Out & About

Antiques, Bric-a-brac & other shopping:

Bookends in Portsoy – Old books. On the main road & open all the time. There is an antique store right next to it also.
Browse Around Antiques in Cullen - In the church on the main street going through Cullen. Open Sundays 2 – 5 pm
Cullen Collectables – On the street just past the square. Not sure of hours, but open quite a lot.
East Side Shopping in Banff (near Tesco) – Also known as the “Spotty Bag Shop”. Clothes to household goods & everything in-between!
Lynash Antiques in Banff – Near Tesco / open Thursday to Sunday & whenever you see the bicycle out front
Portsoy Marble at the harbour in Portsoy
Watergaw Ceramics, Chapel St., Whitehills – Beautiful handmade pottery with a luster finish. Open Monday to Sat. 10 am – 5 pm

North 58 - Join North 58° Sea Adventures, and the powerboat Buchaneer, for an exhilarating tour of the Moray Firth coastline and a fantastic wildlife watching experience.
Troup Head RSPB Nature Reserve - This is the only mainland gannet colony in Scotland. During the summer months it plays host to over 150,000 breeding seabirds. You'll see large numbers of gannets, fulmars, kittiwakes and guillemots, and you may even see puffins too. And keep your eyes peeled for seals and dolphins!

Balvenie Castle is right across the street from Glenfiddich Distillery. Great way to take in history & have a free tour of a whisky distillery.
Boyne Castle – ruined castle & very overgrown & crumbly. In between Whitehills & Portsoy on the coast road.
Duff House in Banff – Country house with antique furnishing & an art gallery.
Delgatie Castle - Gothic castle near Turriff
Findlater Castle – ruined castle between Portsoy & Cullen. It is sign posted, but sometimes hard to find.
Fyvie Castle in Fyvie, Turiff – Stunning castle & gardens
Huntly Castle in Huntly – beautiful ruined castle that is taken care of by Historic Scotland. There are 4 stories to explore, along with a Bake House, Brewery, & Dungeon.
King Edward Castle - Take the Turriff road to King Edward. When you see Castleton Farm, slow down because you will need to turn right & park in the car park. Walk across the street towards the pond walk . The castle is across a picturesque old bridge & up the dirt road to the left.

Beach walking for shells and stones
Fishing in the harbour – rods in the shed, other equipment available for rent at the corner shop
Dolphin watching in the bay, binoculars available on the coatpegs off the lounge

Sheltered, sandy beach located on a lovely cove w/sea cave nearby. Great for swimming and wading. The sea cave is called Hell’s Lum and was once used as a depot for smuggling goods.

Marine Aquarium – First Class aquarium with many local species. Touch tank for kids. Webcam showing Troup Head – bird sanctuary. Brochures available in welcome book.
Playground – located near Myrus Golf Center
Puffin Cruises – boat departs from MacDuff Harbour (brochures in welcome book)
Harbour – see all the fishing boats
Royal Tarlair Golf Course – open to public and kids welcome. Club rental available. No tee times needed for weekday play.

Duff House Playground. Located on the Duff House grounds - there is a very impressive playground for kids, no cost for entry to playground. Only the house tours require admission.
Princes Royal Sports Facility – across from Duff House Golf Course as you enter Banff. Skateboarding, tennis, basketball – must bring own equipment.
Eastside Warehouse – similar to a cheap Walmart, has toys and small sporting goods section. (take immediate right after crossing the bridge into Banff)

Cobble House Riding Center - Pony and Horseback riding available. Tel # 01466 780406 or Mobile 07880 820852.

Archaeolink is a multi award winning living history park and visitor attraction, with a central focus on education, participation and fun. (Tel # 01464 851500)

Duff House Royal Golf Course – park land golf course
Cruden Bay Golf Club - beautiful area of rolling and massive sand dunes
Cullen Bay Golf Course – designed by Tom Morris
Fraserburgh Golf Club – natural links course
Royal Tarlair Golf Course in MacDuff – seaside links course & known for the 13th hole called “The Clivet”

At lowtide, you can walk to St. John’s Kirkyard which is perched on the clifftop of |Gamrie Moor
Wonderful seaside stroll to Crovie, the next village over from Gardenstown
Discover Gardenstown website has 5 local walks that you can download
VisitScotland has some great walks for the area that you can download -
Banff & MacDuff website has a listing of walks in the area

Malt Whiskey Trail
Speyside Cooperage in Craigelleichie – Really interesting tour on how they make whiskey casks.
Glenfiddich Distillery –Very popular & FREE