Aberdeen sits at the start of some wonderful days out in the north east. Royal Deeside runs west from the city, with its castles, pine forests and riverside villages; the coast to the south is lined with dramatic clifftop ruins and fishing harbours; and to the north lie wide, empty beaches and dunes. Aberdeenshire is known as Scotland's castle country, so a castle day from here is almost a given.
Every day is worked out stop by stop, with the drive between each place, where to stop for lunch, and what to book before you go, from castle tours to tearooms. The city itself is worth a day too, with its granite streets, busy harbour and long beach promenade. Choose a day that catches your eye, set off after breakfast, and you'll be home in time for dinner.
Your best match · In AberdeenA day in Aberdeen: the granite centre, Marischal College to the harbourA day on foot.See the day
In AberdeenAberdeen Art Gallery and afternoon tea at CupOn foot, about three hours
In AberdeenA harbour and dolphin cruise from AberdeenBy car, about three hours
In AberdeenUnion Terrace Gardens, the Art Gallery and the Maritime MuseumOn foot, about five hours
In AberdeenAberdeen Science Centre on a wet dayBy car, about three hours
In AberdeenAberdeen's street art: the Nuart walls, and who painted themA day on foot, about 4 miles
In AberdeenAberdeen beach with the dog and lunch at Cafe AhoyOn foot, about two and a half hours
In AberdeenFootdee at the harbour mouth and supper at the Silver DarlingOn foot, about three and a half hours
In AberdeenA seaside sauna on Aberdeen beach at FootdeeOn foot, about three hours
In AberdeenFootdee, the harbour mouth and Girdle Ness: the dolphins at the Torry Battery and the lighthouseA day on foot, about 4 miles
In AberdeenWalking Tour of AberdeenA day on foot, about 7 milesMembers
In AberdeenThe Old Aberdeen heritage trail walk to the Brig o' BalgownieBy car, about two hours, then about 35 minutes to walk back
In AberdeenThe Brig o' Balgownie and a pint at the St Machar BarBy bus and on foot, about three hours
In AberdeenDolphins at the Torry BatteryBy car, about two hours
In AberdeenSt Machar's Cathedral and the Cruickshank Botanic GardenOn foot, about three hours
In AberdeenThe Gordon Highlanders Museum and lunch in its caféBy car, about three hours
In AberdeenBreakfast at Figment and Johnston GardensOn foot, about two hours
About 4 miles awayA spa day at Ardoe House by the DeeBy car, about four hours
About 5 miles awayThe Gairn Hill Trail walk in Countesswells ForestBy car, about an hour and a half
About 6 miles awayA walk up to the Tappie Tower in Kirkhill ForestBy car, about three hours
About 6 miles awayWynford Farm Park's animalsBy car, about four hours
About 7 miles awayA picnic at Balmedie Country ParkBy car, about two hours
About 7 miles awayBalmedie beach and play park, and lunch at the Cock and BullBy car, about three hours
About 10 miles awayCastle Hunting in AberdeenshireA day by car, about 43 miles
About 10 miles awayLittle Oaks at Drum Castle and lunch at the Mains of DrumBy car, about three hours
About 12 miles awayThe Buchan coast: Newburgh's seals, Collieston, Slains Castle and the Bullers of BuchanA day by car, about 57 miles
About 12 miles awayNewburgh's seals and lunch at TrellisBy car, about two and a half hours
About 12 miles awayNewburgh seals walk round the Ythan mouthBy car, about an hour and a half
About 14 miles awayAberdeen to Stonehaven and Dunnottar: by train and the cliff pathA day by train and on foot, about 4 miles
About 14 miles awayThe gardens of the north-eastA day by car, about 67 miles
About 14 miles awayA Deeside train ride, the Crathes play park and lunchBy car, about three hours
About 14 miles awayThe walled garden at Crathes and lunch at Café 1702By car, about two and a half hours
About 14 miles awayCrathes Castle and lunch at Café 1702By car, about three hours
About 15 miles awayA picnic in Dunnottar Woods at StonehavenBy car, about an hour and a half
About 15 miles awayA walk in Dunnottar Woods to the Shell HouseBy car, about an hour and a half
About 16 miles awayBanchory and Scolty: Falls of Feugh and Milton of CrathesA day by car, about 10 miles
About 17 miles awayThe Falls of Feugh and an ice cream in BanchoryBy car, about an hour and a half
About 17 miles awayCrawton waterfall and lunch at the Ship Inn in StonehavenBy car, about three hours
About 17 miles awayA picnic in Scolty Forest at BanchoryBy car, about an hour and a half
About 18 miles awayThe Colony Trail walk at BennachieBy car, about two hours
About 18 miles awayParadise Wood by the Don, and lunch at Café 83 in KemnayBy car, about three hours
About 18 miles awayThe Mither Tap of BennachieBy car, about three hours
About 18 miles awayHaddo Country Park with the children, and lunch at Mrs Smith'sOn foot, about three hours
About 18 miles awayCatterline Bay's rock pools, and fish and chips at the BayBy car, about two and a half hours
About 18 miles awayRound Cairn William in Pitfichie ForestBy car, about eight hours
About 18 miles awayThe stone circles of Aberdeenshire: four recumbent circles and CullerlieA day by car, about 98 miles
About 19 miles awayA walk up Millstone Hill on BennachieBy car, about three hours
