Aberdeen, the third-largest city in Scotland, is one of the most well-known cities in the UK. The city is famed for its maritime history and its hugely profitable oil and gas industry which has led the city to prosper hugely over the last 40 years. However, there are also many interesting lesser-known facts about the city that are worth exploring. Here we will look at 5 facts you didn’t know about Aberdeen:

Bram Stoker’s Inspiration 

Although Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of the best-known books in the world, the inspiration for Dracula’s castle is lesser known. New Slains Castle, found near the village of Cruden Bay, is a ruined fortress overlooking the North Sea. History has it that Bram Stoker visited the area in 1894 during August and spent most of the month there with his wife and son; it is thought that the castle inspired Bram Stoker when describing Dracula’s home.

Home of Scotland’s Oldest Newspaper

The Press and Journal, which started life as Aberdeen’s Journal in 1747, is Scotland’s oldest daily newspaper. The Press and Journal is a regional newspaper which serves the highlands, including the cities of Aberdeen and Inverness. The newspaper doesn’t just boast being one of the older newspapers in Scotland, but it is also the longest-running newspaper in the world.

Huge Array of Wildlife 

Aberdeen is known for its stunning landscapes, but it’s also packed with a huge array of wildlife. In the Cairngorms National Park, the largest park in the UK, you can find some of Scotland’s rarest wildlife including the Golden Eagle and the Scottish wildcat. Aberdeen and the surrounding county are also a great place to go dolphin spotting. During the summer months there are cruises which take visitors out to spot local dolphin pods.

Visiting Aberdeen Beach

Although Scotland isn’t famed for its warm weather, the summer can bring a few hot months. Aberdeen is one of few cities in the world with its own beach just off from the city centre. The beach is popular with tourists and locals for running, windsurfing and sailing.

Building Bridges

An icon of Scotland, the Forth Rail Bridge sits just 9 miles to the west of Edinburgh city centre. Although the bridge is famous across the country, a little-known fact is the bridge was built using 640,000 cubic feet of granite taken from Aberdeen; the bridge was even voted Scotland’s greatest man-made wonder in 2016 and today is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Construction on the bridge began in 1882 and finished in 1890 when the bridge was first opened.