Scotland North East Road Trip: Route Map and What to See
Scotland North East road trip: epic itinerary, Aberdeenshire and Moray. Planning a Scotland road trip? The classic route would take you up west straight into the Highlands to see classic beauties such as Ben Nevis and Loch Ness… But have you also considered exploring some of Scotland’s lesser known gems?
Allow me to introduce you to Scotland’s stunning North East. Home to rugged coastline, beach huts, whisky, ruined castles and the delicious Cullen Skink!
Our route: we drove up north from my mum’s house in Fife and our first stop was Dunnottar Castle. From there we spent a long weekend exploring a loop around Aberdeenshire and Moray (with one night in Inverness, Highland). See our route map below:
Stop 1: Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle is steeped in history and it’s clifftop position will absolutely take your breath away. More detail in my separate blog post here. An absolute must-visit! Perched on the craggy rocks of Aberdeenshire’s east coast, the castle looks like something straight out of a film set. It’s surrounded on three sides by the sea, and so there’s only one way in – you can just imagine how difficult it would have been to attack this castle. You can book a small group tour so that you can learn about the castle’s fascinating history. See Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen.
Stop 2: Maryculter House
This charming country hotel is a short drive from Dunnottar Castle. Tartan carpets, large comfy beds, beautiful riverside grounds, delicious cooked Scottish breakfast… need I say more? Visit their website here: https://maryculterhouse.com/
Stop 3: Ellon
Ellon is a charming riverside town. There are numerous cafes, bakeries and fish & chip shops to choose from. My favourite cafe is The Coffee Lab, as they encourage you to bring a dog along, so it’s always full of cute puppers. BrewDog DogTap is a 10 minute drive away, and well-worth a visit to see the brewery – all powered by wind energy which is pretty awesome! The onsite taproom not only serves beer but also has a great menu and a whole load of board games and shuffle-board to play.
Stop 4: Oak Lodge
We spent the next night in a “Shepherd’s hut” airbnb called Oak Lodge. Read my separate blog post here. A forest retreat in the heart of rural Aberdeenshire, the lodge is the perfect getaway if you want to switch off and escape from the world for a bit.
Stop 5: Cullen
This pretty seaside village is an absolute gem, and the perfect place to experience quintessential Scottish coastal life without the crowds. Pop into Lily’s kitchen cafe for a bowl of authentic Cullen Skink – it’s delicious! There are only four tables so allow yourself plenty of time in case you need to wait. The beaches in this part of Scotland are beautiful. Why not book a surfing class in Cullen Bay?
Stop 6: Bow Fiddle Rock
Bow Fiddle Rock is a short drive west from Cullen, next to a wee village called Portknockie. You can either view the rock from the surrounding cliffs or walk down to the beach. This magnificent natural sea arch resembles a violin’s bow, and was formed over millions of years by natural erosion from the sea. If you’re lucky enough to have sunny weather like we did, why not pack a picnic to enjoy on one of the grassy patches overlooking the sea?
Stop 7: Glen Moray Distillery
You cannot visit Speyside without popping into a whisky distillery! This region is famous for its sweeter, fruity whiskys (as opposed to the peaty, smokey whiskys from the island of Islay for example), so makes a good introduction for non whisky drinkers.
Stop 8: Findhorn
Outdoor cafes, ice-cream, beach huts… not what most people associate with the north of Scotland eh? Well it actually gets surprisingly warm and sunny in this region, and Findhorn is an incredibly pretty village with lots of outdoor cafes, boats and swimming spots. So you can enjoy a quintessential British seaside holiday without the crowds. Make sure to do as the locals do and only swim in the safe areas, as the sea can be formidable up here. Fancy a treat? Visit the Watershed Sauna: https://watershedsauna.com/.
Stop 9: Old Packhorse Bridge, Carrbridge
I find it absolutely amazing that the Old Packhorse Bridge in Carrbridge is still standing, given it was built in 1717! Also known as “Coffin Bridge”, it was originally to allow funeral processions to cross the River Dulnain to reach the local kirk (church). The Old Packhorse Bridge has now become one of the most recognisable landmarks in the Cairngorms National Park.
Hopefully this post will have given you a wee taste of what there is to see on a Scotland road trip around the North East. Another top tip for those driving back down to Perthshire is to pop into the House of Bruar – it’s basically the fanciest motorway service stop you’ll ever find! And they do delicious meals and homemade cake…(!)
Read my other posts about Scotland here: https://www.calloftheworld.com/category/europe/scotland/
That is a fab wee taste of this beeeautiful country! It looks like you were sooo lucky with the weather for your road trip! I LOVE the look of Bow Fiddle Rock, the distillery and the beautiful scottish scenery! <3