"The granite city" Aberdeen by uglyscot

Aberdeen Travel Guide: 486 reviews and 884 photos

King's College, Old Aberdeen in early 1960s

My alma mater

I had the pleasure of attending Aberdeen University, specifically King's College in Old Aberdeen in the 1960s.
I used to enjoy wandering around that area, not realising until recently that some of my roots also stem from here-my mother's great great grandparents were in fact married in the church at Old Machar.
My mother lived in Rosemount before her father died, when she was 4. He's buried at Allanvale Cemetery.
Marischal College always reminds me of Milan Cathedral. When I was a student, I lived in Braemar Pl, Holborn St, Belmont St and other places now forgotten .I taught at schools near Marischal College [St Peter's RC Church, and then Causewayend for a while] and then at Sunnybank. After I married I lived in Provost Rust Drive, and Elmbank Rd. In all I lived there for seven years; but have no photos , only memories of tenement buildings, the railway station , Hazelhead and Duthie Park and the beach. And walking to the harbour area to a delicatessen {Littlejohns} where I used to buy pickled gherkins for my mother, and tinned okra for my husband.

Union St

Union Street is the main street in Aberdeen. It is where we did our shopping, our drinking and eating, and along which I walked or took the bus several times a day on my way to lectures at Kings, or the library or Geology lab. at Marischal College.
In the pre-oil days the people were friendly, always ready to pass the time of day. We made friends with a butcher near the Union who gave us excellent beef, mutton and venison [when he had it], and advice on buying cameras!
Those were the carefree days of youth.

Returning after 37 years

St Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen

I did once visit Aberdeen for a day in 1972, but while staying in Edinburgh in June 2009, decided to take a day to go back to Aberdeen to take some photos for myself and my husband. What a mistake ! I was devastated at the changes I saw especially around Marischal College, and to find the Students' Union has become a Starbucks.
I then decided to go to Old Aberdeen, but didn't know where to get a bus as the whole system had changed. I stopped a male and female police officer. The woman actually went and asked a bus driver and then returned with directions. A couple of hours later I was walking away from Old Aberdeen when they saw me and waved in recognition. Don't knock the Grampian police !
Old Aberdeen was more familiar, so I managed to spend time there and not feel lost. I have made a separate page for Old Aberdeen.

Pros and Cons

Pros:friendly people
Cons:bitterly cold winds off the North Sea

Last visit to Aberdeen: Jun 2009
Intro Updated Oct 6, 2009
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Reviews (9)

Spend time on the beach Things to Do (6)

Aberdeen has a beautiful long sandy beach. It is particularly busy in the summer. Apart from the water, there are other... more travel advice

Provost Ross House Things to Do (6)

This building, now owned by the National trust is the second oldest house in Aberdeen. It is named after Provost John... more travel advice

Aberdeen Harbour Things to Do (6)

The harbour is in a sheltered estuary of the River Dee, and is a natural harbour. It has probably been in use since 5000... more travel advice

Union Street Things to Do (6)

The long main street in Aberdeen from the docks to Holborn is the heart of Aberdeen. All the main shops can/could be... more travel advice

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Allanvale Cemetery.
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Comments (4)

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evaanna Jun 12, 2009 at 11:17 AM

Beautiful pictures and great tips. Old Aberdeen seems to have a lot of mediaeval charm with its stone architecture, the cathedral with the Imperial Crown and King's College.
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scottishvisitor Nov 29, 2008 at 2:01 PM

This afternoon I took a picture of the pub in your tip = when I upload it you are welcome to use it!
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iaint Nov 23, 2008 at 10:23 AM

My grandparents lived in University Road. My parents were married in King's College Chapel.
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balfor Nov 10, 2005 at 5:37 AM

Alas, my Scotland trip was before my discovery of VT or acquiring my digital camera. I think I've probably only 2-3 pictures of Aberdeen itself. I'll have to look the pictures up and see for certain.