Aberdeen Beach, Scotland, UK by Bernt Rostad

Whether you’re a city slicker or a wilderness wanderer, Aberdeenshire offers something for everyone. Read on for some tips on where to get started in this diverse and dazzling county.

City

It goes without saying that the city of Aberdeen is a great place to start your exploration of the region. Staying in Aberdeen gives you plenty of options for walking in the city and further afield.

To get to grips with the area, the circuit of Aberdeen centre takes you through the highlights of the Granite City. Many of the town’s most impressive stone buildings can be seen on the short circuit, starting at Castlegate at the east end of Union Street, turning onto Broad Street and past the striking Marischal College. From there, cross the street and walk under the arch of St Nicholas House to Provost Skene’s house and onto Flourmill Lane and Schoolhill, eventually coming to Robert Gordon University, the Art Gallery, the War Memorial, His Majesty’s Theatre and the Central Library building.

Turning left along Union Terrace affords fantastic views over the city, before turning back towards Union Street and the elegant houses of Golden Square and Bon Accord Square.

The sea around Aberdeen, Scotland, UK by Bruce McAdam

Sea

There are countless coastal walks to choose from in Aberdeenshire, all of varying length and difficulty. In the northernmost parts of the region, Banff and Buchan offers plenty of low impact ambles which are full of great shoreline vistas. For a small challenge offering big rewards, try the 3 – 4 hour walk from St Combs to Rattray Head, taking in the vast sand dunes and long beach which stretches all the way to Peterhead, with the Strathbeg Nature Reserve in close proximity.

Land

Inland, great walking country is in abundance, with rolling rivers and hills of heather perfectly complementing a number of interesting historical landmarks. A number of popular routes exist on the hill ridge of Bennachie in the district of Gordon, with its recognisable peak and hill-top iron-age fort. Slightly further afield, Glenlivet offers spectacular and wild scenery, not to mention many opportunities to sample a wee dram of the region’s famous whiskey.

Highland cattle by backpackphotography

Mountain

Aberdeenshire and the Highlands are home to the biggest range of high mountains in the Britain, stretching across the largest National Park in the country. The Cairngorms stretch for miles, encompassing vast areas of wilderness, ancient forests, stunning landscapes and an array of native wildlife. The best known part of the national park is home to the Cairn Gorm Mountain itself, famous for being the snowiest part of Britain. For those who want to keep their feet closer to the ground, the lower slopes boast Caledonian pinewoods and clear lochs, including Loch an Eilein, home to a ruined island castle.

What are your favourite nature walks in Aberdeenshire?

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Brett Jordan

Located at the south of Lefkas Island, Vassiliki is considered as one of the best and most popular windsurfing areas in Europe. Windsurfers love it here because the winds area is clean, the water is flat, the beach is gently shelving and has a sandy bottom, which are all ideal components of a good windsurfing beach. Usually, the beginners windsurf in the morning when the breeze is gentle, and the intermediate to expert windsurfers take to the water in the afternoon when the thermal winds kick in.

It doesn’t matter if no one in the family knows how to surf. Having your vacation and family activity holidays in Greece, especially in this part of the country ensures that after your vacation, all of you will at least know how to windsurf. Lessons are available for both children and adults. Aside from windsurfing lessons, sailing lessons are also being offered.

For children who are too young to windsurf or sail, there are other equally exciting activities on offer at the children’s clubs. Playing on the beach, biking, and court games are all for the taking. Adults who are not so much into water sports will surely enjoy mountain biking amongst the mountains and hills of Lefkas Island. With all these family activity holidays in Greece, each day of your stay is an adventure.

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The biggest attraction of Hornbæk is its local beach. It is also one of the best beaches in Scandinavia, awarded by the Blue Flag. Hornbæk Beach has fine white sand and you can enjoy here really clean air. It is a popular place of windsurfing and kitesurfing. Unfortunately there is no rent available, so you must bring your equipment yourself. In summer, the swimmers are secured by the Coast Guard. Hornbæk beach stretches on both sides of the harbor.

