Living in Aberdeenshire – enjoying the great outdoors

Living in Aberdeenshire places you at the heart of Scotland’s beautiful Highland region where rugged mountain peaks dominate the skyline and deep valleys pooled with lochs abound.

Spectacular national parks, rugged east coast beaches, the Royal Aberdeen golf course and hundreds of miles of walking routes are all on the doorstep of your new home in Aberdeenshire.

To help you decide whether property in Aberdeenshire is right for your next home, we’ve rounded up just some of the outdoor pursuits that attract new residents to the area.

The Cairngorms National Park

This sensational national park spans an area twice the size of the Lake District, encompassing five of the UK’s six highest mountains, 55 munros, the UK’s only free-grazing reindeer and the highest railway in Britain.

During the summer months, walkers, cyclists and horse riders descend on the area before the winter snowfall that turns the park into a haven for downhill and cross-country skiing.

• Find out more about The Cairngorms National Park and other activities on offer.

The Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail – 4-day road trip

Explore the rugged coastline along this 165-mile route winding through the dramatic cliff tops, hidden beaches and charming towns of the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail.

This recommended route takes four days to complete and snakes through various nature reserves, towns including Cruden Bay and Fraserburgh, as well as alongside the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses and the beautiful Duff House.

• Discover the Aberdeen Coastal Trail route.

Walking routes in the Highlands

There is no shortage of walking routes across Scotland, and purchasing property in Aberdeenshire means you have the ideal base from which to explore.

Banff and Buchan in the north of Aberdeenshire offer beautiful walking routes through coastal regions and historic areas, while Bennachie offers a route to the peak of the Mither Tap where one of Scotland’s only Iron Age hilltop forts resides.

Towards the south of Aberdeenshire lies the expansive Cairngorms National Park, where a series of munros are just waiting to be bagged, while the peak of the Cairngorm Mountain lies 3,600ft above sea level with sensational views over the Moray Coast and the Strath valley.

• Choose your walking route based on terrain and difficulty.

Play golf in Aberdeenshire

The golf courses in Aberdeenshire are plentiful and various, offering an exceptional range of landscapes and challenges to tackle.

At number six in the world league table of golf course antiquity, the Royal Aberdeen Golf Course attracts a wide range of visitors hoping to soak up some of the history and breath-taking views.

Peterhead Golf Club is nestled within the sand dunes above the River Ugie and the North Sea to offer a challenging course with a history dating back to 1841.

• Find out more about the wealth of golf courses in Aberdeenshire.