Dogging in Aberdeen and the North East: area guide

The lie of the land in Aberdeen and the North East

Aberdeen is the hub, a granite port city with an airport at Dyce and a big harbour. Around it, Aberdeenshire runs out to Peterhead and Fraserburgh on the Buchan coast, to Stonehaven in the south and inland to Inverurie, Ellon, Huntly and Banchory. Moray sits to the north-west, with Elgin, Forres and the coast towns along the Moray Firth.

West of the city the land climbs. Royal Deeside and Donside lead into the eastern Cairngorms National Park, with high moors, forestry and long glens. Buchan is flatter, with big skies and open farmland, and the cliffs near Stonehaven and the dunes and long beaches north of the city are only a short drive away.

Distances between towns are bigger than they look on a map. Quiet roads on the edge of a village can stay surprisingly busy late into the evening, without any clear cause.

Getting about safely

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route gives a fast bypass around the city and links the A90 north and south. The A90 runs south to Stonehaven and Dundee and north to Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The A96 heads north-west through Inverurie, Huntly and Keith to Elgin and Inverness. The A93 follows Deeside towards Braemar. Rush hour is heavy at the river crossings in and out of the city.

Trains run from Aberdeen south to Dundee and Edinburgh, and north-west to Inverurie, Huntly, Keith, Elgin and Inverness. There is no passenger line to Peterhead or Fraserburgh, so buses and cars take over. Evening services are limited, so check your last train or arrange a taxi home.

Weather is a real hazard. Sea fret, a cold fog off the North Sea, can blanket the coast in summer. In winter, heavy snow can close high routes such as the A939 over the Lecht and parts of the A93, and ice builds quickly on country roads. Winds are strong on open Buchan roads. Many rural roads are unlit with deer, so slow down at dusk. Signal drops in the glens. Carry warm clothing and tell someone your plan.