Top 10 this Father's Day in #BeautifulABDN
16 June 2016
It is Father’s Day this Sunday and as a father of 2 girls, aged 4 and 7 it is one of my favourite days of the year as we always spend it together as a family doing something and always having something nice to eat.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has such a range of great events and attractions so I put together a top 10 list of things that I hope my girls might consider doing with me on Father’s Day and hopefully it might provide your family with some inspiration too!
Macduff Aquarium
The award winning Macduff Marine Aquarium gives you the opportunity to see wildlife and sea creatures who make the Moray Firth coastline their home. The aquarium is suitable for kids of all ages and gives visitors young and old the opportunity to get up close and personal with sea creatures including Sea Horses, Atlantic Salmon and jellyfish.
Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve
Glen Tanar lies about 3 miles from Aboyne and boasts one of the largest and finest remnants of Scotland’s native pinewoods. The glen supports typical Scots Pine and pinewood plants and animals. Look out for Scottish crossbill, capercaillie and red squirrel, as well as plants like blaeberry and twinflower.
Codona’s Amusement Park
Codona’s is a family run amusement park on Aberdeen Sea Front. It offers a wide range of fun with rides and attractions including for the whole family including two roller coasters, Log Flume and new for 2016, the 80ft tall ‘Dead Man’s Drop Tower where you enjoy stunning aerial views before plunging back to earth!
Peterhead Prison Museum
Aberdeenshire’s newest visitor attraction has just opened to the public. Step back in time when you visit the former "HM Convict Prison, Peterhead" which officially opened in 1888. For the "inside story" of those brave personnel that staffed the first convict prison in Scotland from August 1888 to December 2013 what better way to learn than to visit and interact with guides in period costumes and see the cells and other key components of this complex that is known worldwide.
Braemar Highland Heritage Centre
An interesting and informative exhibition detailing Braemar’s unique history and geography, as well as its famous Highland Gathering and Royal connections. Also includes a quality shopping experience offering tartan, cashmere and Scottish giftware.
Energetica Festival
As part of the Energetica Festival you could enjoy a Nature Photography for Beginners walk. Join Alan Belton, experienced amateur wildlife photographer at the RSPB Dolphinwatch site for a walk around Girdleness, Aberdeen. Together you will explore the coast and discover the nature that lives there, while discussing a variety of different techniques for taking engaging wildlife pictures. This walk will focus on photographing wild flowers and the surrounding nature.
Banffshire Coast
Enjoy quality family time by the sea on the Banffshire Coast at Whitehills. Enjoy a walk around the town train which features interpretation boards featuring old photographs of Whitehills in days gone by. Whitehills has great places to eat including the Galley by the harbour and the Seafield Arms which is close to Watergaw Ceramics. Based in the former Methodist Church, you can watch resident potter Fiona Duckett creating a range of very special pottery. It is all finished with a unique glaze called ‘In Glaze Lustre’ which adds colour and iridescence to the pottery. For the kids, the play park in Whitehills is amazing with assault courses and play equipment set against the backdrop of Banff and Macduff and towering sea cliffs at Troup Head.
Falconry Weekend, Aboyne
A weekend of Falconry at Belwade Farm at Dess near Aboyne. Witness breath taking flying displays with a Buzzard, Eagle Owl, Barn Owl, Peregrine Falcon and Harris Hawk - daily at 3pm. Individual Experiences on offer during both days by booking.
Explore Royal Deeside with Geocaching
Scotlands only GeoTour runs along the Deeside Way from Drumoak to Ballater, continuing up to Braemar featuring 20 caches. To add to your enjoyment, there are also a number of mini-trails leading you into some of Deeside’s historic landmarks, local estates, iconic villages, forestry trails and lochside walks – some 70 new caches in total have been hidden throughout the valley.
Aberdeen Science Centre
Aberdeen Science Centre is Scotland’s first science and discovery centre and is home to interactive, hands-on exhibits and live science shows. There are over 50 interactive exhibits, daily shows, demonstrations and workshops as well as special events throughout the year.
All information is correct at the time of publishing, we recommend that you check opening times and information for individual places before visiting.