The North East in six senses - UnDiscovered Aberdeen by Chris Foy

Before I get started, full disclosure: I am CEO of the regional tourism agency. It is my job to sing the praises of this corner of Scotland. So, am I the most authentic voice to blog on the merits of living in the North-east of Scotland? I am sure that thousands can do just as good a job as I.

Rather than reel off a list of wonderful sights to experience (which definitely is my job), I will focus on the other senses connected to living at 57 degrees north.

My decision to move here was taken on the weekend of 8 April 2017. It was day one of the legendary Brewdog AGM at the old convention centre, and the passenger profile on the flight up from Heathrow was a) myself, my wife and our two-year-old son, and b) 127 craft beer punks. It was an early indication that Aberdeen was not some provincial backwater. Rather a thriving, well connected centre of many people’s universes.

The first ‘sense’ that we discovered that weekend was one of belonging. It became clear how international the region is, which suggested to us as an Anglo-Swiss family - and to someone whose job it would be to attract visitors - that the place is incredibly welcoming to folk from around the world. And to those from south of the border too!

That sense of welcome has not gone away. We Londoners are not given to acknowledging the millions of others around us while we go about our day-to-day lives. There was a two-week break from staring at our shoes during the 2012 Olympics when we would smile at strangers on the tube. But that anomaly soon passed, and we returned to our natural state. So, it took a while to get used to people from across the North East being friendly towards us, and to reciprocating.

Another sense that Londoners are deprived of is taste when it comes to tap water. Aberdeenshire water on the other hand, is one for the connoisseur. I have been known to take two litre bottles of it down south for weekends to avoid the furry limescale of eau-de-Thames. 

And then there is the light. This far north we can really appreciate the seasons. Daylight that goes on for ever from late April to August means that heading out for a bike ride at 9pm is not peculiar. OK, it balances out in the winter. But winter is time to really appreciate our drier climate. Living in the lee of the mountains, we have clearer skies here in the east. Perfect for immersion in a star gazing experience, a possible aurora and the sounds of the countryside at night. 

Your sound of the region could be the roar of the Pittodrie crowd, the crashing of waves on our beaches. But the sound that most of our friends’ comment on when they visit our Aberdeenshire home, is silence.

Which leaves the sense of smell. My love of London does not, alas, extend to its smell. But take your pick of wonderful aromas in the North East. Chips frying on the beachfront, pine forests in Upper Deeside. The cherry blossom that is abundant across Aberdeen in April, or punnets of fresh strawberries in the Mearns. For many, the yeasty smell of the craft beer revolution will lead them to a brewery in Ellon.

But for me, I’ll settle for the sweet smell of success as we continue to attract more and more visitors to enjoy spending time in the warm embrace of our region.