Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Northeast Scotland
A large triangle of land thrusting into the North Sea, northeast Scotland
comprises the area east of a line drawn roughly from Perth north to the
fringe of the Moray Firth at Forres. The region takes in the county of Angus
and the city of Dundee to the south and, beyond the Grampian Mountains,
the counties of Aberdeenshire and Moray, and the city of Aberdeen.
Geographically diverse, the south of the region is comprised predominantly
of undulating farmland. However, as you travel further north this gives way
to wooded glens, mountains and increasingly rugged terrain, fringed by a
dramatic coastline of high cliffs and long sandy beaches.
10
he long-depressed city of
Dundee
is valiantly trying to shed its post-industrial image with
a reinvigorated cultural scene and an impressive waterfront development based around
Discovery
, the ship of Captain Scott (“of the Antarctic”). A little way up the Angus coast
are the historically important towns of
Arbroath
and
Montrose,
which are linked by an
especially inviting stretch of coastline, with scarlet cliffs and sweeping bays. Further south
towards Dundee, these are replaced by gentler dunes and long sandy beaches, while inland
the long fingers of the
Angus glens
- heather-covered hills tumbling down to rushing rivers -
are overlooked by the southern peaks of the Grampian Mountains.
Glen Clova
is one of the
most popular, along with
Glen Shee
, which attracts large numbers of people to its ski
slopes. Handsome if uneventful market towns such as
Brechin
,
Kirriemuir
and
Blairgowrie
are good bases for visiting the area, and extravagant
Glamis Castle
is well worth a visit.
he northeast was the southern kingdom of the
Picts
, reminders of whom are
scattered throughout the region in the form of beautifully carved stones found in fields,
churchyards and museums, such as the one at
Meigle
. Remote, self-contained and cut
off from the centres of major power in the south, the area never grew particularly
prosperous, and a handful of feuding and intermarrying families grew to wield a
disproportionate influence, building many of the region's
castles
and religious
buildings, and developing and planning its towns.
Aberdeenshire
and
Moray
cover a large chunk of the northeast, some 3500 square
miles, much of it open and varied country dotted with historic and archeological
sights, from eerie prehistoric rings of standing stones to quiet kirkyards and a rash of
dramatic castles. Geographically, the counties break down into two distinct areas: the
hinterland
, once barren and now a patchwork of fertile farms, rising towards high
mountains, sparkling rivers and gentle valleys; and the
coast
, a classic stretch of rocky
cliffs, remote fishing villages and long, sandy beaches.
Many of the most appealing settlements in these counties are along the coast, but while
the fishing industry is but a fondly held memory in many parts, a number of the
northeast's ports were transformed by the discovery of
oil
in the North Sea in the 1960s -
particularly
Aberdeen
, Scotland's third largest city. It's the region's obvious focal point,
with intriguing architecture, attractive museums and a lively social scene. A sophisticated
but expensive place to be, it continues to ride a diminishing wave of oil-based prosperity.
he city's transport connections make it an undeniably handy base; there's an international
airport
, and
trains
connect the city centre with Inverness and major points further south.
Walks from Glen Doll
p.360
Skiing in Glen Shee
p.362
Deeside and Donside Highland
Games
p.379
