STONE CIRCLES TRAIL
Stone circles can be found throughout Britain and Ireland, in various forms, and were erected between c.2700 – 2000 BC (the Bronze Age). Around 10% of the total number of stone circles recorded in Britain can be found in Aberdeenshire, and the region even boasts its own unique style of circle – the Recumbent Stone Circle.
VisitAberdeenshire
Found almost exclusively in Aberdeenshire, more than 70 examples of Recumbent Stone Circles have been recorded in the region. The distinctive feature of the Recumbent Stone Circle is a massive stone, laid horizontally on its side in the Southwestern or Southern arc of the circle, flanked by the two tallest stones of the circle.
Recumbent Stone Circles are usually found on the crests of hills or terraces, with wide southerly views, although in some cases the landscapes in which they now sit would be unrecognisable to their creators.
The sites listed present 10 of the best examples of Aberdeenshire’s stone circles.
Click here to view the PDF version.
Robert Gordon University, commonly called RGU, is a public university in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. It became a university in 1992, and originated from an educational institution founded in the 18th century by Robert Gordon, a prosperous Aberdeen merchant, and various institutions which provided adult education and technical education in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is one of two universities in the city (the other is the University of Aberdeen). RGU is a campus university and its single campus in Aberdeen is at Garthdee, in the south-west of the city.
Robert Gordon University provides industry led undergraduate and postgraduate courses leading to highly relevant awards and degrees.
RGU Website
Situated on one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK, the university provides facilities that will have a real influence on your capacity to learn.
Our teaching staff have an outstanding reputation for quality and academic research and our track record in graduate employment is amongst the best in the UK. Our range of degree courses include online degrees as well as traditional taught courses in subjects as diverse as art and design, management and engineering.
Resonating through our culture is the desire to foster collaborative relationships with local, regional and global communities to develop socially responsible citizens and promote ethical behaviour.
Robert Gordon University’s role in the community can be traced back nearly three and a half centuries to the birth of Aberdeen merchant and benefactor Robert Gordon in 1668.
Robert Gordon’s mercantile adventures were founded on a strong and remarkably modern belief that his investment in the education of his townsfolk would equip them with the skills and knowledge to strengthen their success in Europe and further afield.
Today, more than 260 years after his death, the University which bears his name remains true to his spirit and enterprise.
RGU Website
27th May 2019
This video is from the Storytellers YouTube channel
Published on 25 Apr 2017The route that circles around Scotland’s top north highlands has always been there, but never got a name, until not so long ago. Now, known as the North Coast Route 500, this natural itinerary moved in the limelight, and was nicknamed Scotland’s Route 66. This may sound daunting, but we have just been on a trip that strikes the perfect balance between planning and spontaneity, and is not to mention one of the most beautiful places we have ever encountered. If you want to take it easy and spend time at every attraction, you’ll need 7 days and a cheap car rental, and that’s all it will take to experience a whole new world Some great spot you’ll find along the road:
Day 1 Some spectacular sights, starting in the northernmost city in the UK, called Inverness. Bordered by rolling hills and castle ruins at Loch Ness, it’s as beautiful as it is mysterious. Stop at the Dunrobin Castle is just as beautiful. Everything about it, the gardens, spires and turrets makes it look like a castle that comes straight out of a fairy-tale, while Disney looks dismal in comparison. Just a short drive away is the Carn Liath, a prehistoric structure that takes you back to the iron age when it was originally built. Only 19 metres in diameter, it’s easy to get a real sense of the place and admire it in its entirety.
DAY 2: Brora to Thurso Wake up early and do a little bit of exploring in Brora, known for its golden sandy beaches and array of sea life. Dolphins, Minke whales and seals are regular visitors. Grey Cairns of Camster. These rare Neolithic stone tombs are definitely worth a visit. They hold immense historical value that were built over 5000 years ago, unveiling many secrets of that time. Characterized by immense cliff stacks, this impressive path leads to the remote Duncansby Head lighthouse. Perched on the corner of a sheer drop. Port Lybster is a fun stop over for who lover lighthouses.
DAY 3: Thurso to Durness Scotland is scattered with hundreds of these historical ruins, of both enchanting castles and landhouses. Another one to look out for is Castle Varig, which is well worth a short hike up a neighbouring hill that offers the best viewpoint of the castle, and a nearby loch. Secondly, an assortment of wildlife tours that take you to the perfect vantage points, where you can view the stunning local Puffins up close. Durness: the best artisan chocolate in all of Scotland, at the Cocoa Mountain Café and Chocolatier, and when paired with one of their famous coffee blends, you may just want to stay here all day. Smoo cave is truly exceptional, making it onto our list of top 5 experiences along the NC 500. It’s unique in that it’s formed by two caves, one fresh-water cave and one sea-water cave, linking together as one. The entrance has been formed by the action of the sea, whereas the inner chambers are freshwater passages, and if you dare enter the cave, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of a spectacular waterfall.
