A Photographer's Adventure to Aberdeen

Gabby @scotlandmagic ·September 22, 2023Reading time: 5 minutes

We asked Aussie photographer Gabby to share her recent trip to Aberdeenshire with us and take some fab pictures along the way. Gabby is a Scotland-based photographer who prides herself on showcasing the best of Scotland, whilst encouraging responsible tourism and a love for the land she calls her ‘soul home.’ You’ll find her on Instagram and Tiktok @scotlandmagic, sharing hidden gems, travel tips and more.

A Poetic Return

By Gabby Secomb Flegg

As a seasoned traveller in Scotland I've experienced my fair share of city breaks! I love a good restaurant or cafe, experiencing new places to stay and integrating myself into a space so I can share it with you, dear reader!

So it was such a delight to return to Aberdeen and its gorgeous surroundings this month to experience a road trip I have actually taken once before. It felt quite poetic to return to Aberdeen & Dunnottar castle as it was the first ever self-guided road trip I took when I relocated, so I’m thrilled to take you along for the journey that was my City+ Adventure to Aberdeen and beyond.

The Road to Aberdeen

On a sunny weekday in Scotland I took to the road with my pal Hannah and began our adventure to Aberdeen. Located an easy 2.5 hour drive from Edinburgh, it wasn’t long until we arrived at the Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, threw our bags down and took to the streets to see what the city had to offer.

A visit to Tipplings was on the cards, a bar and restaurant that offers small plates and delightful cocktails sure to tantalize any taste buds. We ordered the poutine, chicken tagine, gnocchi and finished the meal off with a yuzu posset and of course, a wee nightcap! I can highly recommend the old fashions here, in fact I can highly recommend the entire restaurant! The staff were knowledgeable, friendly and had a few fabulous recommendations themselves.

Right next to our hotel on the Shipyards there were a few food stalls and various pubs and restaurants we would have also loved to have eaten at, but full bellies and weary eyes drew us back in doors for a restful sleep at our hotel.

The Castle is Calling

Coffee at Parx cafe — Coffee at Parx Cafe
© Scotlandmagic

We awoke to another glorious day in Aberdeen, the sun was shining and a freshness to the air beckoned us out of a cosy sleep and got us back on the road en route to Dunnottar Castle. But first - breakfast.

We took ourselves a wee bit further into town to visit a recommended cafe called Parx. The beautiful interiors were an added bonus to a sensational breakfast of pancakes with bacon (you’ve gotta carb load if you plan on exploring castles all day)! Parx Cafe source their sourdough from a local baker and they make a variety of their baked goods on site. I consider myself quite the coffee snob and loved my oat milk cappuccino from this fabulous establishment.

Once again, the staff here were so friendly and are giving Aberdeen a great reputation for wonderful hospitality. But alas, we cannot sit around to eat baked goods & chat with locals all day - the castle is calling!

A short drive to the coast landed us at Dunnottar Castle, a medieval fortress perched on the seaside that stops you in your tracks when you first lay your eyes on it. The castle walls were aglow with the beautiful sunlight beaming down on it and the rocky shore below. Waves lap against the stone and help you cast your imagination back to a time where people went about their daily lives here.

I highly recommend walking to the right-hand side view point before heading inside the castle, this helps give an idea of its sheer size and tactical location, it’s not hard to see why it was such a great spot to place a fortress.

A climb down some stairs and across the fields gained us entry inside Dunnottar Castle and we were handed a small map to help guide us around the space. When we entered the actual castle walls, I couldn’t help but feel transported back all those years ago, walking the same steps and footpaths that residents and travellers would have passed through.

The tower, chapel, open grounds and surrounds need to be seen to be believed, Dunnottar Castle is truly spectacular. We enjoyed the better half of 2 hours exploring the castle and its grounds, admiring the stonework and how so much of it has stood the test of time. We were blessed with a sunny day so we could admire the surrounding coastline for miles away and felt truly connected to the space and time we’d stepped back into.

That's a Wrap

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It was truly a magical escape that I’d highly recommend anyone take...

A short and sweet trip, but one to be remembered nevertheless! Not only were we blessed with great weather, food, drink and one of the most iconic castles in Scotland, but the drive between our locations was also a huge takeaway of this adventure. The rolling hills of the countryside, the colours that dash across the fields, the abundance in wildlife, rivers and foliage - it was truly a magical escape that I’d highly recommend anyone take.

Now, it’s time to get planning your own trip to Aberdeen and beyond!

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