About 21 miles awayA walk up Oxen Craig, Bennachie's highest topBy car, about four and a half hours
About 22 miles awayPotarch: the café, the Dinnie Stones and the Deeside WayA day on foot, about 2 miles
About 22 miles awayFinzean and Glen Dye: Clachnaben, Cairn o' Mount, farm shopA day by car, about 34 miles
About 22 miles awayThe Bullers of Buchan's seabird cliffsBy car, about two and a half hours
About 23 miles awayFyvie Castle and Haddo HouseBy car, about six hours
About 23 miles awayA walk round the Craigievar Castle estateBy car, an hour to an hour and a half
About 23 miles awayA picnic at Haughton Country Park in AlfordBy car, about two hours
About 24 miles awayA walk up the Hill of Dunnideer at InschBy car, about half an hour, or two hours by the longer circuit
About 26 miles awayA picnic at Aden Country ParkBy car, about two hours
About 26 miles awayThe play area and the ducks at Aden Country ParkBy car, about three hours
About 26 miles awayAboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore LochA day on foot, about 4 miles
About 26 miles awayAboyne Green and a pint at the Boat InnOn foot, about two hours
About 28 miles awayA picnic watching the gliders at AboyneBy car, about an hour and a half
About 29 miles awayGlen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch CaféBy car, about three hours
About 29 miles awayA walk through the old pines of Glen TanarBy car, about two and a half hours
About 29 miles awaySt Cyrus beach and cliffs walkBy car, two to three hours
About 31 miles awayThe Blue Door walk to the Rocks of Solitude at EdzellBy car, about two hours
About 31 miles awayKildrummy Castle and lunch at the Kildrummy InnBy car, about three hours
About 31 miles awayTarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoomA day by car, about 27 miles
About 32 miles awayA walk up Tap o' Noth and the Rhynie stonesBy car, about three hours
About 32 miles awayEdzell Castle's walled garden and lunch at Sinclair's LarderBy car, about three and a half hours
About 32 miles awayLoch Kinord walk to the Kinord CrossBy car, about an hour and a half
About 32 miles awayLoch Kinord and pizza at Kite in DinnetBy car, about three hours
About 32 miles awayMontrose Air Station Museum and lunch at Roo's LeapBy car, about four hours
About 33 miles awayA picnic by the Cambus o' May bridgeBy car, about two hours
About 33 miles awayHuntly Castle and River Deveron walkBy car, about an hour
About 33 miles awayA walk to Rattray Head lighthouseBy car, about an hour
About 34 miles awayCambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty'sBy car, about two and a half hours
About 34 miles awayThe geese at Montrose BasinBy car, about three hours
About 35 miles awayA walk to the Queen's Well in Glen MarkBy car, about two and a half hours
About 35 miles awayA walk to Loch Lee and Invermark Castle in Glen EskBy car, about two and a half hours, or four and a half with the whole loch
About 35 miles awayA walk up the White and Brown CaterthunsBy car, about an hour and a half
About 35 miles awayA tour at Glencadam Distillery and Brechin's round towerOn foot, about four hours
About 36 miles away1 day in Royal DeesideA day by car, about 36 milesMembers
About 36 miles awayBallater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral ArmsOn foot, about two and a half hours
About 36 miles awayA wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch LeargOn foot, about three hours
About 36 miles awayUp Craigendarroch, above BallaterOn foot, about three hours
About 36 miles awayThe Seven Bridges walk at BallaterBy car, about four and a half hours
About 36 miles awayThe Mackenzie Memorial walk at BallaterBy car, about two hours
About 37 miles awayThe Bunzeach Trail walk at StrathdonBy car, about two and a half hoursNot every day out needs to be a big one. A castle and a café, a walk and lunch, a museum when it rains: one place, somewhere good to eat close by, and the time between worked out.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours with lunch.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By Subway and train and on foot, about five hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By boat and on foot, about four hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bus and on foot, about five hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By train and on foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By tram and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about four and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about five and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By bike, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three hours with Nardini's.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By Subway and on foot, about four hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about five hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By train and on foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.
By car, about two hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about four hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about four hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about two and a half hours.

