An exciting destination in the North East of Scotland

To minimise our environmental impact we are promoting riders to visit our key destinations and stay for as long as possible.

We hope that riders will consider their impact - travel as sustainably as they can, eat and drink local, give back to the trails they ride, and ride responsibly - considering their impact on other users, mountain rescue teams, landowners/managers, and the environment.

To help you plan your visit to Aberdeenshire and make the most of the regions varied offering please check the following links.

With so many transport options, Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire have never been easier to get to.

Aberdeen can be reached by road, rail, sea or air and when you get here Aberdeenshire is easily accessible by public transport, taxi or car.

As the gateway to the Highlands, and only a 2.5 hours’ drive to Edinburgh or Glasgow, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are the perfect point to start your Scottish journey.

Aberdeen International Airport is located just six miles from Aberdeen city centre and is within easy reach of Aberdeenshire.

The region is well connected globally with daily flights to all major airports including London Heathrow, Paris and Amsterdam. The international airport also has many direct routes to most UK cities as well as many key European destinations.

For further information about the destinations you can fly from to Aberdeen, or to book your flight, please visit www.aberdeenairport.com/flight-information/destinations.

Aberdeen Ferry Terminal is located at Jamieson's Quay directly across from the shopping centre, Union Square and the Aberdeen Railway Station.

The centrally located harbour is where ferries travel regularly to/from the Scottish Isles, Orkney and Shetland.

For more information about travelling from Orkney and Shetland and for ferry timetables please visit www.northlinkferries.co.uk.

No matter where you start your journey in Scotland, Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire are simple to get to by car.

Aberdeen is approximately 2.5 hours’ drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow and less than a three hour drive from Inverness. Well sign-posted, the surrounding area of Aberdeenshire is within close proximity of Aberdeen with the towns and villages easy to get to by major country and main roads.

For help with planning your journey to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire please visit www.traveline.info.

Travel on one of the hourly trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh or use the east coast line to travel from cities such as York or Newcastle.

LNER Trains run services along the East Coast Main Line and frequently run trains from cities such as Edinburgh, York, Newcastle and London further details can be found on their website www.lner.co.uk.

Scotrail provides an express rail service direct to Aberdeen from many major cities. For timetables and to book your train tickets to Aberdeen visit the Scotrail website.

Aberdeen can also be reached overnight from London on the Caledonian Sleeper. Visit the Caledonian Sleeper website for more information about this service.

National Rail offers rail services to Aberdeen and the surrounding area, perhaps when you get here you may wish to travel to towns including Dyce, Inverurie and Huntly, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for further details.

Travel to Aberdeen with world famous steam locomotive Tornado for a nostalgic journey on selected dates in Summer 2020. Starting in Edinburgh and crossing the Forth Bridge, ‘The Aberdonian’ runs along the coast for much of its route making it an unrivalled way to experience Scotland. In Aberdeen there is time to explore the city, or take one of the off train excursions that include a castle or distillery visit. Find out more at a1steam.com/Aberdonian.

Quirky coastal carriages on the impressive Aberdeenshire coast, welcoming B&B’s deep in the Scottish glens and chic city centre boutique hotels Aberdeenshire has it all.

Recent partnership funding has enable installation of additional safe bike storage at Glen Tanar Estate, Highland Cottage Rentals, Ballater Hostel, Wildflower Eco Lodges, No 2 1/2 in Aboyne, Westerpark, Rose Cottage, The Boat Inn Aboyne, Cairngorm Lodges & Bothies and Douneside House.

No matter what your budget, your group size, the purpose of your visit or your plans when you get here - these are just some of the accommodation options on offer in Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire. Check out all the options on https://www.visitabdn.com/plan...

Please consider booking your accommodation using this link to Expedia and 5% of the cost of your booking will go to the Aberdeenshire Trails Association who are looking after the trails you will be riding in the area.

Aberdeenshire Trail Association has been looking after significant portions of the natural trail network in the region sine 2018. Check them out here:

https://www.aberdeenshiretrail...

https://www.instagram.com/aber...

Sample world-famous quality local food and drink across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Our world famous Aberdeen Angus beef is much-prized. Dean’s rich traditional shortbread is made in Huntly. And Ellon, just north of Aberdeen, is home to craft beer revolutionaries, Brewdog.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are known for the quality and scale of the arable land and rich pastures. We’re known for our fresh seafood including the affectionally named silver darlings that are landed every day in harbours and seaports along the 165 miles of coastline.

Inland you’ll find rivers well stocked with some of the best salmon and trout in the world and over to great estates with a wealth of venison and game. From fields and rivers, the clean clear springs and moorland peat that help to create the perfect dram (Scottish for glass of whisky).

Check here for food and drink experiences, providers and events to enhance your biking trip: https://www.visitabdn.com/food...

Aberdeenshire is well stocked with friendly independent bike shops. If you find yourself in Ballater Cyclehighlands can provide everything from an inner tube to a demo bike from their Santa Cruz range. Banchory has several bike shops to choose from whether it be custom build enduro specialists at 20Twenty or road and e-bike experts at REM Bikes.

If you find yourself exploring the vast Donside trail network Bennachie Bike Bothy is the one stop shop for route advice, dream builds and last minute spares! In the south of the region close to the Drumtochty trail network you’ll find Bike Remedy in their new headquarters set up to cater for all riders.

Aberdeenshire has a whole host of trails and adventures but some extra local knowledge is key to making the most of your trip - As well as the hugely helpful shops and trail association coaches and guides from Macdui Adventures, DeesideMTB, 57North Dialled In can help make the most of your trip!

You can also check out the skills development hub with Ride in Peace Adventures and If you need bike transport and shuttle services Bothies & Bannocks can provide alongside local food and drink connection.