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Town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Photo: Andrew Wood, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Stonehaven is a small fishing port in Aberdeenshire in North East Scotland, 15 miles south of Aberdeen. Its main attraction is Dunnottar Castle, scenically perched on a headland south of town.
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Medieval castle perched on a rocky promontory, with cliffs plunging down to the sea. Earlier forts were destroyed so the present structure was built circa 1400 and extended into a palace from 1581; it was partly dismantled in 1720. One of its famous episodes was the protection of the Scottish crown jewels and regalia. After Charles I was executed, his son landed in Scotland and was proclaimed King Charles II at Scone. Oliver Cromwell came in pursuit and eventually Charles had to flee, only regaining the throne from 1660. Meanwhile the crown jewels were brought to Dunnottar for safekeeping then, when Cromwell laid siege, they were somehow smuggled out to be hidden in Kinneff church 10 miles south.
14th-century towerhouse, rebuilt in 1761 as a Scottish Gothic-style Palladian manor. It's been converted into private dwellings and isn't open to visitors.
Breezy challenging course on the cliff tops. White tees 5103 yards, par 66.
A Stonehaven institution, an Olympic-sized open air pool with sea water heated to 28oC. Inflatables and water-aerobic sessions.
Fish and chip shop famous for inventing the deep-fried Mars bar in 1992, though the story only took off in the media in 1995. It became symbolic of Scotland's unhealthy lifestyle, but pundits fuming against it only spread its fame. So too did the shop's bid to have the product registered as an EU traditional specialty, and Mars Inc's po-faced response that "deep-frying one of our products would go against our commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles." In 2015 the council ordered the shop to take down banners claiming the invention, which to this day they cheerfully refuse to do. Fashions are fickle and a Nigella Lawson TV recipe was the death knell of its street cred. But it remains on the menu, though it's mostly tourists that buy the bars nowadays.
Informal bistro on quay next to Tolbooth serves excellent creative seafood.
They serve all the staples but post-pub blow-out it's not, it's a charming place where you can reminisce about your bygone days in Inja dontcha know.
Small Italian cafe serves good quality food at reasonable prices.
Serving Scottish breakfasts, home bakes, paninis, etc.
Ice cream shop.
Friendly authentic bar near the main bus stop.
Pub / restaurant with rooms in town centre.
Friendly guesthouse on the waterfront with great views.
Victorian pub with rooms overlooking the harbour. Real ale and good bar food.
Comfy welcoming B&B in a fisherman's cottage by the harbour, open March-Oct.
Stylish mid-town guesthouse.
Pleasant small guesthouse.
Comfy simple place with decent meals.
Site open Mar-Dec, well run, good facilities and just north of town. 76 tourer pitches but only 3 pitches for tents.
By bus
Stagecoach North Bus 8 runs hourly daytime from Aberdeen Union Square, taking an hour via Portlethen, Newtonhill and Chapeltown. At night take Bus X7.
By road
From north or south the quickest road is A90, which cuts inland. For a slower scenic route (eg cycling) take A92, which follows the coast from Dundee via Arbroath and Montrose.
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Aberdeen · International · ABZ
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