Smitten by Scotland since childhood, travel writer Rebecca Gibson moved to Moray and started exploring her new home region on foot to produce this new title in Bradt's award-winning series of Slow travel guides to UK regions. Walkers, cyclists, wildlife lovers, families, history and folklore enthusiasts, and foodies are all catered for, with coverage of a wide range of attractions. As the only comprehensive guidebook to North East Scotland in print, it also contains all the practical information you could need to plan and enjoy time in this thrillingly diverse yet largely under-explored part of Britain. This region of mountains and coasts, ancient Caledonian pine forests and salmon-rich rivers harbours much to enthral and surprise. Long famous among hillwalkers, mountaineers and nature lovers, the Cairngorms is the UK's largest National Park and holds five of its six tallest summits but also abounds in fairy folklore. Balmoral Estate has been a royal residence since Queen Victoria's reign, while Aberdeenshire with its unique language, Doric has Scotland's highest density of castles and numerous Pictish stone circles among an astounding 30,000 sites of historical and archaeological interest. Between Inverness and Aberdeen lies the less-familiar region of Moray, which hosts the world's most northerly population of bottle-nosed dolphins, Scotland's oldest independent museum, and Forres, where Shakespeare's Macbeth met the three witches. Here the Scots language and culture are celebrated through gatherings such as fire festivals. This guidebook's Slow approach to travel fits with a growing ethos of sustainability in this part of Scotland, from Findhorn Ecovillage to a celebration of locally sourced, artisan and organic food alongside the well-known products of whisky, Aberdeen Angus beef and River Dee salmon. Key heritage attractions are described in intimate detail but so too are opportunities to see some of Scotland's most special wildlife, from pinewood-dwelling crested tits to high-altitude specialists like ptarmigan. Whether you are keen to visit castles or indulge in whisky-tastings amid Britain's highest concentration of distilleries, to hike among Cairngorm's remote mountains or to stride boldly along miles upon miles of coastline, discover North East Scotland with Bradt's unique Slow guide.

Vorwort
. Best-selling series: sales of Slow guides have almost doubled, 2019-2021 (source: Nielsen) . The only standalone travel guide to this varied region . In August 2023, Scotland will host the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships, the biggest-ever cycling event . Visit Scotland anticipates the 'new normal' moving "towards slow tourism" in the country . Expert author, resident locally About Bradt Travel Guides . Founded in 1974, Bradt is now the largest independent guidebook publisher in the UK with over 200 titles in print . Serial WINNER of the Gold award for Best Guidebook Series in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards . Bradt guides are written by authors who really know their destinations. Many are resident there, or have been visiting regularly over a number of years

Autorentext

A resident of Moray, Rebecca Gibson (www.rebeccaonthewing.com) was afforded an unusual opportunity to explore her new home region entirely on foot when the UK entered lockdown in March 2020. After restrictions lifted she began wandering further, sampling homegrown food and wild sights one walk at a time. Upon discovering the Slow movement, Gibson realised she naturally adopts a Slow approach when exploring new places. She writes immersively, encouraging people to connect deeply with the countryside and natural world. As a photographer, Gibson is fascinated by the diversity of wildlife in North East Scotland, enjoying watching species as varied as crested tits and basking sharks. Gibson's work has been featured in publications including BBC Wildlife, Oceanographic and Hertfordshire Life. She is also a regular contributor to Blue Sky Wildlife and promotes the company's ecotourism holidays through her articles. She has a Master's degree in Travel and Nature Writing.

Zusammenfassung
Slow North East Scotland travel guide. Tourist information and holiday tips including castles, Pictish stone circles and other heritage attractions, walking, wildlife, accommodation, local food. Thorough coverage features Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Caledonian pinewoods, Balmoral royal estate, mountains, lochs, whisky distilleries, festivals

Inhalt

Going Slow in NE Scotland

Practical Information

The Guide

Chapter 1 Cairngorms National Park: West

Chapter 2 Cairngorms National Park: East

Chapter 3 Central Moray

Chapter 4 Moray Coast

Chapter 5 Banff & Buchan (Aberdeenshire)

Chapter 6 Formartine & The Garioch (Aberdeenshire)

Chapter 7 Marr (Aberdeenshire)

Chapter 8 Aberdeen City

Appendices

Accommodation

Index