Aberdeen

Explore the history of one of the British Army’s most celebrated regiments, the Gordon Highlanders Infantry, which was raised in the late 18th century. The museum features the finest of the regiment’s treasures, special exhibitions and the chance for children to dress up in a Gordon Highlanders uniform. The museum is surrounded by a beautiful and tranquil park, open to visitors and also hosts a shop and a tea room.

Duthir Park is one of the best loved parks in Aberdeen, housing one of the largest covered gardens in Europe. Exotic plants and flowers from both tropical and arid climates can be admired at the Winter Garden, including Britain's largest collection of cacti. Additionally, just outside the covered gardens there is a lovely Japanese garden that commemorates the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Travelers who have time to leave Aberdeen for a day trip should head out to Castle Fraser. A magnificent building dating back to 1575, featuring historic furnishings, paintings and embroidery, the impressive Great Hall, and a library filled with family books, as well as concert space, parks, woodland walks, a tea room and a children’s adventure playroom.

Fun for all ages, Codona’s offers a raft of rides and attractions worthy of the best amusement parks. There is also an indoor entertainment centre available, Sunset Boulevard, and a games and entertainment area called Miami Beach. Both are open year-round.

Not far from the picturesque Seaton Park stands Brig o'Balgownie, Scotland's oldest bridge. This simple stone landmark has spanned the width of the River Don since the XIII century and was even referenced by Lord Byron, who briefly studied in the area, in his epic poem Don Juan.

The King's College building is emblematic of the University of Aberdeen, with its iconic 17th-century tower that features a stone replica of Charlemagne's crown at its top. Founded in the late 15th century, the historic university building is a major draw for tourists, and self-guided tours are available on the website.

Aberdeen Art Gallery has comprehensive collections with works from the 17th-20th centuries. Both Scottish and international artists are represented, including famous impressionists like Monet and Renoir, as well as local painters like George Jameson, William Dyce, John Philip and Charles Rennie MacKintosh.

Appropriately for the 'Granite City' of Aberdeen, Marischal College, which today houses the city's municipal offices, is the second largest granite building in the world, crowned by the 72-metre-tall Mitchell Tower. At night the side of the building is beautifully decorated with different light patterns.

Glenfiddich, which means 'Valley of the Deer' in Scottish Gaelic, is the world's best-selling and most awarded single-malt whisky, and about halfway between Aberdeen and Inverness lies the distillery, which can be visited and toured, and you can naturally sample and purchase delicious whisky.

Few places evoke the spirit of the Scottish highlands as poignantly as Dunnottar Castle, a ruined fortress perched atop rugged rocky cliffs overlooking the North Sea, just 3 kilometres away from the town of Stonehaven. The buildings that remain date from the 15th and 16th centuries, and the combination of ruins and setting make for a memorable feeling and experience.