DAY 4: Durness to Ullapool Achmelvich beach is by far the best place to chill, with its soft white sand and pristine clear blue waters that could easily match those of the Maldives (except for the temperature).
DAY 5: Ullapool to Torridon Ullapool is a popular holiday destination for the Scots, and although it’s relatively big and touristy, it has its own unique charm that’s worth experiencing. When the crowds get too much, jump back into nature to see one of the natural wonders of the Highlands – Corrieshalloch Gorge.
DAY 6: Torridon to Strathpeffer Torridon boasts some of the most picturesque landscapes we’ve had the pleasure of seeing with our own eyes, and the perfect finale to a memorable trip. Wake up early and let the sunlight reveal it to you. Once you’ve had a chance to take it all in, head over to a peninsula called Applecross, made up of small-scale food producers. It’s relatively unknown to tourists and is home to a number of gems if you take the time to explore the community. Then to end the roadtrip off on a high, take a turn onto the Bealach na Ba road, meaning “The Pass of the Cattle”.
This is by far one of the most impressive roads in the UK, with remarkable views of , the whole of Skye, and the Islands of Rum and the Outer Hebrides while the road wind towards Strathpeffer.
DAY 7: Strathpeffer to Inverness Waking up in Strathpeffer, knowing it’s your final day, can’t help but make one feel slightly heart sore. However, there’s nothing quite like a spa day to make you feel better, and it just so happens that that town is known for its Spas.
by: Roxanne Boyes
Film and edit: Caspar Daniël Diederik
Protagonist: Enza di Lecce
http://storytravelers.com
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Crown Terrace is the only Methodist church in Aberdeen.
“In the late 1750s, a citizen of Aberdeen, Dr Memyss, approached John Wesley to send a preacher to Aberdeen and establish a Methodist society there. In 1759 John Wesley sent Christopher Hopper to preach. John Wesley himself came in 1761, the first of 14 visits to Aberdeen. The existing church building in Crown Terrace was erected in 1873.
In 2003 the main sanctuary was refurbished. The original pipe organ was dismantled by a team from Latvia who took it to Riga to be reassembled and used in a church there. The replacement is an electronic pipe organ built in Holland. All the pews were replaced by chairs (made in Poland), and a demountable stage was provided to allow greater flexibility and community access.
In 2009 Aberdeen celebrated the 250th anniversary of Methodism in the city.”
Crown Terrace Methodist website
Nuart Aberdeen is the only street art festival in Scotland and one of the UK’s leading festivals of its kind.
Artists from around the globe transform the walls and buildings of Aberdeen city centre with works of art that are free for all to enjoy 365 days a year.
Launched in 2017 this multi-award winning festival provides a platform for local, national and international artists to showcase their work and produce both large and small scale murals, sculptures and interventions with the support of local artists that resonate with the city, its surroundings and its history.
Originating in Norway in 2001, the team behind the annual Stavanger Nuart Festival worked in collaboration with Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council to bring the public art event to Aberdeen.
Since its launch Nuart Aberdeen has brought tens of thousands of people into the city all year round to enjoy the works of art for free. It has been truly transformational for Aberdeen and the city centre is a perfect stage for this now annual festival which has genuinely revolutionised the city centre.
Take the Nuart tour for yourself and explore Aberdeen City Centre.
VisitAberdeenshire
“Established in 2017, Nuart Aberdeen is an international public art festival created to present the most interesting and relevant Street Art of its time. It intends to activate, inspire and collaborate with an emergent local scene as well as encourage creative links and exchanges between local businesses, arts organisations, property owners, community centres, education institutions and members of the public across all ages and backgrounds.
Nuart Website
Nuart is dedicated to promoting art as part of people’s everyday lives, to bringing art and artists out of studios, basements and institutions and on to the city streets. We aim to stimulate debate by challenging entrenched notions of what public art is, what it can be and who it is for.
The festival provides public platforms for national and international artists to showcase their work through a series of carefully curated site-specific murals, installations, urban interventions and temporary exhibitions. The artists who attend the festival are among the most acclaimed and progressive street and urban art practitioners in the world.
The production of the public artworks is supplemented by Nuart Plus, an international program of academic talks, artist presentations, film screenings, walking tours, public workshops and fringe events that take place across multiple sites during the opening weekend.”
