Grampian Region & Mountains Attractions

The administrative center of this green and fairly flat corner of north-east Scotland is Aberdeen at the mouth of the Dee. There are a number of other smaller towns with Peterhead ranking as the second biggest, but it is only a 10th of the size of Aberdeen in population terms. The region is named after the highest mountain range in the region, the Grampian Mountains, but the hillside heathers and moors also overlap into the adjoining regions of Tayside, Strathclyde, Central and Highland. Formed as a result of glaciation, the Grampian Mountains which are separated from the North West Highlands by the Caledonian Canal include many of Britain's highest peaks such as Ben Nevis (4,397ft/1,343m) and Ben Machdui (4,265ft/1,309m). Heathers and bracken, birch and mountain ash predominate, although in recent years pine forests have been planted widely. Red deer proliferate and the region is a haven for many rare bird species.

The region is well-known for its Angus cattle, but sheep farming is also common. In the Moray Firth which enjoys a relatively mild climate animal fattening is a profitable business. About a third of all Scottish oats and barley is grown in this region. Deveron and Spey and these pretty valleys attract not just anglers but also commercial fish farmers.

The discovery of oil in the North Sea about 130mi/200km east of Aberdeen has contributed greatly to the industrialization and prosperity of the region and this has taken place without damaging the natural beauty of the landscape. Oil and related industries have not only halved unemployment in Grampian but have also raised wage levels and property prices, and that has not always been to the advantage of the long-established local firms or the low-wage fishing industry of northwest Scotland. Grampian is, nevertheless, one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.