Fantastic places to Camp and Caravan in Aberdeenshire

The flexibility that comes with a caravan, motorhome or camping holiday is why it appeals to so many of us; campers can pick up all their home comforts and set off on an adventure at the drop of a hat!

There is nowhere quite like the North East when it comes to scenery, which is why you should add it to your list of places to explore in a caravan, motorhome or tent.

If they visit Aberdeenshire, campers can stroll across sand dunes and beaches next to the beautiful blue waters of the North Sea one day and enjoy the picturesque forestry of Royal Deeside the next! There is nowhere quite like the North East when it comes to scenery, which is one of the many reasons why you should add it to your list of places to explore in a caravan, motorhome or tent.

Please make sure you familiarise yourself with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before visiting.

The following sites are my suggested top 8 to visit if you are in the area.

Queen Elizabeth Caravan Park in Stonehaven
Queen Elizabeth Caravan Park in Stonehaven photo © Copyright Caravan Club

Queen Elizabeth Caravan Park, Stonehaven

Heading just 16 miles south of Aberdeen City Centre you will arrive in Stonehaven. This is a true Aberdeenshire town with everything you need to satisfy all age groups, from the striking Dunnottar Castle towering above the sea on rocky headland to the award-winning tasty treats of the Bay fish and chip shop. It is no wonder this town has one of the largest caravan parks in the area.

The Queen Elizabeth Caravan Park has seventy-five pitches all with electrical hook-ups and three tent pitches too. The site is also part of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. There are many great facilities on site including laundry facilities, a toilet block, dishwashing area and family washroom.

Visit https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/stonehaven-queen-elizabeth-park-club-campsite/ for more info.

Silverbank Caravan Park in Banchory
Silverbank Caravan Park in Banchory photo © Copyright Caravan Club

Silverbank Caravan Park, Banchory

Silverbank Caravan site is located in the Banchory area, on the road between Aberdeen and Braemar. The site boasts sixty-two pitches and is also a part of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Facilities on site include a dishwashing area, toilet block and laundry facilities.

Banchory sits on the River Dee which is reason enough to visit! The River Dee is renowned for being one of the best salmon rivers in the world as well as being, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful. If fishing isn’t quite what you had in mind then why not visit one of the two fantastic garden centres in the area; Raemoir and The Mains of Drum. Both are filled with outdoor equipment, homeware and eateries! Don’t forget to visit Crathes Castle too, with great winding woodland walks, a thrilling tree tops adventure course. Also make time to exploring the 16th century tower house itself! It’s easy to forget Banchory is less than 20 miles away from the busyness of the city centre.

Visit https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/silverbank-club-campsite for more info.

Banff Links Caravan Park, Banff
Banff Links Caravan Park, Banff photo © Copyright Banff Links Caravan Park

The Banff Links Caravan Park houses thirty-eight pitches all with electrical hook-ups, as well as an onsite shop stocking essentials such as bread, milk and buckets and spades. The site is situated just a stone’s throw away from the gorgeous golden sandy beach which stretches along the north east coast. The caravan park is right next door to a children’s playpark which is perfect for those who are travelling with youngsters.

Two main attractions to the Banff area which shouldn’t be missed when visiting are; the Macduff Aquarium and Duff House Royal Golf Club. The Macduff Aquarium is located just three miles from the caravan site and makes for a great day out for all ages. The Golf Course is two miles away and has beautiful open fairways to suit all golfing abilities.

Visit https://www.banfflinkscaravanpark.co.uk/ for more info.

Portsoy Links Caravan Park from the air
Portsoy Links Caravan Park from the air photo © Copyright Portsoy Links Caravan Park Ltd

Portsoy Links Caravan Park is only a few miles north of the Banff caravan site and has a similar setting, so close to the beach that you can smell the fresh sea air as you wake in the morning. Portsoy offers pitches both with and without electrical hook-ups as well as tent pitches. There are spotless shower and toilet facilities and free Wi-Fi!

Portsoy has a strong nautical heritage and with this in mind there are plenty of boat related activities to partake in! Make sure you visit the Salmon Bothy where you can explore the museum or the Boatshed where you can observe a magnitude of boat building projects at various stages. Both of these sites are within walking distance of the caravan park. Finally, no trip to Portsoy would be complete without a tasty treat of Portsoy ice-cream, legendary in the area and further afield!

