Along the Deeside Road

The Deeside Road follows the Dee River west from Aberdeen through beautiful countryside and into the highlands. We did this drive today and enjoyed many wonderful stops along the way.

The first was the Brig of Feugh, where the force and colour of the water amazed us all.

The Linn of Dee is near the source of the Dee and is a place mum came with her dad and mum many times as a child.

We had lunch and did some shopping in Ballater, one of many small towns along the route. 

Shopping! Yay tartan purse.

A day in Aberdeen

A little rain certainly didn't spoil our day exploring some wonderful places in this gorgeous city.

The St. Machar Cathedral is one of the oldest in the city and is quite spectacular, inside and out.

This is Kings College, University of Aberdeen, Ian Watt's alma mater.

The next 3 pictures are from 'Fittie', or Foot Dee, the original fishing village at the foot of the Dee River. These charming little cottages go for quite a price now, and the whole area attracts many tourists. Yes, it was raining. It's Scotland after all.

Fish and chips for lunch. And only the best for us of course.

I did a little shopping this aft and look what I found!

A fine Scottish Sunday

My cousin Mike and his wife Susan picked us up this morning and took us on a drive south of Aberdeen to Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle (of Mel Gibson, Hamlet fame). The castle tour, and the long walk in and out which includes hundreds of stairs, is not for the faint of heart! We all did it though and oh my, was it worth the effort. It was absolutely spectacular!

We had lunch at The Ship Inn in Stonehaven. Mum had Cullen Skink, mmmmmm. My meal of roast chicken wrapped in streaky bacon with honey and whiskey sauce, served with black haggis bon bons and Scottish clapshot was positively crackin'! 

Cousins!

What a great reunion with cousins!

Fiona, Wilłie, me, Pat, Mike and Ian.

Mum, Barry, Catriona and me.

Aberdeen!

Although we have been staying in Aberdeen, today was our first chance to get into the city for a wee while.

This gorgeous view has Marischal College off in the distance. Check out the blue skies; we are being credited for bringing the good weather.

You're welcome.

We met up with Pat and Heather and enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Rustico.

We visited these two well known Scottish shops and managed to do a little shopping. I found exactly what I was looking for. What a great start!

The North Sea Coast

We spent our second touring day today exploring Scotland's beautiful north east. It is truly glorious country! Around every bend in the road there is yet another more incredible ocean vista, with rocks, cliffs, powerful waves and quaint villages. Truly memorable.

Our first stop was this beach in Fraserburgh where both mum and dad spent time in their youth. You might expect that a beach as expansive and beautiful as this one would have more people until you step out of your warm car to the bitter cold wind and 10 degree temps!

Mum, Sheena and Euan all shared their very fond memories of playing on these rocks as kids.

Mum and I are smiling through shivers at New Aberdour beach, just west of Fraserburgh, along the northern coast of Scotland.

One of our favourite spots today was a small village called Pennan. Every cottage was right on the water and each had a clothesline right in front of it. What a setting!

Isn't this plate pretty much pure perfection?

Is this a food blog?

The scenery really is spectacular but it seems it's only the food pictures I take on my phone.

Here's tonight's dinner, thanks again to chef Euan.

Haggis, mince and tatties, and neeps.

Affa fine.