Unforgettable Experiences

Beaches and coastal walks are some of the main attractions along the 30 mile coastline. Clean water and soft sand make these spots popular for wild swimming and body boarding.

• Gardenstown Beach – Nearest to the chalets, sandy, accessible with a gentle curve.
• Pennan Village: A rugged village with houses built gable-end to the sea. 
• Inverboyndie: A sand beach with access via a path, recognized for its Keep Scotland Beautiful Seaside award. 
• Whitehills: A rock beach, accessible via a path. 
• Portsoy: A popular sand and rock beach, accessible from the Portsoy Caravan car park. 
• Sandend Bay: A popular sandy beach, accessible via a path and boardwalk, suitable for families and surfers. 

With such a range of natural wildlife on land, in the sea and in the air, visitors can choose to watch from afar or get up close.

• Fishing trips
• Dolphin watching
• Bird spotting (Troup Head Nature Reserve)

Whether you want a brisk hike or a casual wander, the surrounding area offers many options. Some will require suitable footwear and for the Scottish weather, we always recommend being prepared for sudden changes to the forecast. Walkers may want to use the what-three-words app to geo locate their movements. Here’s a selection of nearby options.

• Gardenstown to Crovie Viewpoint
• Crovie, Gamrie, and St John's Kirk
• Gardenstown, Crovie, and 5 Farms
• Duff House and Montcoffer Wood
• Banff Harbour and Whitehills
• Cullen and Findlater Castle
• Bin of Cullen

The proximity of Scotland’s northern coastline to the Scandinavian countries means our heritage over the many centuries has been influenced by these neighbours.

• St John's Church, Gamrie commemorates the Scots’ victory over the Danes at the Battle of the Bloody Pits in the 10th century.
• Banff Castle transitioned from a 12th-century motte-and-bailey fortress to the stunning Georgian mansion designed by John Adam in 1750.
• Duff House, Banff one of the largest and finest stately homes in the area, was designed by renowned architect Robert Adam and is now cared for by Historic Scotland.
• Slains Castle the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula is free to those wanting to enjoy it’s spooky remains.
• Findlater Castle built in the mid-1200s, this clifftop ruin reflects Scotland’s need for strong coastal defences. Strengthened by King Alexander III ahead of a planned invasion by King Håkon IV of Norway, it marks another link to the area’s Danish and Norse past.

Banff Harbour Marina features a historic harbour dating back to the 17th century, now home to a mix of small working fishing boats and leisure craft.

Fraserburgh Harbour is one of the area’s largest working fishing ports, dating back to the 16th century and still supporting a busy fishing fleet today.

Fish Market | Peterhead Port is home to Europe’s largest fishing port and the UK’s busiest whitefish market, where millions of pounds of fresh seafood are landed and traded daily.

North East 250 Route – the NE250 Trail – takes cars around the scenic coast from the road exploring six of Scotland's most inspiring regions. Drivers and passengers will see a range of castles and ruins, whisky distilleries, fishing villages as you travel between coastal villages and beaches and mountain roads.

Speyside is home to some of Scotland’s finest malt and blended whisky. Nearby distilleries that offer tours of their operations, including tasting experiences and that all important gift shop.

• Glenglassaugh distillery Roughly 30- mintutes from Gardenstown. This distillery was built in 1875 near the Glassaugh Spring, known for its pure water supply.

• Strathisla Distillery 45-minutes from Gardenstown, this distillery is known for producing the Chivas Regal brand.

• Speyside Cooperage Visitor Attraction Roughly an hour by car from Gardenstown, this facility shows where whisky barrels are made and repaired.

• The Macallan Estate: A 1 hour 15 minute drive from Gardenstown, this distillery has a new visitor center.
  

Scottish hospitality is known throughout the world, and local venues here offer a range of seasonal events.

• The Garden Arms (walkable)

• The Knowes Hotel and Restaurant, MacDuff (10 minute drive)

• The Pennan Inn (10 minute drive)