Dog-friendly camping near Aberdeen
Enjoy all the amenities of a city with easy access to miles of hill country, forest, castles, and wild coastline.
Dog-friendly camping near Aberdeen guide
Where to go
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire’s bounds stretch from the coastal villages of Stonehaven in the east to Braemar and Ballater in the Cairngorms to the west. In summer, mountain bike the single-track through Royal Deeside or climb four of Britain’s highest peaks. In winter, hit the slopes at the Lecht or Glenshee ski resorts. More than 250 castles dot the open land, hills, and forest, and across the region, basic camping, glamping, and caravan parks are plentiful.
Angus
Just south of Aberdeenshire, Angus is home to the fishing villages of Montrose and Arbroath. Explore its rich history, from standing stones and the ancient Ardestie Earth House to Glamis Castle, inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Mount Keen, the easternmost Munro, looms over the Mounth Plateau.
Moray Coast and Speyside
North of Aberdeenshire, the area bordering the Moray Firth and the shores of the River Spey is known for its idyllic landscape, but possibly more so for the fact that it contains more than half of Scotland’s whisky distilleries. Follow the Speyside Way for a multi-day walk that swings past big names like Macallan and Glenfiddich. The Glenlivet Estate is renowned not just for the water of life, but for its excellent cycle tracks. Caravan parks, rustic holiday cottages, and tent sites dot Moray and Speyside.
When to go
There’s a reason to visit Aberdeen anytime of year, whether for the Highland Games in summer or the Christmas markets in November and December. The grey, wet weather and short days of winter can make the all-granite city feel a little gloomy, but when planning an off-season Scottish camping trip, it pays to be near the amenities of a larger city.
Know before you go
- Aberdeen has excellent train and bus connections to Inverness, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, along with its own airport that services domestic and European flights.
- Bus services connect the city with villages like Ballater and Braemar, but for easy access to the country and Glenshee, it’s best to have your own vehicle.
- Aberdeen is an excellent access point for Orkney and Shetland. Daily Loganair flights fly to Kirkwall in Orkney and Sumburgh in Shetland. The 12-hour overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick stops in Orkney, servicing passengers and vehicles. Be sure to book in advance, especially if you have a car, and keep seasickness tablets on hand for the notoriously rocky ride.