Aberdeenshire. Aberdeenshire guide

Aberdeenshire strongman Donald Dinnie won thousands of sporting contests around the world, becoming known as “The Greatest Athlete of the 19th century.”

Since 1845, St Cyrus Church has given dowries to the tallest, shortest, oldest and youngest brides each year as stipulated in the will of John Orr.

Every Hogmanay, the people of Stonehaven celebrate with dozens of locals swinging fireballs down the main street before launching them into the harbour.

The coldest ever UK temperature of -27.2C was recorded at Braemar in 1982.

Bram Stoker gained inspiration for Dracula while staying in Cruden Bay. At the centre of the ruined New Slains Castle stands a unique octagonal room, just as described in the novel.

Aberdeen is known as the Granite City and Marischal College is the second-largest granite building in the world.

The earliest surviving form of written Gaelic in Scotland is found within the 10th-century Book of Deer, most likely written at a religious community preceding Deer Abbey.

Aberdeenshire is the only region that contains recumbent stone circles. They are unique in that one enormous stone, usually larger than the others, lies horizontally on the ground and is flanked by two pillars.

The 13th century Brig of Balgownie is believed to be Scotland’s oldest bridge. It’s said to be cursed to fall the day that an only son on a horse which is an only foal crosses it.

During World War II, Haddo House was used as a maternity hospital seeing 1259 “Haddo Babies” born there.

Aberdeenshire is known as Castle Country, with more per acre than anywhere else in the British Isles.

The Highland Games are said to have originated in Braemar after King Malcolm III ordered men to race up Craig Choinnich in the 11th century so he could find the fastest messenger.

The 2nd Earl of Fife was so obsessed with proving his ancient heritage that he stole the old grave effigy of Provost Douglas from Banff, fitted it to the back of his new mausoleum and declared it was the grave of Robert the Bruce.

Legend says that the upper-left quarter of William Wallace is buried in the walls of St Machar’s Cathedral.

Elvis Presley was Scottish or at least had Aberdeenshire roots with his ancestors emigrating to North Carolina from Lonmay in 1745.

In the first flight across the North Sea in 1914, Tryggve Gran took off from Cruden Bay and landed in Norway four hours later. During the crossing, his monoplane suffered temporary engine failure which left him only 15 feet from crashing into the waves.