Aberdeen tours and excursions

The tourist office can also help organise taxi or coach tours down to the old harbour and fishing village of Footdee. They also have information about open-top bus tours of the city which operate during the summer months. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and passengers can hop on and off as often as they like during this time period.

The Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands region is surrounded by stunning countryside that's peppered with over 350 castles. One of the most famous is Balmoral Castle, the summer residence of the Royal Family situated 80km (50 miles) west of Aberdeen.

Balmoral Estate is owned personally by the Queen (rather than as a Sovereign possession) and is a working estate that is closely integrated with the local community. Balmoral Castle was first rented by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1948. They loved it so much they bought it four years later and it has been a favourite Royal Residence ever since. Visitors can tour parts of the castle including the famous Ballroom which houses several exhibitions including china and silverware from the estate. Visitors can also enjoy guided or marked walks through the gardens and surrounding grounds and there are also opportunities for pony trekking, fishing and Land Rover safaris. The estate rents out holiday cottages and some of the state rooms are available for hire for private functions. The estate is usually closed from August through until the end of March.

Other castles in the region include Ballindalloch Castle, Drum Castle and Slains Castle (ruins only), which is said to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.