Video Guide to Grampian

Discovering Aberdeen and Grampian will take you on a fascinating trip into the past - and give you a vision of the future too! With rugged castles and dramatic coastlines to visit as well as state of the art science and technology centres, you'll never be short of things to see and do. It's more a case of choosing what you want to do first!

Aberdeen Art Gallery has been described as one of the top 10 attractions in Scotland. Take some time to explore the superb collections spanning three centuries. Or perhaps you would like to visit Balmoral Castle, where the British Royal family spends their holidays. During the winter, the Lecht ski centre offers fantastic skiing in the most remote of Scotland's ski areas. With twenty runs to choose from including beginners slopes and a Snowboard Fun Park, you'll find it hard to believe that Aberdeen is only a couple of hours drive away.

It's not hard to see why Aberdeen and Grampian have a reputation for offering fantastic quality of life along with great career opportunities. Queen Victoria loved this place and visited many sites - so many there's a trail named after her. And this tradition has continued, with the Royal Family taking up regular residence at Balmoral Castle, on the North Desside route. So follow in the footsteps of royalty and explore this wonderful area to the full.

The Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board offers you invaluable assistance and ideas to ensure you truly memorable experiences. www.agtb.org

If sports are your thing, where better to spend a Saturday afternoon than Pittodrie Stadium, home to Aberdeen Football Club, watching Scottish football at its best. The club has been in existence for 100 years - and was the first all-seater stadium in Scotland.

And with more than 52 golf courses in the area, you can pretty much choose a different course for every week of the year - if you have the energy and dedication!

A wide range of excellent indoor and outdoor leisure centres means you can take up a challenging new sport - either as a participant or a spectator - or simply relax and spend some time with your family.

• skiing and snowsports at the Lecht and Cairngorm
  - less than 90 minutes drive from Aberdeen
• fishing and watersports
• swimming pools and leisure centres
• ice rinks
• bowling
• football
• tennis

The Aberdeenshire Council website details the leisure facilities in the region at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk There are many special activities for children including supervised sporting activities and a wide range of clubs. Contact your local leisure centre or community centre for more details. You can also find information about private health and fitness clubs in your Yellow Pages directory.

While living in Aberdeen and the Grampians, your family will have access not only to first-rate educational facilities but a whole host of attractions and facilities that mean you need never have a dull weekend again!

You can choose from the best of city entertainment such as funfairs and museums or head for the country and enjoy pony-trekking or skiing in some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery.

With so many activities and attractions right on your doorstep, you can spend your weekends relaxing in exactly the way you want - and enjoy a whole new quality of life with your family.

Here are just a few ideas for outings with your family - there are many, many more!

Conoco Natural History Centre
Environmental education centre with lots to see and do.
Tel: 01224 493288
www.abdn.ac.uk

Archaeolink
Travel back in time at this all-day all-weather visitor attraction and experience prehistoric Grampian.
Tel: 01464 851500
www.archaeolink.co.uk

Storybook Glen and Dingle Dell
A spectacular family theme park with all your favourite nursery rhyme characters.
Tel: 01224 732941
www.storybookglenaberdeen.co.uk

Codonas
Amusement park, indoor family entertainment, bars and restaurants at Aberdeen Fun Beach.
Tel: 01224 595910
www.codonas.com

As Scotland's third largest city, Aberdeen is buzzing with activity all year round. Regular arts and science festivals, great shops and a fantastic choice of bars and restaurants make Aberdeen a city you'll never want to leave! The variety of entertainment reflects the multi-cultural atmosphere of the city - an atmosphere that helps make Aberdeen the kind of city where everyone feels at home.

Shopping

In and around Aberdeen you'll find both large, modern shopping centres and an excellent range of speciality shops and markets offering high quality crafts, local produce, outdoor clothing and footwear, fashion and antiques.

You can access information on a large variety of shopping outlets in Aberdeen and Grampian using the Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board Site www.agtb.org

Pubs, bars and restaurants

There is plenty of choice when it comes to eating out and socialising in Aberdeen. The multi-cultural nature of Aberdeen is reflected in a wide variety of culinary styles and themed public houses. You can choose anything from a traditional Scottish family meal in a quiet country pub to a night of live music and entertainment in one of the many music bars and clubs in the area. For a full listing of places to eat and drink in Aberdeen, and a guide to live music events, see www.webcafe.co.uk or check your Yellow Pages.

