Winter in Aberdeenshire , a time for great walks , watching spectacular dawn and sunset skies, a glimpse of the spectacular Aurora Borealis (the Northern lights to you and me) or at least marvelling in the clear night skies with tremendous stars. You could cosy up in front of the wood burning stove, with a soft Scottish Wool rug to watch an old movie or read a book with a glass of something by your side.
Talking of books , an exciting festival is coming to Aberdeen this month. Granite Noir, Aberdeen’s Crime Writing Festival from 24th to 27th February, lots of excellent events to attend with authors and Hound of the Baskervilles at His Majesty’s theatre. We have our very own crime author Stuart McBride from Aberdeen , many of his books are set in the City and the Shire , we keep some of his novels in the cottages for guests to read . We also have other well known Scottish Crime writing on our bookcases, Chris Brookmyre, Ian Rankin, Val McDiarmid to name a few. https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/granite-noir/
Spectra light festival will be in the city on the 10 – 13 February , it’s Scotland’s Festival of light and is free to watch in the City Centre , well worth a visit . It is listed by the Guardian as one of the UK’s top 10 light festivals and within an easy drive of Kilblean Cottages. https://www.spectrafestival.co.uk/
Even if there are no special events taking place take a day to explore the City of Aberdeen, the city centre is a 30 minute drive from Kilblean Cottages. Called the Granite or Silver City as much of its 19th and 20th buildings are made from local granite which sparkles in the sunshine – have a look at Marischal College, the 2nd largest Granite building in the world. Since the early 1970s Aberdeen grew to become the offshore oil capital of Europe. The heliport is always busy (if the wind is in the right direction the helicopters fly over the farm at Kilblean) and if you have a chance to look at the Harbour you will see a very busy port filled with support vessels for the Oil Rigs
When you are in Aberdeen walk through the Chanonry and Old Aberdeen, now very much part of the University of Aberdeen (The 3rd oldest university in Scotland and the 5th oldest in the English speaking world) or having walked along the beachfront take a look at Fittie (Foot of Dee) an old fishing community with charming cottages. There is also an Art Gallery,newly refurbished and worth a visit , an excellent Maritime Museum, The Gordon Highlanders Museum , Aberdeen Science Centre to name but a few worthy of a visit.
There is a myriad of coffee shops – Books and Beans near the Art Gallery, The Sand Dollar Café on the Beach, FoodStory in the West end, Cognito Cafes with one at the Gordon Highlanders Museum all with good eats for a light lunch. We are always happy to recommend shops, cafes and restaurants please feel free to ask there are lots to choose from in the City and the Countryside.
Happy Exploring !
