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The “Granite City” has beautiful buildings, year-round floral displays and a long beach fringed with entertainments, including the Beach Leisure Centre and the Satrosphere, a science discovery complex. Provost Skene’s House (once home of a 17th-century provost, or mayor, of Aberdeen) is the oldest building, dating from 1545, while Marischal College is one of the world’s largest granite edifices. The Maritime Museum (charting the nautical world from ship-building to ship wrecks) is outstanding, as is the Art Gallery, which mixes temporary contemporary shows with a collection spanning the 18th–20th centuries.

Bordering the salmon pools of the River Dee, Queen Victoria bought this castle – her “dear paradise” – in 1852. Balmoral remains the holiday home of the monarch to this day and, consequently, the rolling countryside around the banks of the river has taken on the royal moniker. Cast an eye round the castle’s sumptuous ballroom, then make the most of the enchanting forest walks.

A superb range of mountain peaks surrounded by pine forests and lochs. Ideal for testing walks, lively watersports and inspiring scenery (see The Cairngorms) .

On a peninsula jutting into the Moray Firth is this vast fort complex, built at enormous expense 250 years ago and still used as an army barracks today. Immensely impressive defences now guard a vintage armoury. Check out the special summer events (see Fort George) .

These charming communities thrived in the herring boom of the 19th century, but today only Lossiemouth, Buckie (with its excellent Drifter Museum), Macduff and Fraserburgh continue as fishing ports. Crovie (pronounced “crivie”) is the pick of the bunch. Access is by foot only, its picturesque street strung out below cliffs – a fabulous setting. The walk to Gardensown is an adventure for the sure-footed (see Best-Kept Secrets) . Findhorn – famous for its spiritual community – is beautifully located on a sandy lagoon. A tour of the coastal road (highly recommended) will reveal a dozen other villages, each with its own unique character to divine.