castle
Dunnottar Castle
A ruined medieval fortress on a dramatic rocky headland on the northeastern coast of Scotland.
24 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Westhill
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Westhill
Westhill works well as a base: 10 minutes from Blackburn, 24km from Dunnottar Castle.
Westhill is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 12,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Blackburn, about 6 km away.
Westhill is a suburban town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, located 7 miles (11 km) west of the city of Aberdeen. As of 2022, it has a population of 11,750, making it one of the largest towns in Aberdeenshire.
The town is a blend of villages and farms that were gradually incorporated during its expansion in the latterRead more
half of the 20th century, most notably Elrick. It has a swimming pool, shopping centre, library, golf club and nature reserve.
Where to Stay in Westhill
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Westhill?
Within an hour or so of Westhill: Dunnottar Castle (24 km), Dunnottar Castle (inspiration for Brave) (24 km), Grampian Transport Museum (27 km), Craigievar Castle (27 km).
Are there any good drives near Westhill?
The nearest famous roads are The Lecht (A939 Old Military Road), The Lecht Road (A939) and Cairnwell Pass.
Where is Westhill?
Westhill is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 6 km from Blackburn.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 12,110
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 57.1526, -2.2797
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Westhill
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
Dunnottar Castle (inspiration for Brave)
The clifftop ruin near Stonehaven was a visual inspiration for Pixar's Brave and features in Zeffirelli's Hamlet.
24 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Grampian Transport Museum
Acclaimed motoring museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire, with everything from steam locomotives to supercars, plus its own outdoor test track used for summer motoring events.
27 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Craigievar Castle
A pink harled tower house in Aberdeenshire, its top-heavy turrets often cited as an inspiration for fairytale castle design.
27 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
Slains Castle
A gaunt roofless clifftop ruin near Cruden Bay, said to have helped inspire Bram Stoker's Dracula. Unfenced drops — take care.
40 km · about 45 min drive
historic highway
The Lecht (A939 Old Military Road)
Notorious high crossing of the eastern Cairngorms on the 18th-century military road between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, climbing to 637m with roller-coaster gradients: often the first UK road closed by snow.
58 km · about 65 min drive
castle
Balmoral Castle
A large estate in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, serving as one of the residences of the British royal family since 1852.
59 km · about 70 min drive
photogenic
Pennan
A single row of white cottages squeezed between red sandstone cliffs and the sea, reached by a steep hairpin lane off the B9031. Star of the 1983 film Local Hero. Its red phone box is now listed.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Westhill
- 58 kmThe Lecht (A939 Old Military Road)Notorious high crossing of the eastern Cairngorms on the 18th-century military road between Cockbridge and Tomintoul, climbing to 637m with roller-coaster gradients: often the first UK road closed by snow.
- 59 kmThe Lecht Road (A939)The Cockbridge to Tomintoul road, Britain's most reliably snowbound route, a rollercoaster over the Cairngorms' eastern edge.
- 75 kmCairnwell PassThe highest main road in Britain at 670m, where the A93 crosses the Grampians at Glenshee between Braemar and the ski centre. The famously steep Devil's Elbow hairpins lie just below the summit.
- 75 kmCairnwell Pass (A93, Glenshee)The highest public road in Britain at 670m, climbing the Devil's Elbow route through Glenshee to Braemar.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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