On foot, about an hour and a half.

By car, about four hours.

On foot, about three and a half hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

By car, about six hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about two hours.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours.

On foot, about three hours, with lunch.

By car, about an hour and a half.

On foot, about two hours.

On foot, about three hours.

By car, about three hours.

By car, about four hours.
Days out within an hour of where you are staying, nearest first.
Our writers’ own days out, from the places they know best.

A day by car, about 26 miles.

A day by car, about 110 miles.
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A few hours by car.
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A day by car, about 58 miles.
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A day on foot, about 3 miles.
The people we have met along the way, the makers, owners and writers, on the places they love most, in their own words.

“…stroll up to The Birks of Aberfeldy from The Memorial Arch, soaking up the woods and waterfalls that once inspired Rabbie Burns.”
Zanna Wilson, artist and gallerist who runs The Watermill Gallery in Aberfeldy, Perthshire

“My absolute favourite café with the best coffee in town.”
Lorna Freytag, artist and illustrator based in Oban, with a studio overlooking Oban Bay

“The best veggie and vegan breakfast around. Epic cakes and great coffee.”
Shelley Richmond, freelance photographer and creative based in Dervaig, Isle of Mull, who publishes The Isle of Mull Journal

“The breakfasts here are incredible.”
Karen Harvey, owner of Hoos and InHoos, two homeware shops on Great Western Road in Glasgow's West End

“We particularly love doing sections of the Fife Coastal Path, especially through the East Neuk villages of Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie.”
Joy and Nick, own Airdit, a woodland treehouse stay above St Andrews, Fife

“A visit to the Falls of Foyers is a must.”
Anna Low, co-owns and runs Foyers Lodge, a small boutique hotel overlooking Loch Ness

“I’m a big fan of the Isle of Raasay Distillery.”
Katy Fennema, whisky Ambassador at the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, and runs Braemar Highland Experience with her husband Julian

“…amazing panoramas all the way up to the Old Man of Storr.”
Calum Gillies and Leonie, artist Calum Gillies and his wife Leonie run The Exchange, a gallery and coffee spot in the old telephone exchange at Clachan, Isle of Raasay

“The Nethy House Café is a regular spot for lunch or coffee.”
Sarah and Phil, run The Lazy Duck, an off-grid eco-holiday site with cabins, a bunkhouse and a campsite in Nethybridge, Cairngorms National Park

“I would definitely recommend Arthur’s seat in Holyrood Park.”
Kirsty Campbell, knitwear designer from Banchory, Deeside, behind RYVOAN, who knits in her Edinburgh studio

“…the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Fairy Pools etc are all incredible natural wonders to see.”
Jennifer Pearson, jewellery designer and founder of ÒR, two creative retail stores in Portree, Isle of Skye

“Exploring the incredible beaches of Oldshoremore, Polin, Achmelvich, Sandwood Bay all within 30-40 minutes drive, all with their unique character.”
Catherine Sinclair, textile designer behind Cove*, who also runs Kylesku Lodges on the north-west coast

“Both are incredible ruined castles on the coastal cliffs and have such interesting history alongside spectacular views.”
Laura (Fernweh), designer and maker of waxed-canvas bags and accessories at Fernweh UK, with a studio at Deemouth Artist Studios in Aberdeen

“Leith hall, Drum Castle and Crathes Castle gardens are all personal favourites.”
Hollie Berries, sustainable florist running Hollie Berries Flower Studio and Cutting Garden in Aberdeenshire

“Blackford Hill is my very favourite spot in Edinburgh.”
Emily Hogarth, papercut artist and illustrator who lives in East Lothian and works for Edinburgh clients, including Hidden Scotland's folklore illustrations

“…head down to the Harbour for Lobster & chips at either ‘The Rocketeer’ or ‘The Lobster Shack’.”
Stephanie Lothian, co-owns The Barn at Williamstone Farm Steadings, a holiday cottage in North Berwick
Two days and more: the days joined up, with somewhere to sleep between.








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Every day out has a Customise button: give it your own name and date, say where you are staying, move or drop a stop, and keep it in your account to share with whoever is coming.