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Aberdeen, Scotland
Aberdeen in Scotland with e-travelguide.info
Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Aberdeen.
Make the most of your time in Aberdeen, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.
Aberdeen is situated on the rugged northeast coast of Scotland at the confluence of the rivers Don and Dee, and is one of the most distinctive cities in the United Kingdom. Some Gaelic scholars believe the name to have come from 'Aber' and 'da-aevin' meaning "mouth of two rivers". Aberdeen is the capital of the Grampian Highlands and is Scotland’s third largest city. The city’s handsome granite architecture, miles of golden beaches, dunes and cliffs, and some of the finest unspoiled surroundings of wild moors, farmland and rugged hills left in Europe give Aberdeen a fascinating blend of flavours: fitting, perhaps, given the region’s whisky making heritage.
The earliest record of Aberdeen was a Charter granted by William the Lion around 1179, from which it appears that the town was already a Royal Burgh and a trading community of some stature. By 1319, the Great Charter of Robert the Bruce had transformed Aberdeen into a property owning, financially independent community. Aberdeen became a centre of education following the founding of the University of Aberdeen by Bishop William Elphinstone in 1495. However, the modern city as it is known today began to take shape at the turn of the 19th century, when Charles Abercrombie built a magnificent viaduct to expand the existing, cramped city on Saint Katherine’s Hill across the Denburn Valley. Subsequent viaducts followed as the city spilled forth, establishing new boundaries, although it is believed that this rapid, costly expansion was partly the cause of the city’s bankruptcy later that century. In more recent times, the discovery of North Sea oil in 1969 led to Aberdeen becoming the Energy Capital of Europe. However, visitors expecting to stand on the beach and see oilrigs will be disappointed; the colossal structures do not intrude on the rugged beauty of the city’s skyline.
Today, the ‘Granite City’ is vibrant and cosmopolitan, with a thriving cultural calendar and shopping to suit every taste. His Majesty's Theatre, a magnificent Edwardian building, attracts international ballet, theatre, opera and light entertainment, while the concert halls regularly feature classical, contemporary and rock concerts. Aberdeen has an array of museums and art galleries, and the popular Lemon Tree venue is a great place to enjoy contemporary theatre, dance, stand-up comedy and music. Sports lovers will be spoilt for choice in Aberdeen, which offers a wealth of golf courses, along with horse riding, windsurfing, and a range of national league sports. In addition to spectacular scenery, the nearby Cairngorm Mountains provide hill walking, mountaineering and skiing opportunities, and the rivers Dee and Don, Ythan and Ugie are ideal for fishing, rowing or canoeing. There are also eight distilleries, which are encompassed by the unique Malt Whisky Trail, and a plethora of magnificent castles.