AberdeenAberdeenshire

The granite city, offshore oil industry, the University, the beach, and a fierce northern pride that matches any Scottish city

Built from local granite that glitters silver in the sun — Aberdeen has been called the Silver City. A major port since the Middle Ages, it became the oil capital of Europe after North Sea discoveries in the 1970s.

The Castlegate market area for food. Union Terrace Gardens after the redevelopment. Footdee (Fittie) — the old fishing village tucked behind the harbour — is extraordinary and most visitors miss it completely.