The Dark Side of Aberdeen: A Self-guided Audio Walk
- 1–2 hours
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
Explore the murkier corners of Aberdeen at your own pace with this highly acclaimed self guided audio walking tour of Aberdeen. Beginning from the Mercat Cross, you'll weave your way through hundreds of years of history while discovering the stories of piracy, slavery, and insurrection that the city hides in plain sight. Hear about "Indian Pete" and his efforts to banish child slavery. The tour is ready whenever you feel like taking a stroll. It plays audio automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smart phone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline. It does not need a network connection to work. If you've got an hour and want to see some of the grisly and gloomy corners that Aberdeen has to offer – this is the tour for you!
Inclusions
What's included
- VoiceMap Application
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Lifetime access to 'Dark Aberdeen: Piracy, Slavery and Insurrection' tour
What's not
- Smartphone
- Transportation
- Food/drinks
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Itinerary
The tour takes you on a wandering walk beginning at the Mercat Cross, near the Tourist Office, and ending with a dramatic view of the city's crown jewel - Marischall College. Start the tour in the app, put your phone in your pocket, and let your guide direct you through the streets. The total walking distance is approximately 1.5km and takes about an hour without stopping, but you can pause anytime! Most people will opt to stop for a coffee or ice-cream snack or for photography opportunities along the way. The narration is crisply mastered by a professional audio engineering staff, and the tour creates an engaging experience that is suitable for all ages that can wear ear buds. Key landmarks include: • Mercat Cross (Market Cross) • Aberdeen Harbour • Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Provost Ross House • Marischal Square and Marischal College • Provost Skene's House The exact route can be seen upon downloading or viewing the tour. Audio from the tour can also be previewed at this site.
The Aberdeen Maritime Museum charts the close relationship between Aberdeen, its harbour and the sea. Inside there are fascinating exhibits from the fishing, ship building and oil industries.
Provost Ross' House was built in 1593 and is the second oldest building in Aberdeen. Provost John Ross was the Mayor of Aberdeen from 1710 to 1712. Ross made his money as a ship owner. You can see the harbour from the windows of his house.
The Green was once a flourishing market area and is still used as such on Fridays. It’s now surrounded by bars, restaurants and small businesses.
Sir George Skene was Provost of the city from 1676 for 9 years and is most notable for his old house. The rooms are furnished in the styles of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. Inside there are collections of coins and local history.
Marischal Square is a £107 million pound development that blends the old with the new. It houses a hotel, shops and offices right in the heart of Aberdeen. You'll find the famous Mackie's ice cream parlour here.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
3.9
- 56
- 411
- 33
- 20
- 12
Ratings come from 22 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Start at the Mercat Cross at the Eastern end of Union Street, a short walk from the Visit Scotland centre. Before arrival, install the VoiceMap app and use the code provided on your ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart any time and complete at your own pace.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 10 travellers
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Aberdeen
- Its from-price is 92% below the median of the 9 city tours we list in Aberdeen.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 9.
About Aberdeen
Aberdeen is a granite city on Scotland's north-east coast, with a historic university, a fishing and oil port, beaches and castles in the countryside.
Aberdeen stands between the rivers Dee and Don on the North Sea, a city built of grey granite that glints with mica in the sun. Old Aberdeen, with its cobbled High Street, the crown tower of King's College chapel and St Machar's Cathedral, preserves a medieval university town, while Marischal College, a vast neo-Gothic granite frontage, looks over Broad Street. Footdee, a small fishing community of low cottages, sits by the harbour mouth.
Top-ranked sights in Aberdeen: Slains Castle, Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Garden & Estate.
Special offers in Aberdeen
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
