pumpkin secured. Yours royally, Sir Toby Fluffington III Pumpkin King, Market Celebrity, Friend of Ducks and Chickens Alike

Stunning setting, super dog friendly and delicious food and drink. Every member of staff was lovely and helpful. Really can't recommend this place enough! Great place to bring kids too.

Beautiful fruit farm, farm shop, cafe, play area and of course, fruit picking, all at Charleton farm. The breakfast was delicious, lots of helpful staff, very varied menu, lovely deserts. Pick your own or buy from the shop. Very family/kid friendly and accessible.

Absolutely loved it! Plenty very delicious strawberries! but also so much fun for kids to do! Definitely will be back again, highly recommend to visit with family ❤️

Excellent Farm shop and cafe. Had breakfast in the outside covered areas. Great service, delicious food and we also bought food items from the farm shop too. They have their own frozen meat items packaged too. Coming back to pick our own fruit. What a wonderful place!

Always been a great visit. Our recent one was no exception. Great service and lovely food. More disabled parking than before and charging points for EVs.

Amazing food, beautifully presented. Never expected freshly picked strawberries and balsamic vinegar salad on a breakfast but will look for it from now on. Great service, prompt and friendly.

We’d been looking forward to visiting BrewDog for a long time and it was absolutely worth the wait! From the moment we walked into the restaurant, we felt like kids in a candy store. The design is incredible, with attention to every little detail. Our waitress Sammy was so lovely ,she took the time to explain all the different beers with such patience and kindness. Later, we joined the brewery tour led by Lisa, who was simply amazing ,funny, cheerful and full of energy. She really made the whole experience even more enjoyable! We’ve been to quite a few breweries around the world, but this one was by far the most fun and unique. Thank you for everything! Highly recommend to anyone visiting!

Best burger ever? Might just be! Now we are back in Aberdeenshire, we stopped by BrewDog DogTap and tried the ETFB burger — honestly, incredible. Double smashed patties, bacon, cheese, jammy onions, candied jalapeños… every bite was unreal. So much flavour and just the right mix of sweet, spicy, and crispy. This for us was one of the best burgers we have tasted, and we have had many around the globe. Paired it with a pint of Punk IPA and it was perfect. The waitress suggested some beers for my wife and offered tasters to help her choose. Much better than expected (even though I’ve just been in the Dubai venue). If you like a big, messy, proper burger — this one’s worth the trip!

Visited today all the way from Brisbane Australia where we have had the great experience for flavour before. Staff were very polite and accommodating, such a huuuge venue food was amazing totally recommended.

We came for the brewery tour and we had a wonderful time with Lisa who takes us around the different parts of the brewery and tell us a lot of enjoyable stories along the way. She gives us interesting facts and stories about the brewery from its beginning to now. It's was a really great moment with nice beers (yes, plural) to enjoy during the visit. We also stayed for lunch and the burger and breakfast were great!

At a conference in Aberdeen. Wanted some fresh air so went to see the seals at nearby beach. Realised this was nearby. Friendly service, speedy great Mexican burger and Punk discount. Didn't fell awkward eating on my own at all.

There was a lot of gluten free options to choose from. Food was very good. All of the staff were friendly and approachable. I want to give a particular mention to our server (Meghan). She had great customer service skills. Nothing was too much trouble for her.. it’s good to experience great customer service as it can be a rarity in this day and age.

Sarah our server was so helpful and gave us good info on the menu …… top class

Beautiful indoor gardens – perfect all year round. A stunning collection of tropical, arid, and exotic plants in a peaceful glasshouse setting. Well-maintained, with themed areas like the cactus house and Japanese garden. Great place to relax, take photos, or explore with family. Free entry and located within Duthie Park – a true gem in Aberdeen.

This stunning winter garden is located inside Duthie Park. An assortment of glasshouses display superb botanical examples from a diverse range of environments, from arid to tropical, and most continents. Plants are of the most pristine quality and housed in immaculate conditions. Excellent place and well worth a visit. Highly recommended. 👍👍👍

Cool place especially for those who are more interested in plants and stuff. The kind of 'did you know' plates were fun! The only thing i can have a little but is that not all of the plants are taken care of the way they should be

A must visit place if you like conservatories and flora fauna varieties. Very well kept and maintained place with great number of plant species. I was amazed to see the quality of the plants in a cold climate like Scotland has. Beautiful flowers and some really oddball plants and trees. Someone has seriously put aome good thought into it and the staff seems to maintain it well too. No entry fee, but it’s run on donations. Takes about an hour to get through it. Will surely visit again!

I love the botanical gardens in Aberdeen - one of my favourite places to visit! I would really recommend to anyone who is here - even for a few days. To top it off, it's also completely free and family-friendly. Seriously, one of my favourite botanical garden in Scotland. The cacti area is a must see - it always amazes guests. The adjacent cafe is also quite cute and has good sweets/dessert. I think it would make a great place for a first date!

