TravelScotland Logo TravelScotland Logo
Find Your Holiday Cottage...

Select either Friday or Saturdays for the best results. Click to search all Scottish Locations.

Notice

Google Geocoding API error: The request was denied.

Stonehaven

Stonehaven is famous for its fireball-swinging festival on Old Year's Night, an ancient pagan ritual and remarkable and super dramatic Dunnottar Castle

The solid and tidy old fishing port of Stonehaven lies 15 miles south of Aberdeen, where the coastal A92 joins the main A90 from Dundee. Nowadays Stonehaven is better known as a seaside resort, attracting a fair few visitors in the summer months.

Stonehaven was voted 'Scotland's best seaside town' in 2010.

Phone code: 44 (0)1569

Eating Out

The best place to eat in town is the excellent Tolbooth Restaurant, Tel. 62287, upstairs from the museum on the harbour. It's expensive but worth it for the excellent seafood. Open Tue-Sat 1830-2130 (1730-2200 Sat). The restored Carron Tearooms serve traditional high tea Wed-Mon 1330-1600 and boasts a wonderful art deco interior.

Six miles north of town at Netherley, on the B979, is the friendly and welcoming Lairhillock Inn & Restaurant, Tel. 01569-730001, a charming old coaching inn which offers excellent local produce in beautifully rustic surroundings at mid-range prices. Also has rooms at Lairhillock Lodge. A few miles south of Dunnottar Castle is the turn-off to Catterline, where you'll find the wonderfully cosy Creel Inn, renowned for its seafood.

Useful Websites

Region

Aberdeenshire

Travel Directions to Stonehaven

Stonehaven is on the Aberdeen-Dundee rail line and there are regular trains in either direction. The train station is a 15-min walk from the square. It's also served by buses 101, 107 and 707 from Aberdeen and there are also buses to and from Montrose. It's possible to head straight from Stonehaven to Deeside by taking the A957 (known as 'The Slug') to Crathes.

The Stonehaven Tourist Information Centre is at 66 Allardyce St, the main street past the square, Tel. 01569 762806. Apr, May and Oct Mon-Sat 1000-1300 and 1400-1700; Jun and Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1300 and 1400-1800, Sun 1300-1800; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 1000-1900, Sun 1300-1900.

Roads

A90 | A92 Dunfermline to Stonehaven

Activities

Local Sights & Activities for Stonehaven

Stonehaven's outdoor swimming pool - an art deco heated salt water pool - is open most days and also has occasional midnight swims (Tel: 01569 762134).

By the harbour is the Tolbooth Museum, built around 1600, and the town's oldest building. It now houses a seafood restaurant and local history museum. Jun-Sep Mon and Thu-Sat 1000-1200 and 1400-1700, Wed and Sun 1400-1700. Free.

Another attraction is the town's highly respected folk festival, held over three days in mid-July. Away from the harbour and old town is the market square, where you'll find banks with ATMs and most of the shops. Just off the square is Just Scottish, an excellent arts and crafts shop (open Mon-Sat 1000-1730).

Castles Nearby

  • Urie House

    Ruined 1885 baronial mansion in ruinous state that is dangerous internally but can be walked around.

  • Dunnottar Castle

    Striking position overlooking the sea near Stonehaven makes this one of the most inspiring and exciting castles to visit whatever the weather or season!

Local Pubs

Local Restaurants

Stonehaven Cottages and Holiday SelfCatering

 Guide To Scotland | Aberdeenshire | Cairngorms | North Highlands |  Ayrshire | Argyll | Inner Hebrides | Skye | East Lothian | Scottish Borders | Dumfries & Galloway | Fife | Perthshire | Outer Hebrides | Edinburgh | Scottish Castles | Stag Weekends | Hen Nights

Privacy | Terms | Find out about advertising on site | About HelpMeGo.To