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Those who like walking and hiking are invited to the public forest Hornbæk Plantage, which stretches several kilometers along the coast. In the forest there are several marked routes. You can stop at one of many small parks and pick up the map of the trails at the local tourist Information Centre.

Hornbæk is also a popular place for fishing enthusiasts. Here you can rent a boat here either at the local Information Centre or in the office of Captain of the port, located on the south side of the harbor. Prices are around 600 DKK (80 EUR) per boat per day and up to 3 people.

You can stay in the local camp, which is well equipped and offers also cabins, a playground and an air trampoline for children. Or in one of the hotels. In the port you can visit the fish market.

Hornbæk is best accessible by train and car. The nearest international airport is located in Copenhagen, which is 50km away.

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In the city you can walk through the narrow cobbled streets full of stairs and steps. Portoferraio is also known for its numerous old churches. Since the city was reconstructed in 1548 in a military style, its main attractions are fortresses Stella, Falcone and Bastion della Linguella. Another interesting sights are the Church of Reverend Mercy and Napoleon’s museum. In the old city there is also one the residences of Napoleon. If you rent a car or a motorcycle in Portoferraio, you can take a circuit around the island and visit some of the most interesting places, including hidden and remote beaches. Portoferraio has good ferry connections with Livorno, Piombino and with many other islands of the Tuscan archipelago.

In the area of ​​Portoferraio there are one of the most popular beaches for scuba diving. However the whole island of Elba is actually a paradise for divers. Therefore you can find almost everywhere a dive shop, where you can add an oxygen or rent diving equipment. Even if you have no experience with diving and would like to try it, you can subscribe to any of the courses in the local diving schools. The local beach has a gentle declivity towards the sea, which is especially appreciated by families with small children and less able-bodied swimmers. Swimming is allowed in the crystal clear water of the Ligurian Sea.

You can try out a variety of water sports such as windsurfing, paragliding, water skiing, scooters and pedal boats. The port city of Portoferraio is also an ideal place for sailing, there are regularly held international sailing races.

Not surprisingly, Portoferraio fascinated visitors since the Middle Ages, however the increasing number of tourists is the only disadvantage of this great island.

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Elba is located between Liguria Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea and is often called as The Pearl of the Tuscan Archipelago.

Elba offers wonderful natural sceneries and beautiful mountains. Sandy beaches are very popular here and many tourists prefer to visit Portoferraio for its National Park activities. The island of Elba is about 150km long and covers the area of 224 km2. The Monte Cappane – the highest mountain on Elba (1019m) is very popular for hiking and it is also called “roof of the Tuscan Archipelago”.

Since Portoferraio has the historical value, many scholars are doing research in the island. About thirty thousand people are living in this island and about eleven thousand persons are staying in Portoferraio city. On Elba you can find lots of monuments.

You can enjoy here the sunbathing, fishing, the pirate ship battle, hiking, visiting Napoleon’s palace (Napoleon was here in exile as governor), or even sitting in pubs and tasting excellent local cuisine.

Regular boat services are available from Piombino. Our tip is to rent a boat and discover the coast of Elba where you can find lots of unknown and empty wonderful beaches.

Tourists visiting Italy should not miss to visit Elba, as we think it is one of few places, which have to be visited, at least once in a life.

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Blue Lagoon, Comino island, Malta by Martin Lopatka

You can choose from two small, sandy beaches with excellent swimming and a stunning lagoon of brilliant turquoise blue water. During the summer this island is overcrowded with day-trippers.

Comino is suitable and also recommended to everyone who loves the sun, sea and water sports. Here you can really enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving and windsurfing. The waters are crystal clear with safe swimming even for the youngest children.

To get to Comino, use one of two ferries from Mgarr (Gozo) or from Cirkewwa (Malta) or any other Chartered Yachts from other parts of the island.

