North East Scotland

The shoulder of Scotland between the Cairngorms and the North Sea. Aberdeen is built almost entirely of silver granite; Royal Deeside runs inland past Balmoral, the royal family's Highland home; Speyside packs in more malt whisky distilleries than anywhere on Earth; and the Castle Trail links a string of tower houses and baronial piles across Aberdeenshire. Dundee, to the south, is a UNESCO City of Design.

Best time: May–Sep; the distilleries run year-round

• The Speyside whisky trail
• Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle
• Aberdeenshire's Castle Trail — Dunnottar, Craigievar, Crathes
• Aberdeen's granite city centre and beach
• Dundee — V&A Dundee and the RRS Discovery