Aberdeenshire has 165 miles of coastline offering stunning beaches, rugged cliffs, beautiful historic harbours and some of the prettiest, charming villages with independent shops and places to eat.
You can visit many of them in a day or take your time and relax as you enjoy the atmosphere and views. Here are a few highlights of the coastal villages Aberdeenshire has to offer.
Get the camera’s ready…..
PENNAN
Pennan became famous in the 1980’s for being used as a film location for Local Hero and representing the fictional village of Ferness. Film buffs come from all over the world to make a call in the red telephone box, which features in the film.
But Pennan is a lot more than a phone box, it is an idylic village with an attractive harbour & beach. The colourful houses stretch along one street and are all built gable end to the sea.
You can enjoy food and drinks at The Pennan Inn , that also features in the movie. They have outside seating so on a nice sunny day , grab a bite and enjoy the views from this pretty village.
It is also an excellent place to spot dolphins and grey seals which are often found lounging on the rocks at the east side of the village.
52 minutes from Harestone
CROVIE
Crovie (pronounced Crivie )is built on a remarkably narrow ledge between the base of the cliffs. Its dates back to the 18th Century when sea was the only mode of transport to and from the village.
Crovie is UNIQUE, there are not many villages where the car is impossible to use !
The row of cottages are so close to the rocky shoreline that there is only room for a footpath in front of them. The locals have to transport their shopping by wheel barrow from the carpark at the top of the cliff!
It has the distinction of having the narrowest space between shore and cliff of any scottish village, and being the best preserved fishing village in Europe.
There is nowhere quite like it !
Timmy Mallet recently visited in 2022 on his cycling tour of Britain and loved Crovie.
To the east of Crovie you can visit Troup Head and view the thousands of birds, or take the trail to Gardenstown.
Fancy trying wild swimming ? , Hell’s Lum was voted as one of the ten best places in Scotland to wild swim. You don’t have to get wet to enjoy this place though. You can view from the coastal path and watch the sea spray burst from the opening in the cave like smoke from a lum!
55 minutes Harestone
PORTSOY
This picturesque 17th century harbour village was used as a filming location in 2021 for the final season of Peaky Blinders and was also the filing location of Whisky Galore in 2016.
It has fascinating streets winding down to the remarkable harbour, and is well known for its local jewellery made from ‘Portsoy Marble’ (polished red and green serpentine), that was once shipped to grand mansions and castles all over the world, most notably, Versailles.
This is on view in one of the warehouses overlooking the harbour.
You can find out more about the history of salmon fishing, boatbuilding and local people at the The Salmon Bothy museum. You will also find a local club which organises a range of music events, including Open Mic’ Nights and folk performances.
For two days in June Portsoy comes alive with the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival welcoming 16000 visitors. It showcases boat building , restoration and sailing, but also offers wonderful food, drink, arts and crafts and local music.
58 minutes Harestone
Go explore and enjoy all the coastal villages Aberdeenshire has to offer !
Stonehaven & many more …
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