Wow. What an amazing winter wonderland. Sharing with you all some amazing pics which I took yesterday....

Absolutely fabulous place to visit. Well worth a donation to keep it open to the public. Immaculately kept plants that were interesting to see and well labelled. The cafe was great to visit too with a great vegan cake selection for people with intollerances.

I really enjoyed my visit to the museum. It was a great way to learn about not only maritime facts such as oil rigs and ships but also Aberdeen history. All the displays were done with great care and the exhibitions were very informative. The view to the port was also splendid and the gift shop selection was nice.

An excellent experience. An easy walk from the Railway Station. This museum is free, but you can donate by card or cash. Very friendly staff and an amazing space over five floors and three buildings. The museum features the maritime history of the area as well as the oil and gas industry. It also features exhibits on occasion. A reasonably priced gift shop featuring local souvenirs. I would visit here if you have an interest in maritime history, but is interesting for those who aren't.

Lovely museum, lovely architecture. The cherry on the cake was the free guided tour tough, offered by knowledgeable and utmost kind Robert who made it special by picking a particular parts and making his lecture around these. Learned a lot and in a very friendly atmosphere, many thanks!!

A visit worth taking while in Aberdeen (or if residing here). Deployed in 4 floors, illustrates the history of Aberdeen shipbuilding and UK offshore drilling off Scotland coast. The abundance of wood all around creates a really cozy environment. Allow >1 hour to tour as it’s really interesting.

Can’t believe this amazing place is free! 😍 I love museums...they always take us back in time and make us feel part of history. The displays, ship models, and harbour views here were just beautiful. 🌊⚓️ The Aberdeen Maritime Museum, located on Shiprow overlooking the harbour, is one of the city’s most fascinating free attractions. It’s housed in a blend of historic and modern buildings, including Provost Ross’s House, which dates back to 1593. The museum beautifully showcases Aberdeen’s deep connection with the sea — from shipbuilding and fishing to the modern North Sea oil and gas industry. One of its main highlights is the impressive 9-metre model of the Murchison oil platform, along with intricate ship models, artefacts, and interactive displays spread across four floors. Visitors can also enjoy stunning views of the harbour from the upper galleries, making it a perfect mix of history, culture, and coastal charm. 🌊⚓️

Lovely area, a good way to undertake the deep history of Aberdeen trading and oil exploration, week preserved pieces of history, kept in good viewing condition, a good place for visitors on sightseeing and exploratory training.

I haven’t been here since I was a kid. Excellent displays presented very well in a fantastic building. Very informative and paints a great picture of Aberdeen’s fascinating fishing and oil industry past. What a way to spend a few hours. I especially loved the gigantic Murchison platform which fills several floors of the building, the working lighthouse mechanism and the models of boats. The view across the harbour is phenomenal!!

Duthie Park Winter Gardens is such a unique and beautiful spot for a wedding! Lush greenery, vibrant blooms, and the most gorgeous natural light—it’s like stepping into a little tropical paradise in the heart of Aberdeen. The atmosphere is so relaxed and romantic, making it the perfect backdrop for capturing love stories. Easily one of my favourite spots to photograph, and it never disappoints!

Peaceful and Beautiful Family Spot Duthie Park is a charming green oasis in Aberdeen—immaculately kept, with lovely flower beds, wide lawns, and serene pathways. The highlight is the breathtaking David Welch Winter Gardens, perfect for a nature escape. Great for family strolls, picnics, or quiet relaxation. Free to visit and easily accessible—highly recommended!

I have never been to Duthie Park despite going to school in Bridge of Don and visiting family in the city over the years. I forgot there is a winter garden and I was impressed by how lovely it was. Enjoyed the cafe too - great coffee and lovely cakes

I absolutely loved the Winter Garden on a cold and grey November Saturday morning. Sadly the talking Cactus had a weekend off but this didn't dull the fun for my 2 young grand daughters. Just a lovely peaceful place to sit in.

Good place to walk, jogging, relax, play arrears, cycling etc etc… Also specially the “Temperature House” bring a huge value the place.

Was great, I was up there when doing the kilt walk an was really nice despite the heavy rain had lovely day an beautiful sites an things to do an close to shops also, ado recommend going if get the chance people were really warm an friendly

Amazingly calm and has it's own charm specially the covered winter garden in it. Feel like lost in the warmth of the nature. Be there with kids, dogs, friends or alone... doesn't matter. It's a lovely place to be. Recommended. Special note - if you aren't aware of it's history then do find out while you are there. 😊🙏🏻👍🏻 ❤️

This is a must see Castle if your in the area. Well maintained by the staff that is friendly and informative. Be mindful that if your mobility is limited that there are several areas of stairs and steps that are irregular and steep. There are also some cobble stone walk ways that might be difficult for some. Loved our visit here and the views are spectacular.

This place is beautiful. I did not go inside as had other prior commitments. If you go give yourself several hours to explore as wonderful trails on cliffs and several stairs to get to castle. A must see if in Scotland!!