Visit https://portsoylinks.org/ for more info.

Aden Park Caravan and Camping Site
Aden Park Caravan and Camping Site photo © Copyright Buchan Development Initiative Ltd (BDI Ltd)

Aden Park Caravan and Camping, Mintlaw

Aden Country Park is situated in the Aberdeenshire town of Mintlaw and within it there is a twenty-three-pitch caravan and camping site, all with electrical hook-ups. Each site comes with one car park space only and it can become crowded during busy seasons however there is a large car park within the country park grounds which can be made use of if necessary. Facilities on site include shower and toilet blocks, a laundry room and free Wi-Fi.

Aden Country Park has an abundance of activities to do right on your doorstep including a fantastic play park for the younger travellers, a heritage centre and café all on site.

Venturing just a few short miles offsite can find you stumbling across Pitfour Estate and Pitfour Lake. This hidden treasure is a one mile walk from the caravan site and presents some of the best scenery in the area. I would highly recommend an early morning sunrise walk or a late evening sunset stroll over by the lake. With all this adventuring it is easy to work up an appetite and to sample the best of local produce head along to Saplinbrae Hotel and Lodge located just one mile away from the caravan site.

Visit https://www.adencaravanandcamping.co.uk/ for more info.

Entrance to Aboyne Loch Caravan Park
Entrance to Aboyne Loch Caravan Park photo © Copyright Aboyne Loch Caravan Park

Aboyne Loch Caravan Park, Aboyne

This family run caravan park sits just on the outskirts of Aboyne surrounded by the stunning Aboyne Loch. The park has ten fully serviced touring caravan pitches, ten tent pitches and five fully serviced motorhome pitches. The site is a one mile walk from the Aboyne Golf Course Clubhouse and this makes it the ideal caravan site for anyone with an interest in the sport.

The wildlife that can be found around the site is another reason why it is so popular. Keep an eye out for swans, ducks, ospreys, kingfishers and even the odd woodpecker. Don’t forget your camera to capture some of these stunning animals in their natural habitat. Aboyne itself is a beautiful rural village with plenty of quaint shops and delicious cafés to occupy you.

Visit http://www.aboynelochcaravanpark.co.uk/ for more info.

Hillhead Caravan Park in Kintore
Hillhead Caravan Park in Kintore photo © Copyright Hillhead Caravan Park

Hillhead Caravan Park, Kintore

Hilldhead Caravan Park sits in Kintore which is thirteen miles from Aberdeen city centre. The site has seventeen touring pitches all with electrical hook-ups as well as laundry facilities, a children’s play area and a small onsite shop. Kintore is centrally located and just four miles from the town of Inverurie, where there is an abundance of places to visit including local boutique shops, garden centres, cafés and restaurants. Also in the area is a fantastic indoor trampoline park, both for the younger and young at heart amongst us!

Visit http://www.hillheadcaravan.com/ for more info.

Huntly Castle Caravan Park
Huntly Castle Caravan Park photo © Copyright Caravan Club

Huntly Castle Caravan Park, Huntly

Huntly is the only other site in Aberdeenshire which is part of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. Huntly Castle Caravan Park hosts fifty-nine touring pitches all with electrical hook-ups and thirty-nine tent pitches, some with hook-ups and some without. The onsite facilities include a dish-washing area, laundry area and toilet block. The caravan park is nestled right in the heart of the town.

The famous Deans of Huntly Shortbread factory is just a short fifteen-minute stroll from door to door. You will easily find your way; just follow the sweet smells of butter and sugar which fill the air. The factory has a café and bistro which is open throughout the year along with a gift shop so you can take some goodies home!

Visit https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/huntly-castle-caravan-park/ for more info.

Shona LawranceBy Shona Lawrance
A young quine with an energetic sense of adventure but dire sense of direction! Born and bred in the North East of Scotland with a long loving appreciation of the Scottish islands.

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Header image: Portsoy Links Caravan Park on the shoreline of the Moray Firth coast photo © Copyright Portsoy Links Caravan Park Ltd