Our tips for a great
getaway in... Aberdeen Scotland
Known for its imposing granite architecture and dramatic coastline, visitors to “The Silver City” are pleasantly surprised to discover that the European oil capital has its soft side, too. Long, sandy beaches? Check. Unforgettable cuisine? Check. Fabulous one-off shops? Check. Add to this a rich cultural scene, buzzing nightlife, welcoming locals, countless sporting activities and many acres of award-winning parks and gardens (the city boasts some 2,000,000 roses alone), and your only problem on a short break here will be working out how to cram it all in.
bestbreakfast: rowies Fly in the face of warnings from TV programme You Are What You Eat’s Gillian McKeith as to how bad they are for you, and start the day with a hot, buttered “rowie”. These traditional breakfast rolls, also called “butteries”, can best be described as a saltier, flatter and greasier croissant. Which goes no way to explaining quite how delicious these bad boys are. Originally created as a filling snack for hungry fishermen, Aberdeen bakery Chalmers, whose butteries are said to be some of the best, make around 6,000 a day. Where >Bakeries, cafés and supermarkets around the city.
bestshopping streets: Chapel & Thistle Streets Located off Union Street – at the opposite end from all the big-name high-street stores – Chapel Street and adjoining Thistle Street offer lots of independent boutiques to tempt the more discerning shopper. Snap up designer party dresses at Frox, to-die-for shoes and handbags at Bellino, high-quality gifts, toys and homewares at Nova, contemporary menswear at Esslemonts and multicultural womenswear and accessories at Indigo. There are also several charity shops to keep bargain-hunters happy.
Where >Frox, 28 Thistle Street, Aberdeen; Bellino, 17 Thistle Street, Aberdeen; Nova, 20 Chapel Street, Aberdeen; Esslemonts, 20 Thistle Street, Aberdeen; Indigo, 15 Chapel Street, Aberdeen. view map
bestextreme sport: power kiting The sky’s the limit for adrenaline junkies who want to master the art of power kiting in Aberdeen, with Extremexposure offering lessons on the expanse of golden beach about 10 miles north of the city. The introductory two-hour course costs £65, and covers all the basic principles that will be used if you decide to advance on to any of the other power kite traction sports – land buggies, kite land boarding, snow kiting and kite surfing – all of which the company also offers training in. The best reason to pray for a windy day.
Where >Extremexposure, 2 The Holdings, North Beach Road, Balmedie, Tel: +44 (0)1358 742986. view map
bestbar: Chi Accessed via a lift from inside the upmarket Academy shopping centre, this stylish city-centre watering hole scores points for its friendly, attentive staff, sleek décor, extensive cocktail menu and tasty Chinese beers. An outside terrace offers alfresco drinking alongside stunning views, and the attached restaurant menu offers a cross-Asian confluence of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese specialities, including several vegetarian dishes. Where >Chi, 9-10 The Academy, Belmont Street, Aberdeen (access via the lift beside French Connection), Tel: +44 (0)1224 622010. view map Website > www.e-chiu.com
bestfor kids: Storybook Glen The 100 fibreglass nursery rhyme and fairytale characters in Storybook Glen, a family-run world of make-believe, are a refreshing change from the usual Disney/brand-name toy/movie tie-ins found elsewhere. Set amidst 28 acres of stunning, landscaped parkland, little ones will tire themselves out exploring storybook houses and bouncing bridges, while parents can enjoy the spectacular scenery. Where >Storybook Glen, Maryculter, (on the South Deeside Road, the B9077), six miles west of Aberdeen, AB12 5FT; Tel: +44 (0)1224 732941. view map Website > www.storybookglenaberdeen.co.uk
bestoddity: Lost The biggest headache for the less than two-dozen residents of Lost, a tiny Aberdeenshire hamlet, is the number of times they’ve had to replace the street sign bearing its name, Lost. As each sign costs about £100 to replace, Aberdeenshire Council tried to change the place’s name to Lost Farm, but in the face of strong local opposition, the original name was soon reinstated. Take a photo rather than the actual sign, then enjoy the breathtaking views of the Cairngorm mountains and surrounding countryside. Where >About 40 miles west of Aberdeen, near the village of Bellabeg.
Compiled by Julie Alpine
besttrivia
Aberdeen has the greatest percentage of people in the UK with personal number plates on their cars. A result of all that oil money, maybe?
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