Discover Some of the Best Beaches in Aberdeenshire
Our top beach recommendations and other adventures to be had while exploring the Aberdeenshire coastline.
Not everyone thinks of the North East of Scotland when it comes to beaches, but Aberdeenshire is home to some truly beautiful coastal spots. From wide sandy bays and dramatic cliffs to hidden coves and watersports, there’s plenty to discover along this stunning stretch of coastline.
Stonehaven Beach is the closest beach to Deeside Holiday Park and one of the most popular in the area. This long sandy beach sits beside the charming harbour town of Stonehaven and offers a great mix of seaside walks, independent shops, cafés, and family-friendly attractions. The beach is especially popular during the warmer months, while nearby Dunnottar Castle provides one of Scotland’s most iconic coastal views.
If you’re interested in wildlife, watersports, or simply enjoying a peaceful walk by the sea, Aberdeenshire offers something for everyone. From paddleboarding and dolphin spotting to scenic cliff-top walks and nature reserves, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the coastline.
Below are some of our favourite beaches and coastal attractions to visit during your stay at Deeside Holiday Park.
Balmedie Beach
This Park has a long stretch of beautiful sandy beach behind which are sand dunes, great and small, to explore. A total of 1700 metres of boardwalk assists visitor access through the dunes. The park is within part of a dune system that stretches 14 miles from Aberdeen to just north of the mouth of the River Ythan at Newburgh.
Aberdeen Beach
A short distance from Aberdeen city centre, you might be surprised to find a mile-long beach of golden sand. The Art Deco-inspired esplanade runs from Footdee (pronounced locally as Fittie), an idyllic fishing village with buckets of charm, to Donmouth Nature Reserve.
Stonehaven Beach
Stonehaven is a popular sand and shingle coastal resort beach, which is well used by water sports enthusiasts. The area designated is Stonehaven Bay, which is approximately 1.1km in length, bound by the overflow of River Cowie to the north and the River Carron to the south by the salmon lane.
Forvie National Nature Reserve
With some of the largest sand dunes in Britain, Forvie is one of Scotland’s most dramatic stretches of coast. The mud flats of the Ythan Estuary provide a fast food refuelling stop for many passing birds, and the mouth of the estuary is a year-round haulout for seals.
Stonehaven Paddleboarding
Based in Stonehaven Harbour, which is an amazing, safe place to learn and using the stunning coastline to explore and perfect your technique. Lessons from beginner to advanced and tours including ‘Mini Castle Caves and Coves Tour’ and Day Tours to Catterline.
Stonehaven Outdoor Pool
This is a huge, Olympic-size swimming pool filled with clean seawater heated to 29°C/85°F and surrounded by sheltered sun terraces. Open each year, daily from late May to early September, it offers a great fun day out for families as well as quiet swims, entertainment and midnight swims in high season.
RSPB Dolphinwatch
Torry Battery is a fantastic spot to see dolphins all year round. With panoramic views of the harbour mouth and the North Sea, you may also enjoy spectacular sightings of marine wildlife such as seabirds, seals, otters and whales.
RSPB Fowlsheaugh
The spectacular cliffs at Fowlsheugh are packed with more than 130,000 breeding seabirds during the spring and summer months. These include guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, along with some puffins and fulmars too. If you’re lucky, you might also spot grey seals and dolphins in the water here.
