North East Scotland
The North East of Scotland comprises the Aberdeen city and shire, and Angus and Tayside regions. It's one of the most economically and environmentally diverse areas of Scotland.
From oil and gas in Aberdeen to computer games and fruit farms in Dundee, to the towering Grampian mountains, the North East of Scotland has much to offer those who live and work in the area.
Key facts
- 850,000 population
- 14,000 square kilometres of land
- Famous rivers include the Tay and Dee
- Cairngorm National Park is the largest in the UK
Population
There are two major cities in the North East region, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Aberdeen is the largest city with a population of 190,000, and a further 50,000 in surrounding towns and villages.
Dundee in the Tayside region has 140,000 inhabitants.
Other sizeable towns in the area include Forfar, Peterhead, Montrose and Pitlochry.
More on the region's cities and towns
History
The present landscape of the North East of Scotland has been formed by several hundred generations of hunters, herdsmen, farmers and foresters.
Traces of many of their houses, farms, religious sites or burial monuments survive beside more recent features such as castles, industrial sites, kirks or military installations.
Doric culture has influenced local language, especially in the Aberdeenshire area.
More on Scotland's history
Economy
The economy of the North East of Scotland is very diverse, from fishing and oil and gas in the Aberdeen area, life sciences, games and technology in Dundee, and financial services in Perth.
Agriculture and tourism are the main industries in the more rural places and beef, lamb and soft fruits such as strawberries and raspberries from the area are world renowned.
Whatever your profession there are likely to be opportunities to live and work in the north east of Scotland.
Travelling to and from the North East
Transport connections to and within the region are excellent.
By road
All three major cities are connected to the motorway network. Travelling times are just 30 minutes between Dundee and Perth, and 90 minutes between Aberdeen and Dundee.
Bus travel is widely available in even the most remote locations and is generally cheaper than train travel.
Travelling and commuting within the main cities is predominantly done by bus.
By rail
The region is easy to explore by train with the network linking the north east with the rest of Scotland and the UK.
Minor stations across the area provide excellent commuting links from rural areas to the cities.
By air
Dundee and Aberdeen both have airports with connections across England and Ireland. From Aberdeen you can fly to Europe including Norway, France, Holland and Denmark.
By sea
By ferry you can travel from Aberdeen to the islands of Orkney and Shetland.