Aberdeen lifeboat station (Aberdeenshire)

Aberdeen Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland with the first being built on the North Pier in 1802. The crews here have been saving lives for over 200 years whether in the ocean or during floods inland. They have received 26 awards for gallantry! Aberdeen is an Observe station and has no access to the public as it is within the secure industrial harbour area. Visit by appointment only.

Footdee Beach is a sandy beach at the harbour end of the main Aberdeen beach. Footdee is known to the locals as “Fittie” – is a small village at the east end of Aberdeen’s harbour. Originally a fishing village, it comprises of two areas of fishing cottages built in two squares. It’s a popular beach for windsurfing, kayaking, jet skiing and fishing as well as the usual holiday makers sunbathing and swimming. There is good parking but no lifeguard. The nearest town is Aberdeen with all the facilities it has to offer and there are many attractions nearby.

Aberdeen Maritime Museum is on the Shiprow and tells the story of this city’s dependance on the sea. This is a great day out and the kids will love it for the highly interactive exhibitions on shipbuilding, fast sailing ships, the port and fishing. This is an award winning museum and the only place in the UK where you can see displays on the North Sea oil and gas industry. Aberdeen Maritime Museum offers visitors a spectacular viewpoint over the busy harbour. The museum was expanded to create five times the original exhibition space in the 16th century Provost Ross’s House. Aberdeen’s excellent collections of maritime paintings and objects are utilised to the full in the new museum, with touch screen consoles, computer visual databases, education room and hands-on exhibits all adding a new dimension for visitors and bringing the drama of the North Sea industries such as offshore oil, fishing and shipping, to life. The complex is open six days a week with a busy programme of special exhibitions and events throughout the year. The licensed Leading Lights Café – an attraction in itself – offers fine food in splendid surroundings and a first class shop sells a wide range or souvenirs, gifts, crafts, books and music with a distinctly nautical flavour. Facilities include:Education Room Café Shop Toilet Disabled facilities Tours

Provost John Ross was Lord Provost in Aberdeen, Scotland from 1710–1712 and his house is one of the oldest in Aberdeen.

Union Terrace Gardens is a public park and gardens of approximately 1 hectare situated alongside some great architecture on Union Terrace in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen beach itself is famous for its golden sand and its long curved length between the harbour (Footdee) and the River Don’s mouth. The beach suffers from the erosion of the sand so there are distinctive groyne or walls, to help keep the sand in place. The beach is popular with walkers, surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers, is backed by the famous Beach Esplanade where there are restaurants, a cinema and an amusement park. Other facilities by the beach include toilets, car parking and boardwalks in the dunes.