Days Out / Experiences
Visit Aberdeenshire "What's On" https://www.visitabdn.com/whats-on/
Deeside and Cairn O’Mount Day Out
Crathes Castle, (www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/crathes-castle) now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, is the seat of the Burnett of Leys family who are related to the Arbuthnotts through marriage (e.g. Alexander Burnett of Leys, born c1535, married his first cousin Catherine Arbuthnot, dau of Robert Arbuthnot 1st of Fiddes; Alexander Burnett, born c1608, married Jean Arbuthnott at Arbuthnott Kirk in 1633; Sir John Forbes of Monymusk, 3rd Bt - son of Jean Burnett, married Hon. Margaret Arbuthnott in 1659.). There is a beautiful walled garden with gravel paths and the castle contains a significant collection of portraits.
We highly recommend Finzean Farm Shop (AB31 6PA, booking recommended T: 01330850710) for lunch. The stunning drive back from Finzean to Arbuthnott over the Cairn O’Mount incorporates spectacular views, and will take you through Fettercairn where there is the Royal Arch and the Fettercairn Distillery. The Distillery is open from 10.00am-4.00pm and a tour usually takes 45 minutes. The Ramsay Arms Hotel and Restaurant in Fettercairn serves good food, if you are looking for a place for supper.
*****
Montrose, Brechin and Angus beaches
House of Dun, (www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/house-of-dun) is an elegant Georgian house by the Montrose basin, originally home to the Erskine family and now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. There is a connection to the Arbuthnott family through the marriage of the 14th Laird Robert Arbuthnott (1521-1579) to Katherine Erskine of Dun. There are guided tours of the house, a coffee shop and gift shop, children’s activities and woodland walks.
The Pavilion (Melville Gardens, Montrose DD10 8HG T:01674 958188) is a really fun place to have lunch with great food. Booking is recommended.
For those who don’t already know, St Cyrus Beach is a spectacular sandy and dog-friendly beach that also harbours a Nature Reserve. A wonderful place for an afternoon stroll and a leg stretch.
The Quayside in Gourdon sells fantastic fish and chips for an early supper, which can be eaten-in or you can sit outside on the harbour wall watching the boats come in.
*****
Edzell and Glen Esk
Why not visit Edzell Castle, a ruined 16th-century castle with an early 17th-century walled garden. It is open from 9.30am - 5.30pm.
Sinclair’s Larder (T:01356 648 285) on Edzell High Street provides light lunches and delicious cakes.
Blue Door Walk to the Rocks of Solitude (www.walkhighlands.co.uk/angus) is a stunning amble upstream along the river North Esk. The entire walk is approximately 6.5miles.
The Tuck Inn in Edzell is famous for its incredible ice-creams and take-away fish and chips.
*****
The Mearns
Visit Dunnottar Castle, the ruined medieval fortress upon rugged east-coast headland, just south of Stonehaven (10 miles from Arbuthnott). Once a principle seat of the Keith family (the Earls Marischal of Scotland). The 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott’s first wife was Lady Elizabeth Keith.
Walk from Dunnottar along the stunning coastal path (1.5 miles) to Stonehaven Harbour and enjoy lunch at The Ship Inn, an ice-cream on the beach or fish and chips from the award-winning Bay Restaurant.
Go puffin and seal spotting at Catterline and Crawton before enjoying supper at The Creel Inn (www.thecreelinn.co.uk)
Visit Kinneff Old Curch which held the Scottish Crown Jewels during the seige of Dunnottar Castle www.kinneffoldchurch.com
