48 Hours in north east Scotland

Where to?

Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Perth

Trip time

3 nights

Start/finish

Edinburgh

Transport

Train, coach, walking

Themes

City break, food, museums, coastal, rural, castles, coach trip

I don’t know about you, but I find joy in train journeys, especially on sunny days. There’s time to relax and read a book or just enjoy the view. You’re also doing your bit for the planet by taking public transport!

Edinburgh to Aberdeen is a beautiful journey by train, speeding up the east coast of Scotland with exceptional views of the sea. As we crossed the Forth Bridge, the sun sparkled on the water and, honestly, it could have been the Mediterranean. As we got closer to Aberdeen I spotted some coastal golf courses too – nice day for it.

The perfect Scottish setting

Our hotel for the next two nights was Ardoe House Hotel & Spa, an amazing Victorian mansion in lush grounds on the outskirts of Aberdeen. A great example of the type of accommodation available in this area, complete with Highland coos walking around the grounds! I enjoyed a very comfortable night’s sleep here – ready for action the next day.

Accommodation in Aberdeen

My day began with a full Scottish breakfast at Ardoe House – not something I eat every day, but a hearty breakfast is the perfect start to a day of exploring. Soon we were on the coach, travelling for about 25 minutes into the centre of Aberdeen. Our tour guide explained to us that Aberdeen was originally three settlements, and it flourished in medieval times after becoming a Royal Burgh. In modern times it became the oil capital of Europe when oil fields were discovered in the North Sea, bringing much prosperity to the city. Today it is Scotland’s third largest city, and a hub for education and medicine.

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Our walking tour finished up at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, near the harbour. We spent about an hour in the museum, although you could easily spend a whole morning here learning about the city’s connection to the sea. The museum is built around an impressive scale model of a North Sea oil platform, and as you climb the levels, the story unfolds from past to present through artefacts and pictures. A very interesting museum which is free to enter – and an excellent shop too.

A 5-star military museum

Our next stop was The Gordon Highlanders Museum, which showcases over 200 years of regimental history. The first things I noticed were the beautiful gardens, bright café and the motto ‘bydand’ above the door, which means ‘steadfast’ in Scots. As we toured the museum with a local volunteer guide, we learned tales of bravery as well as the horrors of war. These steadfast soldiers are proud of their history and that comes across powerfully. The highlight for me was the collection of ornate silverware in the regimental dining room, like something out of a period drama.

Old Aberdeen at sunset 

After an action-packed day I was ready for a good sleep, but I couldn’t miss the chance to walk around Old Aberdeen, on the recommendation of our tour guide. The sky was glowing pink and orange as the sun dipped over the horizon, a very pleasant time to stroll around ancient university buildings like King’s College, founded in 1495.

Back to the hotel for a spot of dinner. Then it was bedtime for me!

Opening the curtains the next morning, I was once again greeted with bright, warm sunshine. Lucky I packed those sunglasses! We said a fond farewell to Ardoe House and set off 20 minutes inland to visit another incredible castle. There’s a reason why they call Aberdeenshire Scotland’s ‘castle country’ – there are more castles here per square acre than anywhere else in the UK.

Aberdeenshire Highland Beef

And now for something that I was really looking forward to… a chance to meet Highland cows! Aberdeenshire Highland Beef is a working family farm just outside of Banchory (around a 20 min drive from Drum Castle) and they have some lovely residents. This included a baby Highland coo called Belle, who had sadly lost her mum. But one of the older animals, Duchess, had kindly taken Belle under her wing. Very touching. We even got a chance to brush Duchess, which was an amazing experience. She was completely serene and well-behaved – it came as no surprise to hear that she was a bit of celeb, having taken part in photoshoots for magazines!

Braemar

Our next stop was the historic village of Braemar, home to the famous Braemar Gathering, perhaps Scotland’s most famous Highland Games. Each September, the Braemar Highland Games Centre plays host to classic Scottish traditions like tossing the caber, massed pipe bands and Highland dancing. Having the royals in attendance adds an extra touch of glamour. I had fun exploring the new Pavilion, home to objects, documents and photos looking back at the history of the Highland Games. A great wee place to visit, especially if you can’t make the games in September. Remember, there are Highland Games across Scotland throughout the summer months.

Discovery Point, Dundee

I was thrilled to arrive in Dundee on the last full day of my trip. I was super impressed by the city’s waterfront area: Discovery Point. The plan was to visit the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s Design Museum – and then chill out for the night at the nearby Four Points Flex hotel. Even during a weekend trip where you plan to see lots of things, it’s important to relax. But I had one more showstopping Scottish attraction to visit.

The V&A

What a space! Architecturally, the V&A Museum’s design is said to mirror the rugged Scottish cliffs of the Angus coastline. Outside you’ll also see the Royal Research Ship Discovery, which carried Scott & Shackleton all the way to the Antarctic. Sadly, time did not allow me to climb aboard – but I’ll be back.

As the coach drove into Perth the next day, our tour guide reminded us that the city was once the ancient capital of Scotland. A fitting home for the famous Stone of Destiny, once used to crown Scottish monarchs, which now lives in Perth Museum. Back in medieval times, the stone lived in the grounds of Scone Palace, our first stop this morning. Located on the outskirts of Perth, this is one of the finest heritage experiences in Scotland.

The Black Watch Museum

Our last stop was a ten-minute drive into Perth to The Black Watch Museum. Housed within the beautiful Balhousie Castle, here we learnt about Scotland’s oldest Highland Regiment. If you love history and how different historic events are connected, you’ll be fascinated by this place. Our veteran guide showed how the regiment has witnessed and contributed to many key moments across the world. After a spot of lunch in the vibrant café, it was time to head home.