DAY 20 - ABERDEEN

Day 20 - Aberdeen - 27 September 2024

Well Aberdeen is the coldest place that we have visited so far.  We woke to a temperature of 5 degrees but there was no wind and so it was easy to stay warm.  The Holiday Inn is to the west of the CBD and is so good.  The rooms are very spacious and the restaurant is really good. 

We decided to have a look around Aberdeen.  So many buildings have been constructed using a local, grey granite which gives some areas a sombre tone. However, because granite is so hard, the buildings look pristine. We did not get any photographs but this one from the internet gives an example.

Grey buildings (from internet)

We headed towards the CBD and eventually found a shopping centre car park. That gave us an opportunity to buy a few essentials.

There is a stunning building that was part of the University of Aberdeen but is now leased to the City Council. There is no access inside.  It is constructed with the local granite and I thought that it must have been an amazing place for students to learn. 

What an amazing building

We could not look at the interior but I am confident that it would have been even more spectacular than the exterior. As you may be able to tell from the photograph, it was still sprinkling with rain.

We could not look at the interior, but I am confident that it would have been even more spectacular than the exterior. As you may be able to tell from the photograph, it was still sprinkling with rain.

We then dropped into the Visitor Information Centre. They told us about castles, ruins and various places to walk.  We particularly wanted to experience walking through a forest in autumn which is something that is not possible in Queensland.  Cairngorm National Park is close by and so that immediately went on our list.

They told us Stonehaven and the coast line to the south is beautiful. Just south of Stonehaven is Dunnottar Castle which he said is unique.  It is ruins but the location and details of the castle are unparallelled.  Then he said that the best finish and chips in the area are from a very small shop called The Bay which is just north of the castle.  We decided that we could not leave this part of Scotland without tasting the best fish and chips.

We headed south and found that the coast, whilst very different from what we know, is beautiful.  We found The Bay and ordered fish and chips.  The queue was very long, and they seem to be quite expensive, however, they were great.

The beach at Stonehaven

Just as we were finishing the last few chips, down came a shower of rain. It is quite strange, because just before the rain, the wind seems to increase and the temperature seems to plummet.  Anyway, the car was close and we were able to reach it before getting wet.

Another short drive to the castle. By that time, the rain had stopped.  We walked along the track to the edge of the mainland.  The castle is on a rocky outcrop.  Dunnotar Castle is thought to have been built in the fifth century.  Apparently, it was attacked many times and changed hands between Scottish and English on many occasions. In 1297, William Wallce captured it from the English and took 4,000 prisoners, all of whom were killed.  

Access to the castle is down a very steep track and stairs and then another flight of stairs back to the top of the outcrop.  With rain around, we elected to walk around the track to another viewing point.

It seems impenetrable

Dunnottar Castle

From the viewing point, we saw so many birds roosting.  We could wee pigeons in one area and another bird further along the cliff.  Neither tried to land in the other's spot. It was interesting to watch.  

Look at all those pigeons

Then the rain returned and we headed back to Aberdeen.  We decided to look at the Aberdeen beach.  It is really quite a great looking place and I can imagine that it is very popular in the summer.  The sand is fine and the beach is very long.  Groynes have been constructed to catch the sand as the current takes it along the coast. Across the Esplanade, there are lots of shops and food outlets.  It would be a great place to spend some time on a summer's afternoon.  There were very few people there today.

Aberdeen beach