Aberdeen Coastal Day Trip: Slains Castle, Caves & Cullen Skink

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/4

Duration9h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Wind-swept cliffs, sea caves and a bowl of Cullen Skink

You’ll feel North East Scotland’s wild side on this small group day trip from Aberdeen—watching seabirds at Bullers of Buchan, tasting Cullen Skink in its hometown café, wandering Slains Castle’s windswept ruins as your guide shares local tales. It’s not polished or predictable—and that’s exactly what stays with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore North East Scotland Coastline

Visit coastal reserve and spot dolphins
Enjoy and photograph coastal views
Lunch stop in Cullen for Cullen Skink
Explore 17th Century Harbour
Visit Bullers of Buchan sea cave
See Slains Castle and coastline

The Experience

The morning started with me nearly missing the minibus—classic. I’d underestimated how long it takes to find coffee in Aberdeen when you’re half awake. But our guide, Isla, just grinned and waved me aboard like she’s seen it all before. The air smelled sharp and salty already, even in the city. There were only about ten of us, so everyone got a window seat (I snagged one behind Isla; best for eavesdropping on her stories).

We rolled out past fields that looked almost too green for April, then suddenly we were hugging the coast. Isla slowed down near the Ythan Estuary and pointed out a couple of seals flopping around—someone said they’d seen dolphins here last time but I wasn’t that lucky. The wind was wild at Bullers of Buchan. You could hear seabirds screeching over the collapsed sea cave, and there was this weird hush every time a wave crashed inside. I tried to spot puffins but mostly saw kittiwakes squabbling on the rocks. My hair was everywhere; I gave up trying to fix it.

Lunch in Cullen was honestly my favorite part—maybe because I didn’t expect much from “fish soup.” But Cullen Skink is smoky and creamy and just…comforting? The little café had fogged-up windows and smelled like woodsmoke and salt. Isla sat with us and told us how her gran makes it with extra potatoes (“for luck,” she said). We wandered through the old harbour after, hands stuffed in pockets against the cold.

I’ll admit Slains Castle felt almost staged at first—like someone built it just for moody Instagram shots—but then Isla started telling us about Bram Stoker wandering these cliffs before writing Dracula. The ruins are jagged and wind-battered; you can see straight through empty windows to nothing but gray sky and sea spray. Someone found a bit of heather growing between stones, purple against all that grey. I still think about that view sometimes when things feel too tidy back home.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable transport by luxury mini-coach with an English-speaking driver-guide who shares local stories along the way; all stops are coordinated for small groups so you get plenty of time to explore places like Bullers of Buchan and Slains Castle together before returning to Aberdeen in the evening.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Rabbies Trail Burners