Region guide
Family days out in Aberdeen And Aberdeenshire
Granite city streets, a working harbour and a coastline of castles and sandy beaches.
Aberdeen packs a lot into a compact centre — Duthie Park's winter gardens, the maritime museum down by the harbour, and a beach esplanade that's good for a run-around whatever the weather is doing.
Beyond the city, Aberdeenshire opens out into castle country: Dunnottar's cliff-top ruin is the one every visitor photographs, but there are dozens of smaller estates, farm parks and fishing villages along this coast worth the drive out.
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Attraction
Codona's Amusement Park
Seafront amusement park with rides, arcade and bowling.
Museum
Satrosphere Science Centre
Hands-on exhibits, science shows, and workshops for families and school groups.
Beach
Silver Sands Beach Aberdeen
Popular sandy beach with dunes and coastal walks.
Park
Duthie Park
Large Aberdeen park with play areas and the Winter Gardens glasshouse.
Castle
Dunnottar Castle
Dramatic cliff-top ruins with stunning sea views and historical exhibits.
Castle
Crathes Castle
17th-century castle with gardens, woodland walks, and indoor exhibits for families.
Playpark
Balmedie Beach Playground
Coastal playground with swings, slides and sand play beside Balmedie Beach in Aberdeenshire.
Castle
Fyvie Castle
Five-towered castle with elaborate interiors and a loch-side estate to explore.
Castle
Craigievar Castle
Pink harled tower house, one of Scotland's best-preserved 17th-century castles.
Castle
Drum Castle
One of Scotland's oldest tower houses, set in woodland with a walled rose garden.
Attraction
Storybook Glen
Children's theme park near Maryculter with nursery-rhyme and fairytale characters set in landscaped gardens.
Park
Haddo Country Park
Estate parkland with lake, waymarked trails and a play area near Haddo House.
Nature
Bennachie
Distinctive hill range with a visitor centre and family-friendly forest trails.
Park
Aden Country Park
Country park near Mintlaw with a farming museum, adventure playground and woodland trails.
Museum
Museum of Scottish Lighthouses
Museum at Kinnaird Head in Fraserburgh telling the story of Scotland's lighthouses, with tower tours.
Museum
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Free museum on the harbour telling Aberdeen's shipbuilding and oil industry story.
Park
Hazlehead Park
Large park with a maze, animal enclosure, play areas and woodland walks.
Beach
Stonehaven Beach
Long sandy beach at Stonehaven, with a Victorian promenade, harbour and heated open-air swimming pool nearby.
Garden
Duff House Gardens
Grand Georgian house in Banff designed by William Adam, with free gardens and grounds beside the River Deveron.
Historic
The Bass of Inverurie
Ancient man-made mound in the centre of Inverurie, once the site of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle.
Beach
Fraserburgh Beach
Wide sandy beach at Fraserburgh, backed by dunes, with views towards Kinnaird Head lighthouse.
Beach
Cruden Bay Beach
Sweeping sandy beach at Cruden Bay, overlooked by the dramatic ruins of Slains Castle.
Park
Victoria Park, Aberdeen
Free Victorian park in Aberdeen with a palm house conservatory, play areas and formal gardens.
Park
Union Terrace Gardens
Recently redeveloped free garden in the heart of Aberdeen, with play areas, event space and city views.