Aberdeen City

History

Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, nicknames include the Granite City, the Grey City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands. During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, which can sparkle like silver because of its high mica content. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, other nicknames have been the Oil Capital of the World. The area around Aberdeen has been settled since at least 8,000 years ago, when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don. The city has a long, sandy coastline and a marine climate, the latter resulting in chilly summers and mild winters. 

Aberdeen received Royal Burgh status from David I of Scotland (1124–53), transforming the city economically. The city's two universities, the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, and Robert Gordon University, which was awarded university status in 1992, make Aberdeen the educational centre of the north-east of Scotland. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland.

Aberdeen has won the Britain in Bloom competition a record-breaking ten times. 

Natural Space

The beach itself is famous for its golden sand and its long curved length between the harbour and the River Don's mouth. 

The beach suffers from significant erosion of the sand so there are distinctive groyne or walls, to help keep the sand in place. The beach is popular with walkers, surfers and windsurfers. 

Recently, sand was taken by ship from further down the coast to the south of Aberdeen and sprayed on the beach to replace some of the lost sand. Rocks were then placed in a v-shape formation to try to prevent erosion, much like the groyne. Queens Links takes the form of a large grassy area parallel to the beach. It is popular with many people and often kite-boarders can be seen taking advantage of the strong sea winds. There is a public golf course, the Kings Links. 

Setting

The area is well provided with sporting and recreational facilities, including the Beach Leisure Centre and the Linx Ice Arena, cafes, restaurants and a fun fair. In recent years the beach area has seen the addition of a multiplex cinema and a retail park, which includes a fitness gym. 

Getting There

The beach lies to the east of the City and can be accessed from the South on the A9. Turn off at the Wellington Road flyer and head towards the harbour and then round to the beach, following the signs. From the North A90 turn left at the Haudigan roundabout and follow the Parkway over to the A96. Turn right at the roundabout, travel to and over the bridge over the River Don. Turn left and you are now on the esplanade. There is a 1.5mile drive to the resort part of the beach along the esplanade. The beach is served by a bus service from the city centre. The esplanade is also part of the North Sea Coastal Trail.

Water Quality Information

This beach is a designated bathing water site. An electric sign displaying real-time bathing water quality predictions is available at this beach between 1 June - 15 September. You can also find out the daily prediction by visiting the SEPA website. Please observe local signage and only swim where it is safe to do so.