Aberdeen

If you drive north of Edinburgh you will reach Dundee before long, and if you weren't put off enough by that you could drive another 70 miles up the road to Aberdeen, my home town. Located in the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen had its beginnings in Roman times when it was called Devana. In 1167 Aberdeen was founded, consisting of Old Aberdeen on the banks of the River Don and Aberdeen itself on the banks of the River Dee. During its history Aberdeen has been granted land by Robert the Bruce, burnt down innumerable times, and affected by multiple epidemics. Nothing out of the ordinary for a Scottish city.

These days Aberdeen has the grand title of "Europe's Oil Capital" owing to the concentration of oil companies and related organisations who have interests in the North Sea fields. Its heliport is the busiest in Europe and there has been a lot of wealth brought to the city. Consequently house prices are the second highest in the UK and you don't even want to know how much a pint on a Saturday night can be. It's almost more than most Jamaica vacation packages! Aberdeen is a great place though, there is plenty happening and it is reasonably popular with tourists.

Aberdeen's Town House with the clock tower in the background, and the statue on top of Archibald Simpson's in the city centre.

The Castlegate is officially the very centre of Aberdeen (or so I'm led to belive) and it is where the townsfolk congregate on Hogmanay to bring in the New Year. In 2008 a local seagull made his name here, by repeatedly robbing a corner shop for bags of crisps. Maybe that's him soaring above the bandstand.

Aberdeen University forms the centrepiece for Old Aberdeen, most notably with King's College and its distinctive crown-shaped tower. The University was founded in 1495. When Robert Gordon's opened later, there were more universities in Aberdeen than the whole of England.

This is Marischal College, which used to be part of Aberdeen University. It is the second largest granite building in the world (after the Escorial in Madrid), and is one of the most famous buildings in Aberdeen. Unfortunately, it was converted into the new home of the city council, at a time when swimming pools and sports centres were closing due to lack of funds.

William Wallace stands proudly outside His Majesty's Theatre with his broadsword in hand. After Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered by Longshanks parts of his body were sent to the four corners of Britain as a warning to other possible traitors. Parts of him ended up in Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling, and Aberdeen itself. The statue had to be taken down and repaired in the 1990s as he was getting weak around the ankles from corrosion. Ironically, they took him to England.

The domed Cowdray Hall forms an extension to the Aberdeen Art Gallery, and is fronted by the war memorial.

On Rosemount Viaduct stand three of Aberdeen's grandest buildings; the Central Library, St Mark's Church, and His Majesty's Theatre. Puritans might quote these three together as "education, salvation and damnation".

Leopards on Union Bridge, which connects the two halfs of Union Street, Aberdeen's "Granite Mile". The street celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1994, with Europe's largest street party.

Belmont Street was gentrified in the early 2000s, in an effort to bring a bit of café culture to the city. The weather usually has other ideas, but it's a good central location for grub during the day and bars at night.

On Schoolhill there still stands the house of James Dun, one of the late 18th century rectors of Aberdeen Grammar School, which used to sit across the road. That site is now occupied by Robert Gordon's College, and ol' Jimbo's house is a café and salon.

The Aberdeen Art Gallery like all public museums in the 2000s is free of charge, and hosts travelling exhibits along with some stalwart permanent attractions. At the time of writing, the Lewis Chessmen were in residence.

Provost Skene's House is one of few remaining medieval buildings in central Aberdeen. Built in 1545, it was purchased by Sir George Skene in 1669 and is now a museum.

The Maritime Museum is housed partly in the old house of Provost Ross, and in a fancy glass extension on Ship Row. It tells the story of Aberdeen's close relationship with the North Sea, from fishing to shipbuilding to offshore oil rigs. There is a huge model of the Murchison Platform in the foyer.

Aberdeen's relationship with the oil industry is plain to see at the harbour itself, where supply boats chug in and out daily. It's about 12 hours' sailing to the central North Sea rigs. In the background you can see the granite tower of the Salvation Army Citadel.

North of Aberdeen is the ten-mile stretch of pure sand that makes up Balmedie Beach. Even in summer the wind and cold water can be intimidating, but not enough to put off these kite surfers. It may get a bit more crowded once Donald Trump finishes off his golf course. Maybe one of these days I'll get one of those Cancun deals and compare.

Union Square is the latest addition to Aberdeen's portfolio of shopping centres, bringing in brands that the city has never seen before. Union Street itself is also great for shopping - if you want to buy a shop.

Another of Aberdeen's shopping malls, this is the ex-flagship Bon Accord Centre, named after the city's motto which means "happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again". Most of the big chain stores moved into the shopping centres during the mid eighties which hit Union Street quite hard.

Up in the west end, and the number of flats that subscribe to Sky TV on Esslemont Avenue makes for a good picture.

Bon Accord Crescent is another good example of Aberdeen's Victorian terraced housing, curving gracefully opposite open parkland.

View of Fountainhall Road looking towards Rubislaw Church and Queen's Cross. Although one of the drier parts of the UK (really!) Aberdeen is cold enough to get a significant snowfall most winters.

Here is one of the posh old Victorian houses in the west end by the bowling green. I can't say much else about it except that its a nice winter picture.

This was the house of George Washington Wilson, a famous Aberdonian who spent his time taking pictures in the late 19th early 20th century. His work is the most complete record of Aberdeen in the Victorian era. His house is now a bank.

I spent six years of my life at Aberdeen Grammar School. It is actually a state school like any other but retains the name to preserve its history. AGS was founded sometime prior to 1256, but no-one's really sure. The successive list of Rectors since 1479 is known. The current building was heavily damaged by fire in 1986, after which the interior was redesigned and rebuilt to modern standards.