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Interesting news · 14 July 2025

After 500 Years, Cranes Are Returning to Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire · from news.stv.tv

Photograph · news.stv.tv

After vanishing from Scotland for over 500 years, Eurasian cranes are nesting once again in Aberdeenshire. These tall, elegant birds were once hunted to extinction, but habitat restoration and careful conservation have helped bring them back. Breeding pairs are now being recorded across new sites, including Moray and the Black Isle.

Read it at the sourcenews.stv.tv

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Food & drink · Ballater

Lunch and a Wander in Ballater

The road west follows the River Dee closely now, with woodland and heather rising on either side. It’s about 35 minutes from Milton of Crathes to Ballater…

Tours & experiences · Aberdeen

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

The sixth oldest golf club in the world, founded in 1780, playing the classic Balgownie links among the dunes north of the Don at Bridge of Don.

Cafés · Pennan

Coastal Cuppie

A little coffee shack on the harbour at Pennan, open from April to October for tea, coffee and homemade cakes, cash only, supporting the village.

Cafés · Stonehaven

Aunty Bettys

A family-run ice cream, dessert and sweetie shop on Stonehaven's beachfront, known for its quirky style, loaded toppings and ice cream made with local produce.

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North Lodge and River Cabin

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Faunoran House

A granite house among silver birches, a short walk from the gates of Balmoral.

Stay · Aberdeenshire

No 5 Steading Cottage

A stone steading cottage for seven, with a games room of its own across the yard.

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No 4 Steading Cottage

A stone house for seven in a restored Victorian barn, with a hot tub down a woodland path.

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Aberdeenshire · nature.scot

Record ringing season for terns at Forvie

The season's ringing total, announced on 4 August, includes more than 1,000 Sandwich terns, over 100 Arctic terns, and smaller numbers of common terns and black-headed gulls.