Dunnottar Castle is honestly one of the most breathtaking places in Scotland. Perched high on the cliffs above the North Sea, it feels like stepping straight into history. The ruins are full of atmosphere, and the views from every angle are just stunning. The walk down and back up can be a bit steep, but totally worth it for the experience. It’s usually peaceful early in the morning, and watching the waves crash below the castle walls is something you’ll never forget. A must-visit near Stonehaven!

An impressive place. Unfortunately, in winter the castle is only open from 10:00 to 15:00. But even from the outside the surrounding landscapes and the castle itself look fantastic. There is a waterfall and caves nearby. On the coast, if you are lucky you can see seals. Although we were not lucky. I recommend taking the coastal path to the nearest town Stonehaven. You will get an unforgettable experience.

Wonderful castle ruins overlooking the sea! The walk down to the castle is easy however there are quite a few stairs leading up to the entrance. Ticketing was easy and clear directions on the route you should take to see everything. We also hiked along the beach and took a small trail which wrapped back around to the castle. Lovely shots along the way.

Very well kept castle and quite a lot to see and on a large site. A lot bigger than expected with lots to read and some great history and story’s to catch up on. Could be a bit exposed on a wet day. Toilets on site and well worth the £13 entrance fee. Well worth a visit.

Magical place with amazing views. If you like ruins and nature this is the right place to visit. Loved everything. It felt like a Game of Thrones setting.

Fantastic views all around and thousands of sea birds. Nice easy walks, just be careful especially if you have kids with you as the cliffs are very high. We went looking for puffins and managed to spot the one only in a mass of other birds😂. A bird watches paradise for sure! The parking is very limited with only about 12 spaces but cars arrive and leave pretty regularly so be patient and you will get a space.

It is a beautiful location with numerous cliffs and abundant wildlife. We were fortunate enough to observe hares, birds, and other creatures. However, the cliffs can be hazardous, so please exercise caution and maintain a safe distance.

Simply breathtaking! I've never seen so many birds before, and I'm a keen birdwatcher. There were thousands of razorbills, guillemots, and black legged kittiwakes on the cliffs. You need a head for hights to visit here, though. My daughter had to turn back as it was too scary for her. I would also recommend keeping children very close.

We visited late in the year last year and although the walk was stunning with the dramatic coastal views we were keen to return to see some puffins. Returned again in June and today we saw around 10 puffins among the other sea birds. A really beautiful walk.

It was a warm, sunny day and we would have been satisfied with the clifftop walk, sea views and the great variety of seabirds alone. But we got to see a pod of dolphins up close, backflipping and chasing the swimming birds and at least 5 puffins pretty close to the start of the puffin trail! It was an incredible afternoon!

Great place to visit. Beautiful cliffs, perfect for birds watchers. Also very often puffins can be seen. We missed them though.

Really fantastic!! It's one of the main locations in all of Britain to observe (see) seagulls and multiple other birds nesting and mating. By the thousands. It's very powerful. There's are also occasionally rabbits and other animals. The location is quite remote, but not n my mind quite worth visiting. While there, you should visit Dunnattar Castle a bit to the North. Enjoy:)

Dramatic course played through, over and around the dunes. Not sure about the dog leg par 3 on the back 9, but the course lived upto expectations. Immense !!

Cruden Bay is a course that captures the soul of Scottish links golf. Set against a backdrop of dunes, cliffs, and the North Sea, it's visually stunning and architecturally fascinating. The routing is quirky in the best way—blind shots, dramatic elevation changes, and holes that feel like no others in the world. The front nine weaves through dunes with character and charm, while the back nine opens up to sweeping coastal views and bold design. Highlights include the short par-4 14th and the rollercoaster par-3 15th. It's not a long course by modern standards, but it challenges every club in your bag and every bit of imagination you have. Cruden Bay is golf as it once was—raw, natural, emotional. It's the kind of course that makes you smile, even when you’re struggling with your game. A truly unforgettable walk and one of the most character-rich rounds you can play in Scotland.

Great Scottish links course, the staff is very friendly and the caddy we had was very good and knowledgeable of the course. The last few holes are a little bit tricky, but overall the course is in great shape and there are some great views from the course. This course is a great one for your bucket list! ⛳️😎

What. A. Course! Difficult to find any negatives. Friendly staff, reasonable compared to other quality courses in the area, difficult but fun, immaculate with insane views. If I was religious, this is what heaven would look like……

This is one of the best courses I have ever played. It's a real challenge but out of this world. Food was really very good. Staff are some of the friendliest people I have come across. The whole experience was top notch. I will definitely be back.

Outstanding, amazing views, great course, so much fun. A must for anyone doing an east coast Scotland golf trip.

Cruden Bay should be on every golfer's bucket list. From the first sight past the clubhouse to the excellent tees, fairways and greens and views from the tees, it's just sublime (maybe less so if the weather is unkind 🙂). The clubhouse is top-notch too, lovely staff and great food! 🤔 I need to visit more often.