Dunnottar Castle: A Historic Gem in Scotland

Experience a remarkable journey through Dunnottar Castle in Scotland with an insightful exploration.

In a past chapter of our lives, we resided in Scotland during our studies at St Andrews, yet the opportunity for exploration remained elusive. Recently, we resolved to embark on a journey to Dunnottar Castle in Scotland.

Interestingly, even while living in Edinburgh post-university, I admittedly overlooked its charm until we ventured to various European cities.

Fast forward to a few days ago when we boarded a flight from London, directing ourselves towards the city of Aberdeen to finalize our plans to discover Dunnottar Castle.

Having been to Aberdeen previously, our objective was to delve further into the local area, concluding this segment of our trip in Stonehaven.

Previously, our mode of transport consisted of trains from Leuchars (the closest station to St Andrews) or Edinburgh directly to Aberdeen.

It should be noted, however, that a train journey at high speeds tends to present a limited viewing experience (beyond reaching the destination).

This time, we opted for a more leisurely approach by renting a car, a decision that proved to be remarkably straightforward!

In past experiences, renting vehicles has often resulted in lengthy waits (on occasion, we endured waits of up to two hours), so it was a pleasant surprise to complete the process efficiently.

Moreover, the attendant at the rental counter was exceptionally helpful, being a local resident who recommended excellent dining and dessert options in town.

Additionally, she provided clear directions to Dunnottar Castle, setting a positive tone for our adventure!

My favorite aspect, however, was the fortunate occurrence of receiving a vehicle equipped with heated seats.

This may appear trivial, but heated seats greatly enhance comfort in colder weather.

With our car prepared, we proceeded toward Stonehaven—a locality I had previously only traversed by train—where we enjoyed a meal at The Bay Fish & Chips, a suggestion from the car rental assistant.

The fish and chips exceeded our expectations! It is undoubtedly worth a visit if you find yourself in Stonehaven or en route to Dunnottar Castle.

Dunnottar Castle has long been among the historical landmarks I was eager to visit.

After evaluating the captivating exterior, we ventured inside to thoroughly explore the castle.

As we continued to navigate the castle, we were surprised by its vastness.

Multiple sections continued to reveal themselves, suggesting a few hours would be ideal for exploring both the exterior and interior of Dunnottar Castle.

Following this, we returned to our vehicle—after considerable exertion navigating the uphill paths—and ventured towards Dundee for the evening.

Dundee is a city I recognize well, given it was a favored destination during our days in St Andrews.

As you may know, St Andrews is a compact town, so for comprehensive shopping or accessing facilities like a large cinema or 24/7 grocery stores, a trip to Dundee was necessary.

This connection has fostered numerous cherished memories, from leisurely slides at the pool to thrifty shopping outings combined with post-meal cinematic experiences.

While these interactions seem mundane in hindsight, they carried significant enjoyment as students, particularly as a reprieve from the rigors of our master’s and PhD studies.

After our day at Dunnottar, we checked into the Apex Hotel in Dundee, featuring a magnificent view overlooking the Quay, before descending to Gidi Grill—likely one of the finest dining establishments in the city.

Given its immense popularity, it would seem prudent to reserve a table ahead of time! (Our lack of planning forced us to rely on takeaway instead).