Northeast Scotland - The Rough Guide to Scotland - page 367

( T 01224 771777; W budget.co.uk); Europcar, 16
Broomhill Rd ( T 08713 841092 W europcar.co.uk);
Hertz, at the airport ( T 08433 093001 W hertz.com).

Kirkwall in Orkney, with frequent NorthLink services
( T 08456 000449, W northlinkferries.co.uk) departing
from Jamieson's Quay in the harbour.
Destinations Kirkwall, Orkney (Thurs, Sat & Sun,
plus Tues in summer; 6hr); Lerwick, Shetland (daily;
10-12hr overnight).

BY FERRY
Aberdeen has ferry links to Lerwick in Shetland and

GETTING AROUND
Aberdeen's centre is best explored on foot , but you might
also need to use buses - most of which pass along Union
Street - to reach some sights. Useful routes from the centre
include the #15 bus to the beach esplanade, and the #20
bus to Old Aberdeen.

10 the travel centre at 47 Union St, which also hands out

transport maps; each time you travel the fare is deducted
from the card. Late-night services on Friday and
Saturday - the last leaving at around 3.15am - cost a
flat £3, and head to seven separate destinations on the
city's outskirts.

BY BUS
Most of Aberdeen's buses are operated by First. You can
buy an all-day ticket covering city routes aboard any
First bus for £4.70 (£4.10 after 9.30am on weekdays),
and you can get a weekly pass for £18. If you plan to use
the buses a lot, you can buy a First TravelCard (in £10 or
£20 denominations) from the depot at 395 King St, or

BY TAXI
Taxis operate from ranks throughout the city centre, all of
which attract long queues after the pubs and clubs empty
at the weekend. If you don't manage to hail one, call
Rainbow Taxis ( T 01224 878787) or ComCab Aberdeen
( T 01224 353535).

INFORMATION
Tourist o ce 23 Union Street, near the junction with
Broad Street (July & Aug Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm, Sun
10am-4pm; Sept-June Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun
11am-4pm; T 01224 269180, W aberdeen-grampian.
com). The staff here can book accommodation for you (£4
booking fee, plus 10 percent of the accommodation cost)
and internet access is also available (£1/20min). The tourist
o ce can also provide you with excellent leaflets detailing

themed heritage trails around the city, each with a
different focus, from maritime history and sculpture to the
city's use of granite.
Listings magazine/website Keep your eyes peeled for
the free “What's On” programme published by Aberdeen
Performing Arts, which lists upcoming events, art
exhibitions and theatre productions. For details of local
gigs, try W aberdeen-music.com.

ACTIVITIES
Football The local football team, Aberdeen, struggles to live
to up its golden era of the 1980s when then-manager Alex
Ferguson brought home league titles and European trophies.
Home fixtures take place at Pittodrie Stadium ( T 08719
831903, W www.afc.co.uk), between King St and the beach.

Golf There are good options for golfing around
Aberdeen; the municipal Kings Links ( T 01224 641577,
W kings-links.com) has a driving range and an artificial
putting area near the beach.

ACCOMMODATION
The emphasis on business trade means weekday rates can be considerably more expensive than weekends (the prices
quoted here). Even in low season the whole city is frequently booked up, so it pays to arrange accommodation a week or
more ahead of your arrival.

modestly priced taste of Scotland (see opposite). £69
Ferryhill House 169 Bon Accord St T 01224 590867,
W ferryhillhousehotel.co.uk. This mansion is set in its
own grounds within walking distance of Union Street.
Offers good-value lunches and a great Malt Roo m for
guests to sample real ales and whisky by a roaring fire. £55
Hilton Garden Inn 31 St Andrew St T 01224 451444,
W hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com. Beyond this central
building's glass and stone façade are comfy but brashly
designed rooms, with deep-red carpets and splashes of

HOTELS
Aberdeen City Centre Hotel 9 Belmont St T 01224
658406, W aberdeencitycentrehotel.co.uk. A smart little
place tucked away on pedestrianized Belmont Street; the
rooms feature spa baths. There are bar gain weekend rates
and they also have apartments to rent. £65
Carmelite Stirling St T 01224 589101,
W carmelitehotels.com. Handily located near the Union
Square mall, fusing tradition and modern style in a
revamped 1820s hotel. The kitchen serves up a surprisingly