Campervan Hire near Aberdeen

Motorhome Hire Aberdeen

The name of Aberdeen translates from Scots Gaelic as ‘the mouth of the River Don’, although the city also lies at the estuary of the Dee. As a city that has gained a new found wealth with the offshore oil industry, Aberdeen is nonetheless one of the region’s main cultural hubs.

Events as diverse as jazz extravaganzas and literary celebrations dot the spring and summer months in particular. But even the winter isn’t short of things to do, including the Hogmanay New Year’s celebration and the annual Festival of Lights in February, making motorhome for hire Aberdeen a great option no matter what time of the year it is.

As a Fairtrade city, there’s no shortage of shopping along Union Street in the city centre. However, Aberdeen is also well-known for its outdoor escapes, with the beauty of the Cairngorms National Park just an hour’s drive from the heart of the city.

Getting to Aberdeen

Aberdeen lies within the region known as the Scottish Lowlands, approximately 210 kilometres north-east of Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. Aberdeen International Airport in Dyce is roughly ten kilometres north-west of the city centre. Around three million passengers a year pass through its arrival and departure halls, with flights available seasonally from the likes of British Airways and easyJet.

The A90 is perhaps the most important road to look out for when getting motorhome rental Aberdeen since it runs north to south through the city and extends far beyond the city limits to Dundee and Edinburgh in the south and Elgin to the north. To reach Cairngorms National Park, you’ll need to take secondary roads. The city’s main railway station receives regular train services from right across the UK. As well as trains from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, services also include those from London, and the UK’s longest train journey, which starts in Penzance in Cornwall.

Parking in Aberdeen

Much of Aberdeen’s city centre parking isn’t suitable for campervans. If you need to park for up to four hours, you can use the car parks on Gallowgate and Summer Street. The maximum stay will cost you just over £5 (€6). They work on a ‘pay and display’ basis, so make sure you purchase a ticket from the machines before leaving your vehicle. For longer stays, you’ll need to park further out. Station Road just south of the River Don in Woodside is one such location. Another is Millside in the Peterculter area. These offer free parking and are located close to bus routes into central Aberdeen.

Annual Events in Aberdeen

• Festival of Light, February, city centre: Buildings across the city centre are lit up in a number of imaginative ways after nightfall. Free.
  
• Stonehaven Folk Festival, July, Stonehaven: Spanning four days, this music festival attracts some of the finest folk musicians around. Weekend tickets cost around £50 (€60).
  
• Braemar Gathering, September: Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. Probably the region’s best Highland Games, expect everything from massed pipe bands to visits by senior royals. Adult tickets cost £12-35 (€14-41).

Camping in Aberdeen

• East Balthangie Caravan Park: Approximately 45 kilometres north of Aberdeen, this rural campervan site occupies five acres. Its grass pitches costing from £25 (€29) per night.
  
• Cairngorms Glamping: Situated within the national park, Cairngorms Clamping is less than 1.5 hours from Aberdeen. Pitches start at £30 (€35) per night.
  
• Glenesk Caravan Park: Offering pitches shaded by mature woodland on the banks of a small lake, this site is perfectly located between Cairngorms National Park and the beaches of Aberdeenshire. From £25 (€29) per night.