Back Roads Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

253

EAT AND DRINK

AROUND BANCHORY

The Irvine Arms Inexpensive

This village pub, a short way east on

the A93, has milk churns as bar stools

and offers good home-cooked bar

meals – hearty soups and pasta.

North Deeside Road, Drumoak, AB31

5AU; 01330 811 423

AROUND DUNNOTTAR CASTLE

The Creel Inn inexpensive

In Catterline, a few miles south of the

castle off the A92, former fisherman’s

cottages have been turned into this

popular inn. There’s seafood on the

menu, such as pan-seared scallops.

Catterline, Stonehaven, AB39 2UL; 01569

750 254; http://www.thecreelinn.co.uk

ABERDEEN

Bistro Verde inexpensive–moderate

This popular bistro specialises in fish–

try roasted sea bass, Basque-style

monkfish, or sea bream in Parma ham.

59 The Green, AB11 6NY; 01224 586

180; closed Sun

The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa

moderate–expensive

Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at this

popular hotel restaurant – and produce

such as Scottish lobster, roe deer and

roast rabbit. There are vegetarian

options and home-made ice creams.

North Deeside Rd, AB15 9YA; 01224

861 000; http://www.marcliffe.com

Above View of Old Aberdeen seen from Union

Street Bridge

DRIVE 25: On the Highlands Whisky Trail

DAY TRIP OPTIONS

Children and adults will enjoy historic

castles and stunning coastline.

War and Peace

From Inverness 1 it’s a short drive to

Culloden 2 , where Bonnie Prince

Charlie’s campaign ended. Take a tour

of Cawdor Castle 3 , then it’s off to

Nairn for a spell on the sandy beach.

Take B9006 from Inverness to Culloden,

then B9091 and B9090 to Cawdor and

on to Nairn. Return on the A96.

Speyside Delights

From Craigellachie, drive to the WCDS

Wildlife Centre 6 at Spey Bay to look

for dolphins. Then head back to make

a tour of Speyside Cooperage 7 ,

take a heritage railway trip at

Dufftown 8 and taste the whisky at

the Glenfiddich Distillery, before

dinner in a Dufftown restaurant.

Follow drive instructions in reverse to the

WCDS Wildlife Centre, return on the

same roads and take A941 to Dufftown.

Vintage Fun

From Aberdeen e, visit the transport

museum 0 at Alford, with tanks and

vintage cars. Then head to Banchory

q, to watch salmon leaping up the

falls and perhaps see Crathes Castle.

Visit dramatic Dunnottar Castle e on

the cliffs, before returning to

Aberdeen and the beachside funfair.

From Aberdeen, take A944 to Alford, then

A980 south Banchory. Then follow the

drive instructions to Aberdeen.

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

A two–three-hour walking tour
Start at the Tourist Information Centre
on Union St. Turn right and walk down
Shiprow to the Maritime Museum 1
(open Tue–Sun), which gives a
fascinating insight into the city’s
maritime heritage, as well as good
views of the harbour. Leaving the
museum, turn left up
Shiprow, then left along
Union St, the city’s main
shopping area. Turn right
up Belmont St to the Art
Gallery 2 ( Tue–Sun ), with a
large collection of portraits,
Impressionist paintings and
works by the Scottish
Colourists and the Victorian
artists known as the
Glasgow Boys. Turn right
and walk along Schoolhill,
continuing into Upper
Kirkgate – look out for the imposing
Neo-Gothic Marischal College 3 , part
of Aberdeen University.
Turn left up Gallowgate to the large
roundabout, cross to the right; walk a
short distance up Mounthooly Way,
then go left up Kings Crescent which
soon becomes Spittal, then College
Bounds, a nice street lined with fine old
houses. Go past magnificent King’s
College, on the right, part of the
university, founded in the 15th century.
King’s College Chapel 4 (open Mon–Fri)
is topped with a distinctive “crown

tower”, symbolizing the authority and

independence of the Scottish king.

Carry on to see a Georgian town-

house up ahead, once a meeting

place for the city’s trade organizations.

Cross over the road ahead. Walk up

the historic cobbled Chanonry where

the university Botanic Gardens 5

(open daily ) provide a short

detour. In medieval times

Chanonry was home to the

canons of St Machar’s

Cathedral 6 – which is

reached soon. The cathedral

dates to the 13th century

and has some fine stained-

glass windows. Follow

Chanonry past the cathedral

to Don St, then turn right to

rejoin the High St and pass

King’s College again. At the

start of Spittal turn left

down Orchard Rd, go right at the end

and cross King St to turn left down

Pittodrie Place. At its end turn right on

Golf Rd – with golf links on the left and

the football stadium on the right.

Walk up the steps over a grassy hill to

reach the seafront with a stretch of

golden sand and funfair 7. To return

to the city centre, continue south

along the coast, then turn right at

Beach Boulevard. Cross carefully at

the roundabout to go down Justice

St, past the Mercat Cross and back

into Union Street.

Neo-Gothic Marischal

College, Aberdeen

e Aberdeen
Aberdeen; AB11
Known as the Granite City because of its silvery granite buildings,
Aberdeen faces out to the North Sea and, not surprisingly, is a city
with a strong maritime tradition. For centuries it had firm trading links
with Scandinavia and is still an important fishing port. Its historic
buildings are interspersed with shops, lively bars and restaurants.