Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city, a prosperous cosmopolitan city with an international well-travelled population. The city has a wide variety of arts and culture to tempt visitors. Aberdeen's famous 'Granite Mile' - Union Street - is the gateway to over 800 shops, restaurants and bars. Aberdeen is 13 times winner of Britain in Bloom, and has its own golden sandy beach.

Uncover the history of Old Aberdeen by visiting King's College and St Machar's Cathedral. In the city centre, discover Aberdeen's oldest private town house, the 16th-century Provost Skene's House, now a museum. The collection at the Aberdeen Art Gallery includes impressionists to modern Scottish artists.

A coastal walk, over the River Dee to Torry, puts Aberdeen in context. At the end of Victoria Road, a circular route passes Nigg Bay, Girdle Ness Lighthouse and Torry Battery, a ruined 19th-century fort.

Aberdeen is known to many as the City of Roses. Around 12,000 different types of roses cover every square inch of Duthie Park's Rose Hill, enthusiasts say it's as colourful as an artists paint box in the height of summer. Nearby Hazelhead Sculpture Park, will captivate you with its beautiful scents and colours, and mixture of traditional and modern art sculptures. The Piper Alpha Memorial, a rose garden, in Hazelhead Park, is dedicated to the memory of the 167 oil workers lost to the North Sea in 1988.

The scenery throughout Aberdeen is stunning and varied with a wealth of natural features. For those outdoor types who wish to experience 'Natural Aberdeen' discover some fantastic scenic spots found off the beaten track.

Things to See and Do

* 'Granite Mile' - Union Street
* Duthie Park's Rose Hill,
* Magnificent castles
* Provost Skene's House
* Maritime Museum

General information

Cruise Season - March to Nov
Currency - Pound Sterling (£)
Language - The local dialect is Doric
Land Area - 78,782 km² (Scotland)
Population - 212,125.
Electricity - 2 vertical Square pins and one perpendicular below British style
Time -GMT/UTC plus 0 hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 44

Port Location - The Port of Aberdeen is located in downtown Aberdeen.

Transport Links - Dyce Airport is situated 7 miles from the city centre. The airport offers a wide range of domestic and international flights. Aberdeen Station is located right in the middle of town, next to the Harbour and Bus Station, slightly down from Union Street, the main thoroughfare. Aberdeen lies halfway along the long A90 arterial road that hugs the eastern, North Sea coast of Scotland between Dundee and Peterhead. With relative ease this permits access by car from points across Britain.

Aberdeen does not have a particularly good local rail service to the local outlying areas, but it does exist. Taxis are widely available from a number of ranks dotted around the city centre. Aberdeen has a fairly decent bus network, though it is expensive to use.