Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail

Visit St Cyrus in southern Aberdeenshire where you'll be rewarded with miles of golden sand dunes and cliffs. This stunning National Nature Reserve offers the chance to see peregrine falcons circling overhead, rare wildflowers, butterflies and moths.

This seafaring museum is the newest addition to the trail, and occupies an old coastguard station. It sits beside the old harbour in the heart of Gourdon village. 

The museum's centrepiece is the lifeboat, the Maggie Law. This was one of the first inshore lifeboats, built in 1890. Still in good condition today, she was in service for 40 years and saved 36 lives. The museum also shares many more fascinating tales of the Kincardine coastline in the upper deck.

The well-preserved ruins of Dunnottar Castle are perched on a dramatic cliff some 160 ft above the North Sea. This once impregnable fortress was visited by legendary historic figures including William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell and, in more recent times, Mel Gibson in Franco Zeffirelli's 1991 film, Hamlet.

If you're lucky, you may even see puffins or dolphins from the castle ramparts.

A couple of miles north of Dunnottar sits the attractive fishing town of Stonehaven. Stop for a delicious meal at one of the cosy inns by the harbour and enjoy freshly caught seafood. Afterwards, treat yourself to an indulgent ice cream at one of Stonehaven's wonderful ice cream shops, such as Aunty Betty's or Giulianotti's.

Other great coastal attractions in this area include RSPB Fowlsheugh, Stonehaven open air swimming pool, Stonehaven Harbour and Tolbooth Museum.

Travel north from Aberdeen to Balmedie where you'll be greeted with epic sand dunes and a pristine stretch of beach, perfect for a leisurely morning stroll. Stop at the nearby Forvie National Nature Reserve and Ythan Estuary to watch paddling eider ducks and seals basking at the mouth of the estuary.

Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, often holidayed in Cruden Bay, and the pretty coastal town is a lovely place to stop for a refreshing walk along the beautiful beach before enjoying a cup of tea or coffee.

You could even take time out to play a round of golf at Cruden Bay Golf Course, one of the finest link courses in the country.

This beautiful 2-hour walk, which starts in Cruden Bay, passes ruined Slains Castle, widely believed to have inspired Bram Stoker's horror classic, Dracula.

Snap pictures of the imposing castle (from a safe distance!) and watch the sea rushing through the archway of the Bullers of Buchan, a 30 m deep chasm created from a collapsed sea cave. Take care when walking along the path though as it is very close to the edge of the cliffs.

Other great coastal attractions in this area include Torry Battery where you can spot dolphins, Aberdeen Fun beach, Peterhead Bay, RSPB Loch of Strathbeg reserve and Rattray Head beach.

Head to Fraserburgh to visit the fascinating Museum of Scottish Lighthouses and enjoy a tour of 18th century Kinnaird Head Lighthouse. 

Stop for some lunch before enjoying a walk along Fraserburgh beach, which is popular for watersports and kite surfing.

You could also pop into the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre to learn more about the fishing legacy of this important port using the fun, interactive exhibits.

Continue west towards Macduff. This stretch of coast is known as Scotland's 'Dolphin Coast' and it's a magnificent driving route - you might even be able to see dolphins from the shore or from the historic harbours of the area, alongside whales and porpoises. Along this part of the trail you'll also encounter some delightful fishing villages like Crovie which consists of a single line of houses by the water's edge, and Pennan which featured in the classic Hollywood film Local Hero.

Other great coastal attractions in this area include New Aberdour beach, Pitsligo Castle, Maggie's Hoosie and Inverallochy.

Take a trip to Macduff Marine Aquarium where you can get up close to marine life and learn about the creatures that live in the Moray Firth, from tiny barnacles and mussels to octopus, lobster, jellyfish and beautifully patterned flatfish.

Stop off at the touch pools for the chance to handle an array of amazing creatures and see the feeding frenzy in the central kelp reef tank when the divers jump in to feed the fish.

Duff House is one of Scotland's architectural masterpieces. This Adam-designed historic house is a treasure house and cultural arts centre operated by a unique partnership between Historic Environment Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council. It also boasts extensive grounds and woodland walks by the River Deveron.

Marvel at the lavish interiors, take a walk in the sprawling grounds and let the kids blow off steam in the play park.

Bring your journey to a close at Portsoy, home to one of the oldest harbours in Europe and also part of the Banffshire Coast Harbour Trail. Stop off at the Portsoy Salmon Bothy and discover Portsoy's salmon fishing heritage in this wonderfully restored building.

Other great coastal attractions in this area include RSPB Troup Head reserve, renowned Portsoy ice cream, Banff Links beach and Sandend beach which are popular surfing spots.