Things to do in Aberdeen, Scotland: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours

Whether you are a whisky aficionado or a complete novice, this Whisky Trail has something for everyone. You will be picked up from where you are staying and transported in comfort, safety, and style to Speyside. This is a private tour and only your group will participate. If you book between April and October you will visit the big three Speyside distilleries, namely The Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich. The agenda is flexible so depending on whether you have chosen to book a tour at one of the distilleries, we will agree the timing for your day before setting off together. At the end of the Whisky Trail, we will head back to your starting point or another location by prior arrangement. Travel time from central Scotland is 3.5 hours in each direction, whereas Inverness lies around 1.5 hours drive away from the Speyside area. PLEASE NOTE: due to COVID19 restrictions, Distilleries may open and close at short notice, and may also only offer limited tour and tasting options.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuities, Distillery Tour and Tasting fees, Lunch

From bodysnatching and beheadings to witchcraft and whippings, we share real life stories of crime and punishment from the last 500 years on this self-guided GPS audio tour. Along the way you’ll see major Aberdeen landmarks, from Marischal College to the Mercat Cross, and learn how they were witness to darkest chapters in the city’s history. Scot Free Tours sheds a light on the baffling and often unjust laws of the last five centuries – and reveals that past is not as far away as we think. Thousands of people have loved our 5-star rated live tours and now you can experience them with freedom of an audio guide! The tour plays audio automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline. Start the tour in the app, put your phone in your pocket, and let us guide you around Aberdeen. The total walking distance is 3km and takes about 45 minutes without stopping, but you can pause anytime!

Inclusions: Lifetime access to this tour in English, VoiceMap app for Android and iOS, Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Exclusions: Smartphone and headphones, Transportation, Food and drink, Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

A beautiful tour of the Highlands, explore the city of Inverness and enjoy Scottish hospitality on the banks of Loch Ness. With visits to Cawdor Castle and a stop at Culloden Moor Battlefield you will experience a bit of Scottish Heritage along the way.

Inclusions: WiFi on board, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch, Entry to attractions.

Whether you're a whisky lover or a whisky learner, you're bound to get a taste for it in the beautiful region of Speyside. Home to around 50% of all Scottish whisky distilleries, there's almost too much to see and drink. So on this tour, we help you get the most out of the region by taking you to two distinct distilleries. It’s a chance to learn about the incredible history, process, and flavours of Scotland’s national drink.

Inclusions: Professional driver/guide, Modern, air-conditioned Mercedes mini-coach, Small Group Tour (16 people max)

Exclusions: Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop off, Food and drinks, unless specified, Admission fees

For those who only have one day to visit Aberdeen, this tour gives you an insight into what the region has to offer in a 7 hour tour. With both a visit to Castles and Distillery Tour, this excursion will give you a taste of the Grampian and our local food giving you every excuse to come back again! On Thursday's we will substitute Pitmedden Gardens for Tolquhon, as the castle it no longer open on this day. As both are close together we can view the castle from the outside.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Food tasting, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities, Entrance & Tour fees

The battles, beauty, and whisky: This is your perfect introduction to Scotland. You shed a tear as you hear the tales and tragedies of Scotland’s Jacobite Rising at the Culloden Battlefield. You try to take your best photo as you pass by Scotland’s famous mountains and castles. And you lick your lips as you drink in the spirit of Scottish whisky in Dufftown, ‘the Whisky Capital of the World’. What’s more, you get as close as possible to the legendary Loch Ness Monster on an optional boat trip. So, take this trip and enjoy the best of Scotland in a day.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Transport by air-conditioned mini-coach, Small Group Tour (16 people max)

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drinks, Admission fees

Combine the majestic heights of Royal Deeside with the epic cliff-top site of Dunnottar Castle. For almost 150 years, the British royal family have travelled to the River Dee for their holidays. With almost unlimited cash and resources, why do they always come here? We think there’s an easy answer. This area encapsulates everything everyone loves about Scotland. You find grand castles enclosed by pine forests. You look up at the highest plateau in Britain in the Cairngorms National Park. And there’s enough nearby distilleries to satisfy any royal event. So, who wouldn’t want to escape to the fresh air of this location? On this tour, we combine her Majesty’s favourite holiday spot with a trip to Dunnottar Castle, one of the most historically important and visually arresting sights in Scotland. Hop aboard this tour, see an epic castle, and discover whether you have the same taste as the royals.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Transport by air-conditioned mini-coach, Small Group Tour (16 people max)

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drinks, Admission fees

This is a private tour for your group only. Scotland has many treasures to offer and a lot of them are in Aberdeenshire. We will take you on a private tour to areas that are as stunning as they are interesting. You will learn about the attractions and their history and have a great day out, whether that be to ancient castles, a distillery or to see Highland Cows. Tours can include – Iconic Castle(s), Distilleries, Historical Areas, Stunning Scenery (examples listed from which we choose a route), Optional Lunch. Pick up and drop off is from your Hotel, Train Station, Airport or Cruise Ship. Minimum passengers: one. Maximum passengers: four. Tours available seven days a week, subject to availability. Time Exposure Travel are members of ABTOT (No.5419) which provides protection for customers’ prepayments.

Inclusions: All tours tailored to suit your exact requirements or locations chosen from Tour Details, Lunch is optional and location will depend on tour., Pick up from with Aberdeenshire, Route and timings will depend on starting point and your choice of attractions..

Exclusions: Lunch not included in cost, No drinks are included in the cost.

Explore the murkier corners of Aberdeen at your own pace with this highly acclaimed self guided audio walking tour of Aberdeen.  Beginning from the Mercat Cross, you'll weave your way through hundreds of years of history while discovering the stories of piracy, slavery, and insurrection that the city hides in plain sight.  Hear about "Indian Pete" and his efforts to banish child slavery.  The tour is ready whenever you feel like taking a stroll. It plays audio automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smart phone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline. It does not need a network connection to work. If you've got an hour and want to see some of the grisly and gloomy corners that Aberdeen has to offer – this is the tour for you!  

Inclusions: Lifetime access to 'Dark Aberdeen: Piracy, Slavery and Insurrection' tour, VoiceMap Application, Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Exclusions: Smartphone, Transportation, Food/drinks, Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

Time Exposure Travel will take you on a walking tour round some of the most interesting and historical areas of Aberdeen, chosen from some of the attractions listed above. We will discover stunning ancient buildings like Kings College, Scotland's oldest bridge, a Cathedral with a dark secret, parks and gardens and even visit a secret graveyard very few locals even know about. Tours can be tailored to suit. Please note access to Chapel interiors and Botanic Gardens is subject to availability. Time Exposure Travel are members of ABTOT (No.5419) which provides protection for customers’ prepayments.

Inclusions: All tours can be changed to suit, just tell us what you would like., Start time to suit you, if scheduled times do not suit you, subject to availability., Tours can be private upon request and up to a maximum of 12.

Exclusions: No drinks or snacks included in cost, Gratuities