Galleries
Stunning pictures from throughout Aberdeenshire and the North East of Scotland.
The North East is steeped in history and character, and has some of Scotland's very best scenery. Discover some of the best that Aberdeenshire has to offer in our ever-growing galleries, from ancient hill forts and castles, to rugged mountains and colourful wildlife - Aberdeenshire has it all.
Midmar |
The village of Midmar, by Echt. Midmar Kirk features an impressive stone circle, including a giant 20 tonne recumbent stone some 15 ft x 4 ft in size. The recumbent circle is peculiar to the north east of Scotland and south west Ireland. Recumbent stone circles date back to approx 3000 BC. Although the site was landscaped in 1914, much of the original stone circle still exists, with many stones standing over 8 ft tall. Interestingly most recumbent stone circles are aligned with the winter solstice. The surrounding hills at the Midmar Kirk obscure this, so the Midmar stones instead face the minor lunar standstill. The neighbouring village of Echt has a number of prehistoric remains, including the so called Barmekin of Echt which is on a hill to the northwest. There is also the Cullerlie stone circle near Sunhoney Farm, which may date from the Bronze Age. |
|
Glen Avon |
Glen Avon is at the foot of Ben Avon, the most easterly mountain in the famous Cairngorm range. Ben Avon itself is a very large and complex mountain, and stretches towards Inchrory and the River Gairn. Ben Avon is distinguishable from many viewpoints by the dominating granite tors visible on the skyline of its long flat plateau. The highest point of the massif, known as Leabaidh an Dàimh Bhuide (bed of the yellow stag) is classified as both a Munro and a Marilyn. Ridges lead in almost every direction from the broad summit of Ben Avon, allowing access from Glen Avon itself to the north, from Beinn a' Bhùird to the west and from Gleann an t-Slugain in the south. To the west of the summit lies the massive corrie, Slochd Mòr, with its rocky cliffs, and the approaches from the south and west take you close to the corrie rim. |
|
Dallas Moor |
Bordering the boundary of Aberdeenshire is Dallas moor, near Forres and Elgin, on the Moray Firth. The town of Forres in Morray is one of Scotland's oldest small towns. Forres has very impressive parks and gardens, which have led to many awards from the prestigious Britain and Scotland in Bloom competitions. |
|
Craigievar Castle |
Craigievar Castle is an iconic tower house, amongst the best preserved and the most loved in Scotland. The large estate features woodland, parkland with magnificent specimen trees, and farmland with extensive views over the surrounding countryside to Bennachie. An excellent example of the original Scottish Baronial architecture, the great seven-storey castle was completed in 1626 by the Aberdonian merchant William Forbes, ancestor to the "Forbes-Sempill family" and brother of the Bishop of Aberdeen. Forbes purchased the partially completed structure from the impoverished Mortimer family in the year 1610. The Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland. |
|
Bennachie |
As one of the most popular hill ranges in the North-East, Bennachie is very popular with mountain bikers and hillwalkers, thanks to its proximity to Inverurie and Aberdeen. Bennachie has nine distinctive tops and two ancient hill forts (Pictish and Iron Age). The lower portions of Bennachie are tree covered, which gives way to open moorland further up. The highest summit of Bennachie is Oxen Craig at 528 metres (1732 ft), and the most prominent summit is Mithir Tap. |
|
Slains Castle |
Now a crumbling ruin, Slains castle started life as a tower house. The original Slains castle (at a separate site south of Cruden Bay) was destroyed by King James VII in retaliation for support given to the rebellious uprising of 1594. In 1597 a the Earl of Errol built a tower house north of Cruden Bay to become the replacement castle. Slains Castle is one of the most popular castles in Scotland, perhaps most famously for its association with Bram Stoker. While on holiday at Cruden Bay in 1895, Bram Stoker started work on his most famous book, Dracula. Slains Castle became the inspiration for Count Dracula's castle, and in early versions of the book the count even came ashore to UK at Cruden Bay. |
|
Dunnottar Castle |
Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven was originally the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in the land. This L-plan castle stands on a rocky outcrop and parts of the site dates back to the 13th Century, but records also suggest a much earlier settlement as far back as 681. Visited by William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II, Dunnottar is most famous for the small garrison which held out against the might of Cromwell's army for a total of eight months in 1650. This action saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the ‘Honours of Scotland’, from theft, loss and possible destruction. The extensive ruins of the medieval Dunnottar Castle still stand to this day, having been sympathetically repaired and restored in the 1920's. Dunnottar Castle and grounds are open to the public. |
|
Highland Cattle |
Highland cattle or kyloe are an ancient Scottish breed of beef cattle recognised by their distinctive long horns and long wavy pelts which can range from black, brindled, red, yellow or dun. The breed developed in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. Highland Cattle are famed as a hardy breed, happy to graze on sparse hillsides, and can endure our colder Northern climates thanks to the additional insulation from their thick long coats. |