North East Scotland Facts

Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh is home to the first “official” lighthouse built in Scotland. The light tower was added to the top of an existing building. It was in use from 1st December 1787 until the early 1990s. The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses is situated next to Kinnaird Head.

The Brig O’ Balgownie was built around 1320. It is a single span bridge with a pointed arch over the River Don. It is situated over a deep pool of water called the Black Neuk. It features in Lord Byron’s poem Don Juan.

During World War Two, Balmedie beach was designated as a Bomb Cemetery, where defused or unexploded bombs from German air raids on Aberdeen would be taken to be detonated or stripped of explosives. There are also the remains of some pillboxes and anti-tank blocks.

Marischal College in Aberdeen in the second largest granite building in the world.

Arbroath Abbey’s circular window in the south transept gable, known as the ‘Round O’, became a landmark for ships passing by.

Dundee is famous for the 3 Js - jute, jam and journalism. The city was the birthplace of comic characters Desperate Dan, Dennis the Menace, Oor Wullie and The Broons.

North East Scotland Featured landmarks

Arbroath Abbey, Balmedie sand dunes, Bennachie, Brig o’ Balgownie, Broughty Castle, Desperate Dan statue, Discovery Point/RSS Discovery, Dunnottar Castle, Lighthouse Museum Fraserburgh, Aberdeen Harbour Marine Operations Centre, Marischal College, Oil industry, Torry Battery