Aberdeen has a world-wide reputation for promoting high quality arts and music events all year round. Choose from a variety of museums, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, music venues and local night spots. At certain times of the year, Aberdeen plays host to a number of major international festivals including the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, the Aberdeen International Football Festival and the University of Aberdeen Writers Festival. Contact your local tourist information office for more details.

Performance venues

His Majesty's Theatre
Music, ballet, opera, theatre and pantomime with touring productions a regular feature.
Tel: 01224 641122
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Aberdeen Music Hall
One of the venues where you can enjoy the International Youth Festival each year.
Tel: 01224 641122
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre
Regularly hosts large audience events from ice shows to big name concerts.
Tel: 01224 842842
www.aecc.co.uk

The Lemon Tree
Live arts and entertainment and a platform for local talent.
Tel: 01224 642230
www.lemontree.org

Cinemas

The Lighthouse Cinema
Newest cinema in Aberdeen. Central location. Good choice of films.
Tel: 0870 240442
www.lighthouse-cinema.com

The Belmont Cinema
Premier venue for arthouse, foreign, classic and quality mainstream films.
Tel: 01224 343534
www.picturehouse-cinemas.co.uk

UGC Cinema
Multiplex cinema offering a wide range of films and entertainment for all the family.
Tel: 08701 550502
www.ugccinemas.co.uk

Museums and art galleries

Aberdeen Maritime Museum
A fascinating museum that brings the north sea to life.
Tel: 01224 641122
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Provost Skene's House
Dating from 1545, Provost Skene's House is one of Aberdeen's few surviving examples of early burgh architecture.
Tel: 01224 641122
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Aberdeen Art Gallery
Permanent collections of 18th, 19th and 20th century art.
Tel: 01224 641122
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Festivals and events

Throughout the year you'll discover many regular and one-off events in and around Aberdeen. From traditional Highland activities such as fireball swinging in the dark days of winter in Stonehaven to large-scale international football events, you can plan a varied calendar of events from January to December! Check with your local Tourist Information Office for full details.

Some regular events in and around Aberdeen include:

April
Aberdeen Highland Dance Festival
Aberdeen

May
Royal Deeside Golf Week
Ballater

June
Taste of Grampian Food Festival
Inverurie

July
Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
Portsoy

July
Aberdeen International Football Festival
Aberdeen

September
Braemar Gathering
Braemar

December
Stonehaven Fireball Festival
Stonehaven

Aberdeen and the Grampian Highlands are famous for many reasons. Important discoveries, a high standard of living and technical expertise are only some of the areas great assets. But high on the list are two things that give the area its unique character: castles and whisky.

It's impossible to discover Aberdeen and the Grampians without coming across an elegant castle, a whiff of malt on the breeze or a stunning garden. Listed here are two itineraries you can try that will take you on an unforgettable tour of some of the best attractions that this beautiful part of the country has to offer.

And once you've experienced the sights of Aberdeen and Grampian why not venture further afield? Take the opportunity to see some of the splendours of Scotland - the Edinburgh Festival, Loch Ness, Glencoe, Skara Brae in Orkney and the peaceful islands of the Hebrides…See www.visitscotland.com for details on some of Scotland's best known - and some of the best hidden - attractions.

Castle Trail

Follow well-signposted routes and step back in time to experience the fairy tale magic of some of Scotland's most famous castles and grand country houses.

Start your day by exploring Tolquhon Castle. Now a ruin, this ancient castle has its origins in the 15th century when the Preston Tower was built. In 1420, the Tower was passed to the Forbes family and after this date, William Forbes, the seventh laird, added a large quadrangular mansion. His stately tomb at the parish church of Tarves is known as the Tolquhon Aisle and is situated in the church yard. For opening times, telephone: 01651 851286

Stop for lunch amidst the magnificent surroundings of Haddo House. The house stands on the grounds of an ancient castle and is steeped in history of the great Gordon family. Although grand and luxurious it still has a very 'homely' feel and is surrounded by a beautiful rose garden, lawns and country park, shop, plant sales, tearoom, play area and events. Telephone 01651 851440 for opening times which vary throughout the year. www.nts.org.uk

