The North East Coastal Trail
1 day
Look out for sea creatures, ancient castles, and beautiful beaches on this tour along Scotland’s North East Coast.
Tour map
Tour Highlights
Spey Bay - A coastal reserve boasting grasslands, brackish saltmarsh, wet woodland and dolphins.
Bow Fiddle Rock - Enjoy the views and take a photo of one of the most beautiful coastal sights in eastern Scotland.
Bullers of Buchan - A remarkable collapsed sea cave and a home to Puffins, Kittiwakes, and beautiful seabirds.
Cullen - The home of one of our favourite Scottish dishes, Cullen Skink. A simple fish soup that’ll warm you up in no time.
Slains Castle - This castle overlooks the cragged coastline and inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Your journey
A bird watcher’s dream, a curious coastal spectacle, and a little bit of Count Dracula: Sounds like an interesting trip, doesn’t it?
On this tour, you venture from Aberdeen and travel along Scotland’s North East Coast. You stumble upon strange caves and rock formations, spot dolphins at sea, and admire a grand castle that inspired scenes from Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Your driver-guide keeps you entertained with stories from the past and will even recommend their favourite place to taste traditional Scottish Cullen Skink soup at your lunch stop in Cullen.
Join this tour, explore the shores, and discover the wonders of North East Scotland.
Tour Details
Check-in closes at 08:45 (tour departs at 09:00) - Aberdeen Bus Station Pick Up, Stance 5, Aberdeen Bus Station, Guild Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NA
18:00 - Aberdeen Bus Station Drop Off, Stance 5, Aberdeen Bus Station, Guild Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NA
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)
- Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
- Attraction tickets may need to be purchased in advance. More information is provided in your booking confirmation e-mail
- Transportation by a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
- Air conditioning as standard
- The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
- Entry fees to visitor attractions
Itinerary
You leave Aberdeen and head for Spey Bay. Here, you have time to learn about the area and try to spot dolphins.
You then journey to Bow Fiddle Rock, one of our favourite coastal sights in Scotland. Its unusual shape being battered by waves offers an epic photo and an awesome experience.
In Cullen, you have a chance to taste Cullen Skink soup in its hometown. But don’t spend all your time savouring the flavour, because there are lovely little strolls to take around the village.
After lunch, you travel the short distance to Portsoy. This archetypal Scottish seaside town boasts the oldest harbour on the Moray Coast and shops selling unique jewellery made from ‘Portsoy Marble’.
From Portsoy, you journey to Bullers of Buchan. Here you try to count how many species of sea birds you can spot or simply admire the glorious sea scape of caves and cliffs.
Slains Castle is the next stop of your day. This grand coastal castle had its roof removed to avoid taxes. You have time here to get a photo and learn about how the octagonal room inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
In the early evening, you arrive back in Aberdeen.
This route may be reversed on some occasions.
FAQs
Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
Is there parking close to the departure point?
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
When should I get to the departure point?
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.
What are your cancellation policies?
Your cancellation terms depend on which tour you've booked.
For one-day tours: You'll receive a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before the tour departure
For tours of between two and nine days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 15 or more days before the tour departure
For tours of 10 or more days: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 21 or more days before the tour departure
For all European packaged tours: You'll receive a 90% refund if you cancel 42 days before the tour departure.
If you cancel inside these notice periods, full charges will apply and no refunds will be issued.
To cancel your booking, email tours@rabbies.com as soon as possible. The effective date of cancellation will be the date we receive written confirmation from you.
Click here to view terms and conditions
Can Itineraries change?
Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
Can I pre-book a specific seat?
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Are there toilets on the bus?
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
Do you take children on your tours?
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
How much time do I get off the bus?
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
Why do you exclude visitor attractions?
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
Do we need to bring our own lunch?
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Should I tip the driver-guide?
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
What about travel insurance?
We advise you take out travel insurance.
What is ABTOT?
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
I have more questions, who can help me?
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .
Restrictions
We regret we dont carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.
If your child is less that 1.35m tall, you should let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.