Coastal Villages of Aberdeenshire
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Visit the stunning Northeast Coast of Aberdeenshire and it will steal your heart. On this tour we will visit some of the region's most dramatic coastline.
Taking time to wander through some of the most beautiful fishing villages including Gardenstown and Crovie, to learn about its maritime past and present. Hear stories about a few influential characters and ‘Local Heroes’ who called this countryside home.
From working harbours to abandoned castles and tall cliffs where the seabird colonies cling to nest, this tour will immerse you in the heritage of the northeast and its connection to the sea.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Gardenstown
Explore the north Aberdeenshire coast During the first part of our journey, we make our way through the Aberdeenshire countryside, to the coastal villages of Gardenstown and Crovie. Built into the red sandstone cliffs the villages have a special and remote atmosphere. From the lovely harbour and beach, you can look out over the Moray Firth and perhaps catch a glimpse of the dolphins and other wildlife in the bay. The village of Gardenstown recently celebrated their 300th naming anniversary, and its harbour has a fleet of small fishing boats. On the quayside, you can occasionally see men preparing their lobster pots for the next catch, as well as the Salmon House which contains the Heritage Centre. We encourage you to take a walk along the coastal path which take you to Crovie, dating from the 18th century, if the tide allows. Crovie is the smallest and most remote of Buchan cliff-foot fishing villages, it comprises a single row of houses, most gable-end to the sea.
Pennan
We need a Hero Pennan came into existence as a fishing village in the 18th century. The people of Pennan were dependent on the sea and most families had small boats, often multiple generations of the same family lived in the village. With a pebble stone beach and smart houses with colourful windows, there is a charm and peacefulness in the village that tempts you to linger and listen to the waves. Pennan became famous in the 1980s for being used as one of the main locations for the film Local Hero and representing the fictional village of Ferness. Film enthusiasts have come from all over the world to make a phone call in the red telephone box which featured in the film.
What‘s Included
WiFi on board
Lunch
Options
North East Coast Tour
Reviews
69 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great Coastline visit.
Louis C,May 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Alex was a great guide. His teaching experience, history knowledge, and flexibility served us all really well. I highly recommend.
Don't miss out!!
Nitin S,May 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very well planned trip around the coastal villages of Aberdeen. Our guide Alec/Alex was AMAZING. Every minute of that 8 hour trip was fun and informative for the curious souls. The day went from cold, rainy, sleety to sunny and everything in-between but Alex's energy was 100% all day. Learned a lot about Scottish history , fisherman and coastal life. And finished the tour off with majestic and adorable hairy coos watch. All in all day and money well spent. Ty Alec you wonderful soul!!
Great day out visiting the coast of Aberdeenshire.
juliemK6274YN,May 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a day of history, wondrous historical villages and a great meal of fish and chips. Our guide Jamie was a font of knowledge and delivered a great day out. Our second tour with Grampian escapes and it didn’t disappoint.
Best tour ever!!!
Michelle K,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour guide Alex Duncan was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about everything Scottish. The information he shared included history, geography, current events, and lore. He was friendly and patient. Also a good driver! I couldn’t have been happier with my tour! I want to visit again with my family and share this experience with them.
Tour of Aberdeenshire
O8123ONerinh,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic trip discovering the Aberdeenshire coast and fishing villages. Our guides Alex and then Jamie made the trip both enlightening and fun. Scenery at every spot was amazing and at times, breathtaking. We had a great day. Thanks Alex and Jamie.
What a beautiful day!
ChrisM13615,Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Right from the beginning of the tour you can tell Jacqueline loves Aberdeen and with good reason. What a beautiful road trip we had. The scenery is spectacular! Jacqueline was a great guide and went above and beyond to make sure I saw everything on my bucket list. I highly recommend Jacqueline and Grampian Escapes Tours and would book with them again in a heartbeat.
Aberdeenshire with Alex Duncan
583jeannettec,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Alex Duncan, our guide and driver, was excellent and congenial: engaging, deeply knowledgeable and conversational about a wide range of topics related to the coastal villages and Aberdeenshire in general, appropriately flexible to the group's preferences, a professional driver. I would welcome opportunities to take more tours lead by him.
Do yourself a favor & book this!
Pam K,Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had 7 on our tour + Alex our guide. What a beautiful day we had! Alex was fantastic. Knowledgeable, funny, as well as helpful. The coastal views were gorgeous. W/o a tour, we would not have been privileged to see the beauty that is Aberdeenshire. Alex made it all come alive. We had a great group of people. Enjoyed it very much. Spend the money and sit back and enjoy! Thanks Alex!
What a wonderful day out
Guide50379845965,Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful day out with the nicest guide possible. Lovely landscapes. I've been waiting for some time to visit Scotland, I've seen so many movies and documentaries and I have to say, it was all worth it. Highly recommend.
Alec was very personable...
Bonnie C,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Alex was very personable and informative. Loved that there were only 7 people on the tour and we definitely drove places that I’d never trust myself to drive to! Beautiful photo stops! I would have preferred to stop somewhere else than Peterhead for lunch. The town has definitely seen better times. I loved all the other stops/drives. Seeing hundreds of seals at Newburgh Beach was a great ending! And thanks to Alex for the dinner recommendation at The Globe! It was a perfect end to a fun day!
From £104.00
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Operated by Grampian Escapes Tours Ltd