Casal Qala, Gozo, Malta by Martin Lopatka

If you would like to stay on the island and spend here a few days, you will be left with nothing other than use the services of a luxury 4-star Comino Hotel, which is the only accommodation option on the island apart from the small campsite with a basic washing facilities. Its disadvantage is that it is opened only in summer, during the peak tourist season. It was built on a beautiful bay with a sandy beach and offers a variety of sports activities, including swimming pool. The hotel also has several bungalows, about 10 minutes away. Hotel provides windsurfing school during the day, or you can enjoy evening barbecues and dancing in hotel.

In spring the island is covered with flowering herbs, so this time is probably the best for a visit. But be careful, collecting flowers or minerals is strictly prohibited on the island.

Comino has a slightly undulating surface, its highest point is Comino Mayor that reaches an altitude of 75 meters above sea level. The most popular beaches where you can enjoy the sun and lazing by the water are St Nicolas Bay or Santa Maria Bay.

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Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kristina D.C. Hoeppner

Vianden castle has been owned by the family of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg until 1977 when it was donated to the state. Since then it has undergone extensive exterior and interior refurbishment. For its scenic beauty it is often visited by huge number of tourists, but also by Hollywood filmmakers. Vianden castle has a beautiful view to the medieval town of Vianden, which was, in the past, very fond of French writer Victor Hugo. Local museum and a copy of a bust by Roden remind writer’s visits on the river Our.

Vianden is the birthplace of King John the Blind (John of Luxembourg). In 1310 he became Count of Luxembourg and after the marriage to Elisabeth of Bohemia (Czech: Eliška Přemyslovna) he became King of Bohemia. John of Luxembourg is today a popular historical figure in Luxembourg and weighed very much like his son Charles IV. in the Czech Republic.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Roger Wollstadt

Vianden castle is accessible through the whole year.

02.01 – 28.02 10.00 – 16.00
01.03 – 31.03 10.00 – 17.00
01.04 – 30.09 10.00 – 18.00
01.10 – 31.10 10.00 – 17.00
01.11 – 31.12 10.00 – 16.00

Basic admission fee is €7,50 (2010). There is also interesting culture programme that includes exhibition, jazz concert etc…

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Blue Grotto, Malta by Chris Brown

Those who travel to the Blue Grotto will also be able to see Filfla, which is a small island inhabited by numerous types of exotic lizards. There is no doubt that these sea caves are a very popular travel destination for tourists who like to go scuba diving or just want to admire the breathtaking beauty and idyllic scenery that the Blue Grotto has to offer.

In this area there are a number of amazing sights to see, including the tall cliffs which tower above the Mediterranean Sea, the waves below hitting against them. The unique emerald lighting and exotic landscape of this entire area is what draws so many people to it year after year. Late in the day it is not uncommon to see visitors swimming in the caves, as well as traffic jams of rowboats just outside the grotto.

It is also considered as being one of the most picturesque places in all of Malta so if your next way is waving through Malta do not leave this place unexplored.

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So well preserved is the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejo e Costa Vicentine, that zoologists as well as botanist from all over the world make their way to the park every year in order to research and study the vast diversity of plant and animal life that call the park home.

Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejo e Costa Vicentine, Portugal by Jovoboro

There are countless bird species which can be found throughout the park. The rarest of these is known as the fishing eagle which can be seen soaring high above overhead. The park is also the only place in the world where the white stork is known to build their nests. The park is also one of the last few places where one can see the European otter in its natural environment.

For the most part, the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejo e Costa Vicentine consists of steep cliff coastlines of varying shapes, sizes and contours. There are also a number of excellent beaches that can be found along the coastline which have become extremely popular amongst surfers not just in Portugal, from all over the world as well. There are countless beaches that can be found, but most of them are very difficult to get to without the assistance of a boat. As such, one can consider the beaches of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejo e Costa Vicentine to be some of the most secluded in the entire country.

The southernmost edge of the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejo e Costa Vicentine is situated at the Cape of São Vicente and is conveniently marked by the lighthouse which was built in order to protect sailors traversing around the Cape. The area is easily accessed via the popular destination of Sagres, Portugal; which also offers most of the accommodations in the region. There are more than 70,000 hectares within the park that are just waiting to be explored.

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