The top 10 most amazing fun facts about Aberdeen
The top 10 most amazing fun facts about Aberdeen
Fun facts about Aberdeen
Scotland’s third largest city is something of a hidden gem. Not generally the first place that might spring to mind when choosing a holiday destination, Aberdeen actually makes a great choice for your UK break or staycation - whatever the weather or season. Scotland has loads to offer holidaymakers and Aberdeen is safe and friendly, and offers visitors year-round activities, loads of attractions and places to visit and a glimpse into the rich history of Scotland – all set in a stunning natural landscape. In one of our holiday apartments in Aberdeen, you can enjoy many of Scotland’s top-rated things to do, and if you love adventures in the great outdoors, there are few better places to stay than Aberdeen. Discover what this gem of a city has to offer as we countdown the top 10 fun facts about Aberdeen.
There are more castles per acre in Aberdeenshire than anywhere in the UK
In fact, by our reckoning, there are 17 that can be reached in around an hour from Aberdeen, from windswept fortresses perched atop craggy cliff edges to blush-hued fairy-tale mansions surrounded by manicured gardens. Visit Scotland has put together a fabulous Castle Trail which will give you all the inspiration you need to become an avid castle bagger! Here are three of our favourites:
Dunnottar Castle – an atmospheric medieval fortress perched above the North Sea.
Slains Castle – these creepy ruins are purported to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Fyvie Castle – with an impressive estate, gardens, its own loch and tea room, this castle makes for a grand day out.
It has lots of stone circles
Dating from between 2700 to 2000 BC, it is still not fully clear what the purpose of stone circles was. They are a fascinating, if mysterious, insight into our ancient past. In fact, history abounds in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire generally. We have evidence of people settling here since the Stone Age and they left their mark on the wild and unforgiving terrain in the form of these stone circles, medieval settlements and, of course, the many castles and fortresses for which the county is especially renowned. Choosing one of our holiday apartments in Aberdeen will give you easy access to explore at least 10 stone circles within an hour’s drive of the city.
Fans of the outdoors will not be disappointed by a short break in Aberdeen
If you love keeping busy and active on holiday, you could not ask for more in Aberdeen. A 90-minute drive from Aberdeen city centre takes you to the Cairngorms National Park where you can explore the breath taking wilderness. This hauntingly beautiful landscape is home to the Balmoral Estate, and if it’s good enough for her Majesty, it’s definitely worth exploring. Holiday apartments in Aberdeen are a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy the best of town and country, whether you enjoy coastal walks, exploring the winding streets of hidden villages, fishing, hiking, cycling, riding, golf, or watersports – Aberdeen in fact has it all! You can also enjoy one of the most scenic train journeys in the UK on the route between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
You can ski here!
Aberdeen is a great choice for an activity-filled break in all seasons. One of the lesser known fun facts about Aberdeen is that it offers visitors the chance to ski! In winter you can reach Aviemore in two hours from Aberdeen. Aviemore is the most famous of the Scottish ski resorts, and is one of your best bets for snow until around March or April. There is also an ice rink and dry ski slope where you can hone your skills all year round.
You can hit the beach too
Standing on the coast of the North Sea, the 165 miles of Aberdeenshire coastline around the city of Aberdeen offers huge swathes of deserted golden sandy beaches, sand dunes and hidden coves. The brisk winds also make it perfect for many watersports including surfing, sailing and kitesurfing; you can also try out diving, paddleboarding and beach fitness as there are various watersports schools where you can arrange equipment hire and tuition.
You can eat a whale
And, if the brisk temperatures of the north sea sound a bit too bracing for you, you could head to Stonehaven open air pool – it’s a sea water pool heated all year round to a pleasant 29oC. Or, from the comfort of one of the many tea rooms, cafes and restaurants that line the Aberdeen Esplanade, you might see dolphins, seals or basking sharks in the sea. And if all that fresh air has given you an appetite, you could consider trying to conquer the Ashvale Whale. As fun facts about Aberdeen go, this one is a whopper! A 1lb Haddock or Cod steak with chips, which has defeated many, but finish The Ashvale Whale by yourself to claim the glorious prize of…another one. Or a free sweet dessert of your choice, if you can manage it!
However you choose to enjoy your break in Aberdeen, at the end of a busy day, head back to your holiday apartment and either relax on the sofa, or get your dancing shoes on and head out to explore the bustling Aberdeen nightlife. There are also a number of great restaurants, including plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Aberdeen.
It has a number of notable alumni
Famous former residents include Lord Byron, Robert Louis Stevenson, Denis Law, Annie Lennox and Emeli Sande. Bram Stoker also visited the area regularly and is said to have been inspired by Slains Castle when writing Dracula.
Aberdeen is home to some of the oldest and most challenging golf courses in the world
When you’ve had your fill of the rugged hinterlands of the Cairngorms, in Aberdeenshire, you are also never far away from a pristine rolling fairway. In one of our holiday apartments in Aberdeen, you are within easy reach of a huge number of world class golf courses.
Fans of the macabre are spoilt for choice in Aberdeenshire
With its wild, windswept coastline, eerie atmospheric lochs and imposing castles, the Scottish highlands lend themselves to scary legends and stories; it’s no surprise that some of the fun facts about Aberdeen have a touch of the dark and deadly about them. William Wallace, Macbeth, and, of course the Loch Ness monster all hail from this neck of the woods, and, coupled with a turbulent and sometimes bloody past, it’s hardly surprising that there are plenty of opportunities in Aberdeen to give yourself a scare and delve into the paranormal or more gruesome sides of Scottish history.
In Aberdeenshire, visiting around Halloween offers a feast of fearsome festivities. Many of the Castles within easy reach of Aberdeen boast resident ghosts and offer spooky tours and activities around this time of year. The Victorian Peterhead Prison also runs after-dark adventures – not for the fainthearted! Check local listings for up to date information.Visiting Aberdeen at Christmas is pretty special too
Visiting Aberdeen at Christmas is pretty special too
Where better to spend the festive season than Scotland? Famous for comfort food and winter warmers, coupled with the famously warm Scottish hospitality and love of a party, it’s no surprise that Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow. While Aberdeen might be a less obvious choice, when its distinctive granite architecture is dusted with snow, it makes for an unforgettable visit. In previous years, Aberdeen has played host to carol concerts, an open air ice rink, artisan food markets, Santa’s Grotto, a festive fairground, reindeer parades and pantomimes. The Christmas Village is where much of the action takes place throughout the season, and at Hogmanay you can dance the night away at the Ceilidh or concert and enjoy a stunning firework display. Fancy a New Year's short break? Read our Ultimate Guide to Hogmanay.
Check local listings for event times and dates.
We hope you’ve enjoyed out countdown of the top fun facts about Aberdeen. To begin your fact checking adventure – view our complete list of holiday apartments in Aberdeen and discover the perfect serviced apartment today.