North Aberdeen Coast Tourist Information

Banff, Clan Macduff & Portsoy Aberdeenshire Tourism

Historic and picturesque Banff on the North Aberdeen coast is a centre for Scottish Golf, with a choice of golf courses in the area. Banff town is half Georgian with fine Georgian architecture in the upper town area. Move down towards Banff harbour for the old town. Attractions in Banff include the town's museum on High Street. Founded in 1828, this is actually one of Scotland's oldest museums and offers displays on local geology, natural history, arms and armour and more. See the Aberdeenshire Tourist guide for details.

Banff's most popular attraction is Duff House, built by William Adam between 1735 and 1740 as the seat for the Earls of Fife. In conjunction with Historic Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland, the permanent collections here are impressive. See portraits by Henry Raeburn and Gainsborough here at Duff House. (weblink right for details). Duff House Country Gallery, Banff, AB45 3SX. Tel. 01261 818181. Banff Museum, High Street, Banff, Banffshire AB45 1 AE Scotland. Tel. 01771 622807.

Adjacent to Banff sits the scenic fishing port of Macduff at the mouth of the River Deveron (reach Macduff from Banff via a 7 arch bridge across the River Deveron). Stunning cliff coastal walking is on the menu here, alongside a Marine Aquarium and alternate year North Sea Yacht race between Stavanger and Macduff.

To the west of Banff, the coastal village of Portsoy hosts an annual traditional boats festival in early July. The harbour at Portsoy dates from the 17th century, and was once a centre for the export of marble to the likes of Versailles! The village is a restored conservation area and popular with visitors. Visit the nearby Fordyce Jointer's Workshire Centre, West Church Street, Fordyce. Tel. 01771 622807, to see craftsman in action and a Victorian styled garden.

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Fraserburgh & Peterhead Scotland, Lighthouse Museum & Maritime Heritage

As you push east on the North Aberdeen coast towards Fraserburgh and Kinnairds Head the flavour changes to fishing and maritime heritage. Fraserburgh's fishing port is one of the busiest in Scotland, and they get the winds up here (Fraserburgh holds the British wind speed record of 144mph!). The Scottish Lighthouse Museum and adjacent Fraserburgh Heritage Museum are aptly placed here. Kinnaird Head is the site of the first Scottish Lighthouse ever built.

Moving round the head and south to Peterhead, you're at another of Scotland's busy fishing ports. Less known is that just to the south of Peterhead, Slains Castle provided inspiration for Bram Stoker as Dracula's home. Slains is a ruin today, and dangerously close to the cliff's edge so care is needed if you're planning to explore it. (see the Peterhead tourist guide website right for more details). Other attractions in Peterhead include the Maritime Heritage Centre where you can find out more about Peterhead's heritage in whaling, fishing and sailing. Just to the north of the town sits the RSPB Loch of Strathbeg Reserve, site of numerous wild geese and swans who come here to nest in winter.

The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Kinnaird Head Stevenson Road, Fraserburgh AB43 9DU. Tel. 01346 511022. (see Lighthouse Museum's weblink right for details).

Also in Peterhead visit Aberdeenshire Farming Museum, Aden Country Park, Mintlaw Peterhead, AB42 5FQ and The Arbuthnot Museum, St. Peter Street, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire AB42 1QD, Scotland. Tel 01771 622807.

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