5 weekend activities for business travellers in Aberdeen

Aberdeen is known as one of Scotland’s leading business hubs, with tens of thousands of travellers visiting the city annually for its leading energy, engineering, property, legal and IT sector knowledge and expertise.

But did you know that if you take a short trip outside of the city, you’ll find that Aberdeenshire is home to a world-famous brewery, stunning golf courses and historic castles too?

The City Rooms Aberdeen team have shortlisted a handful of the hundreds of attractions throughout the region for you to enjoy during your downtime with us. You’ll find something to take your fancy in all four corners of the north-east – and a luxurious setting in which to rest and relax following your adventures.

A castle fit for the silver screen – and Windows 7

Dunnottar Castle in nearby Stonehaven
Image by aberdeenphoto.com

Having featured in – or been used as inspiration in – several Hollywood movies to date, Dunnottar Castle is a stunningly isolated marvel perched high above the North Sea. Inhabited since Pictish times, the castle is located only a few miles from the coastal town of Stonehaven to the south of Aberdeen, and is available for guided tours or for you to explore on your own.

As well as being used as a backdrop for countless films and TV shows including Hamlet, the castle is familiar to many as one of the desktop wallpapers available on Windows 7-equipped PCs.

An internationally-famous beer brand on your doorstep


Brewdog bar and restaurant on Union Street, 2 minutes from both City Apartments and Victoria Court
Image by aberdeenphoto.com

Scottish craft beer phenomenon BrewDog hails from the Aberdeenshire town of Ellon. Their DogTap taproom offers a level of interaction, history and occasion beyond that of Aberdeen’s three BrewDog bars, and has recently undergone a full transformation.

Easily accessible by bus or car, the taproom includes a beer library, heated terrace and ‘beer school’ – as well as a children’s play area for a true family day out. BrewDog’s chicken and waffles are a firm favourite with many, and their recently-expanded menu encompasses freshly-made pizzas, vegetarian/vegan options and mouth-watering burgers.

Spectacular golfing experiences


Aberdeenshire has many top ranking world class golf courses
Image by aberdeenphoto.com

The eighth oldest golf club in the world – and the home of the five-minute lost ball searching rule – Royal Aberdeen Golf Club was founded in 1780 and had royal status bestowed upon it in 1903 by Edward VII.

A traditional out-and-back links in the coastal district of Balgownie, its 18 holes are complemented by alluring seascapes and rolling dunes all around. This spectacular course was home to the Walker Cup in 2011, Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open 2014 and the Amateur Championship 2018.

A slice of Scottish heritage fit for royals


Balmoral Castle
Image by kolibri5 from Pixabay

Balmoral Castle, hidden deep within Royal Deeside, approximately 50 miles west of Aberdeen, is the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family. The region has enjoyed unbroken royal connections since the reign of Queen Victoria, who began the tradition of holidaying there in the early 1800s.

During the spring and summer, the castle grounds, gardens, gift shop and restaurant are open to the public on a daily basis. An attractive and entertaining walk set within the stunning scenery of the Cairngorms, the nearby Balmoral cairns hillwalk is home to the only granite pyramid in Aberdeen, erected in memory of Prince Albert.

A dram of perfect taste


Glen Garioch Distillery, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire
Image by aberdeenphoto.com

No trip to Scotland is complete without experiencing the national drink. The most easterly distillery in Scotland, Glen Garioch (pronounced ‘Geery’ in the local Doric dialect) is renowned for the malt it has produced since 1797.

Located in the town of Oldmeldrum, approximately 20 miles north-west of Aberdeen in the Garioch valley, the distillery is a local landmark – and often organises tasting events and tours, including its ‘Rare Pair’ cheese and whisky tasting sessions.

And when you’re finished with the day’s adventures, you can relax and recharge with the home comforts and sumptuous luxuries of The City and Victoria Court, including luxury beds with fast, free Wi-Fi and en-suite showering facilities where available.

For more information and to book, email: info@cityroomsaberdeen.com.