There must be more Castles (follow the Castle Trail), ruined and still standing, per square mile in Aberdeenshire than anywhere else in the UK and if you take a close look at the environment and fertility of the area you can understand why. This is superb farming country - rich, rewarding agriculture and well worth protecting from marauding incomers. Today, however, even Castles can't stand up to Brussels - attacks are now made by paper and increasingly by electronics which can penetrate any castle wall! The legacy of byegone days is an even richer historic pedigree and eyecatching ancient architecture. The old counties of Eastern Scotland (Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire, Moray, Perthshire and Angus) also contain over half of Scotland's whisky distilleries, a dramatic coastline, excellent walking, salmon-fishing and outdoor activities, as well as Scotland's third city. This area should not be missed - just ask the Royal Family. They've been holidaying here ... < more >