Spend your afternoon among the glorious ruins of Huntly Castle, also known as Strathbogie Castle, on the banks of the River Deveron. It is in itself a history lesson in the development of the Scottish castle from the earliest Norman fortress to the palace of the 17th century. Discover the remains of a 12th century motte and bailey, a medieval l-plan tower house and defence earthworks of the Civil War. Open Aril - September 0930-1830. Limited opening from October to March. Tel: 01466 793191 www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

End your day at Crathes Castle, The castle, built in the second half of the 16th century, is a superb example of a tower house of the period. Some of the rooms retain their original painted ceilings and collections of family portraits and furniture.

A visit to this property is enhanced by the 1.5 ha (3.75 a) of walled garden, which incorporates herbaceous borders and many unusual plants. The garden provides a wonderful display at all times of the year. The great yew hedges, fascinating examples of the art of topiary, date from as early as 1702.

Explore the estate on the seven waymarked trails (including one suitable for wheelchairs) that lead through the mixed woodlands, along the Coy Burn and past the millpond. In the Visitor Centre a new exhibition, A Walk on the Wild Side, explores the wildlife on the Crathes Estate.

Telephone 01330 844525 for opening times.

Malt Whisky Trail

Experience the world's only malt whisky trail. Sign-posted routes make your journey easy. For maps and more information on the different distilleries, log on to www.maltwhiskytrail.com

Start your tour in Keith by visiting the beautiful Strathisla Distillery, home of Chivas Regal. The distinctive pagodas, cobbled courtyard and old stone buildings make the Distillery one of the most charming in Scotland. It's certainly the oldest working one in the Highlands, being built way back in 1786 and still going strong. The Strathisla Distillery was built near to the ancient Fons Bulliens well (translated means "bubbling spring") that dates back to the Dominican monks of the 12th century. This pure spring well is the source of the clear, fresh water used in the making of Strathisla, the single malt Scotch whisky. Enjoy the un-hurried pace of the self-guided tour, discover the art of the blender before sipping a superb dram in luxurious comfort. Coffee and shortbread, souvenir guide book, tutored whisky nosing, gift shop.
Tel: 01542 783044 www.chivas.com

On to the Speyside Cooperage. This multi award-winning working cooperage has a unique visitor centre where you can see our highly skilled coopers and apprentices practising their ancient craft. Each year the cooperage repairs around 100,000 oak casks which will be used to mature many different whiskies. Exhibition and audio-visual (6 languages), viewing gallery, gift shop, tastings and refreshments available from March to September. All weather picnic facilities.
Tel: 01340 871108 www.speysidecooperage.co.uk

Next, visit Dufftown and the Glenfiddich Distillery. William Grant & Sons Ltd is one of the very few Scotch whisky companies to remain in the hands of the family who founded it. Glenfiddich® is the only Highland single malt to be distilled, matured and bottled at its own distillery. Found in homes and bars around the globe, Glenfiddich is the world's favourite single malt Scotch whisky. Free guided tours, distillery film in six languages, exclusive Gift Shop, large car park, outdoor picnic tables.
Tel: 01340 820373
www.glenfiddich.com

End the day with a visit to the wild and lonely setting of The Glenlivet Distillery in the spectacular scenery of Tomintoul. Established in 1824 by George Smith, it is the home of the world famous Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and vast bonded warehouse where the famous spirit matures to a whisky of infinite subtlety and grace and of course sample a complimentary dram of The Glenlivet. Exhibition and interactive presentation. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the coffee shop and choose a momento of your trip from the gift shop. www.maltwhiskytrail.com

To get you started, here are some books that will give you a good introduction to some aspects of the culture, history and environment of Aberdeen and Scotland. These books can be purchased online at www.amazon.co.uk or at a good local bookshop.

• The Rough Guide to Scotland by Donald Reid and Rob Humphreys
• Lonely Planet: Scotland (Travel Guides) by Neil Wilson and Graeme Cornwallis
• Scotland: the Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson
• Scotland the Best! by Peter Irvine
• Aberdeen and Royal Deeside Walks (Pathfinder Guide) by Brian Conduit
• Aberdeen, 1800-2000: A New History ed. W. Hamish Fraser