Whilst we were staying at The Aberdeen Altens Hotel we spent some time in Stonehaven.  Both the hotel and a good friend who lives in Stonehaven recommended that we needed to visit a few specific places in Stonehaven.  

Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle is quite a spectacle.  We had a fantastic visit to the castle just be aware there are a lot of steps down to the sea stack and it is shut during high winds and other bad weather. The castle was in the Marischal family for years until it was taken away due to the family supporting the Jacobite cause. At one time the castle even held a pet lion!

 The cliff top view is spectacular and there is a fair amount of ruins to admire.  It’s a very colourful history and features several names that you might have heard of including William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots.

Aunty Betty’s Ice Cream & Sweet Shop

We absolutely loved Betty’s!  The ice cream is delicious and locally made, with a huge variety of flavours.  Lots of normal flavours, but also the more unusual such as irn bru.  Each ice cream is accessorised with a host of sweets and wafers.  Which makes a great treat for everyone!

Aunty Betty’s also sells a huge range of sweets, both branded and homemade, as well as dog treats and cones for man’s best friend.  If you’re looking for somewhere to stop for a treat, then this is where to go when in Stonehaven.

Stonehaven Beach

The beach has both sandy and pebble sections.  Perfect for walking along and for kids to dig or throw stones into the sea.  Three guesses to which beach my two boisterous children loved best?! The pebbles of course!

Admittedly it was my favourite too, you can find lots of tiny pieces of sea glass amidst the pebbles.  I definitely have a thing for sea glass since I started making sea glass jewellery when I was younger.

If you are lucky you may even see some wildlife out in the sea.

The Land Train

During the spring and summer months there is a small road train that takes passengers to various sights around Stonehaven, including Dunnottar Castle. It’s a particularly fun way to visit the castle with little kids!

You can catch the land train in various locations, however it starts at Market Square.  Have a look at their Facebook page for more information on times and dates it’s running.

Tolbooth Museum

Stonehaven’s Tolbooth Museum houses a varied collection of items from the local area.  Including items used as part of the fishing industry, household items and lots of items from the days the building served as a prison.  Including an intact cell.

The museum is run by volunteers and is currently the most popular museum in Aberdeenshire Council area.

Other Things To Do Near Aberdeen

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