Gin 'On The Rocks': Aberdeen Coast, Geology & Climate-Positive Gin

Nine hours, five coastal stops, 400 million years of geology, and three gins

A full-day tour from Aberdeen along Scotland's northeast coast with geologist Steve Adams, visiting a Highland-Lowland viewpoint, a working fishing harbour, fossil sites, abandoned lime kilns at Boddin Point, and Arbikie Distillery for gin tastings. The guide reads 400 million years of history in the cliffs. No geology background needed. Children welcome from age 12. Moderate fitness required for cliff walks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Coastal geology and distillery tour

• Visit clifftop viewpoint
• Explore working fishing harbour
• Hunt for fossils and lime traces
• Enjoy seaside lunch
• See abandoned lime kilns at Boddin Point
• Tour Arbikie Distillery and gin tasting

The experience

Nine hours on the road means you see five distinct places without rushing between them. The day starts at a clifftop viewpoint where the Scottish Highlands meet the Lowlands: Steve Adams uses the rocks underfoot to set the frame for everything that follows. You walk the foreshore of a working fishing village on the Angus coast, where the stone itself tells the story of ancient riverbeds and dried lake mud. Then comes a fossil hunt for traces of some of the earliest plants ever to grow on dry land, and a close look at the abandoned 19th-century lime kilns at Boddin Point, where Scotland's industrial past meets its volcanic deep history.

Lunch is a proper seaside meal at a restaurant locals choose, giving you time to watch the water and rest before the final push. The distillery visit at Arbikie is the payoff: you tour a working operation on the Stirling family farm, learn how they became the world's first producer of climate-positive gin (made from peas grown in their fields), and taste three of their craft gins. It's a field-to-bottle story you won't hear anywhere else in Scotland. The van is air-conditioned, and bottled water and snacks travel with you.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• snacks.
• live guide in English.
• three gin tastings at Arbikie Distillery.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 9 Aug 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (16 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Scotland 'On The Rocks' GeoTours

Is this one for you?The nine-hour commitment means you see the whole coast and the distillery without backtracking, but it rules out combining this with other activities in Aberdeen the same day. Choose this tour if you want geology and gin in one outing and have a full day to spend on the road.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years). Under 12: they can't be included in the booking.

What does Steve Adams actually do as the guide?

Steve Adams is a working geologist with 45 years of experience. He reads the rocks and cliffs as you walk, explaining 400 million years of history written in the stone: ancient landscapes, fossils, and the traces of Scotland's industrial past. No geology background is needed. Most guests don't have one and tell us afterwards they had no idea geology could be this interesting.

What are the five stops on this tour?

The clifftop viewpoint where Highlands meet Lowlands; a working fishing village with a pretty harbour on the Angus coast; a fossil site for early plants and the historic lime industry; lunch at a seaside restaurant (cost separate, budget £15–£25 per person); and Boddin Point with volcanic cliffs and abandoned 19th-century lime kilns. The distillery at Arbikie is the final stop.

How fit do I need to be for this tour?

Moderate fitness is required. There are moderately steep cliff walks, particularly at the coastal stops. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, but public transportation options are available nearby if you need to skip a section.

What happens at Arbikie Distillery?

You tour the working distillery on the Stirling family farm, learn how they produce climate-positive gin from peas grown in their own fields, and taste three of their craft gins. It's the only distillery in Scotland with this production method and climate commitment.