Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 23 on 14/10/2005.

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Northern delights (Aberdeen and Grampians)

Aberdeen and the Grampians are a fascinating mix of land and sea. Sally Toms reports

Framed between the mighty North Sea and the awe-inspiring Grampian Mountains, this area of Scotland has some of the best scenery to offer in the country.

There are few lochs to speak of, but two majestic rivers, the Dee and the Don, rise in the mountains and run east to towards the sea, carving the landscape into deep, verdant valleys.

Despite its breath-taking beauty the Aberdeen and Grampian region of Scotland is peculiarly named. What’s wrong with just Aberdeenshire?

The Grampians are Scotland’s central mountain range extending from the northeast to southwest dividing the Highlands and Lowlands.

A large part of these mountains is in Aberdeenshire, but is known as the Cairngorms.

But what’s in a name?

The tourist board has further blurred the boundaries by adopting neighbouring Moray, no doubt for its whisky fame.

So as you can imagine, with ever expanding borders, the limits of this corner of Scotland are a little hard to pin point.

But, for the purposes of this regional focus we have chosen to exclude Moray as there is more than enough happening in Aberdeenshire itself to keep the visitor busy.

Between the mouths of the two mighty rivers lies Scotland’s third largest city. Aberdeen has many other names, including the ‘Granite City’ or ‘Silver City’ because it is almost entirely built of this grey stone. In truth, it can look a little bleak on a cold winter’s day with the rain scudding in from the cold North Sea, but when seen in the sunshine after the rain, the w.....

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By Sally Toms

Section : Regional Focus

Page number : 35