Latest news with #AberdeenAdventurer
Press and Journal
18-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Replacement open-top bus drafted in as Aberdeen Adventurer taken off the road after crash
A replacement bus has been drafted in after the Aberdeen Adventurer crashed. The collision happened on Friday evening at the tour bus stop near Aberdeen Harbour. A sign was overturned after the Aberdeen Adventurer bus mounted the kerb and hit a wall. The vehicle was later recovered. It has now been confirmed, by a spokesperson for the Aberdeen Adventurer, that the service is running normally on an alternative bus while the original will be back in use soon. Police say the crash related to a medical matter. It has not been confirmed if anyone has been injured following the crash but the ambulance service have been contacted for comment. The project is a partnership between McGill's Xplore, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, VisitAberdeenshire and Aberdeen Inspired. Bosses said the service will 'show off the Granite City in a whole new light', giving locals and visitors a chance to explore all of Aberdeen's must-see landmarks. The bright orange open-top bus stops at 10 designated spots every 90 minutes, while the full tour lasts about 75 minutes for those who don't hop off. The Adventurer's first trip around the city was on April 18, with the crash happening less than a month later.
Press and Journal
26-04-2025
- Press and Journal
American tourists say Aberdeen open-top bus tour 'better than Italian one', while Inverurie couple revisit sentimental sights from top deck
American pals Christine Thomas and Jane St. John had been exploring the Granite City when they spotted the bright orange Aberdeen Adventurer standing out amid the grey backdrop. The pair, who are on a tour of Scotland, grasped the opportunity to take in several famous sights in the one trip as they climbed aboard the bus on Broad Street. They are just two of the scores of tourists who have been seeing Aberdeen in a new light since the open-top tour bus was launched last Friday. The hop-on/hop-off vehicle is the latest attempt to boost Aberdeen's tourism offering, with thousands expected to descend on the city this summer via cruise ships and for the Tall Ships festival. Christine, from Austin, Texas, is gazing out the window as the bus passes by Duthie Park. By this point it has already been past Old Aberdeen, the beach, Pittodrie, Fittie and the harbour. And the American is only too happy to tell us what she makes of the trip (after asking me a bit about what it's like to work for the P&J). Christine says: 'We've been in Scotland for two weeks now and visited Edinburgh and Inverness as well. 'I think the bus so far has been good.' The tourist explains that she has been avidly listening to the audio tour guide, which is packed with facts about the city. She reckons the information is 'all great and very clear'. This is far from the seasoned holidaymaker's first time abroad – and when it comes to open-top bus trips, this isn't the Texan's first rodeo. Christine goes on: 'We've been on a similar tour bus in Italy but this is a lot better – we never got enough information on that bus. 'My only complaint is that there isn't enough buses… We're just doing the loop because it's too long to wait an hour for the next one to pass by.' Jane is about 4,000 miles from her Ohio home as she peers out at the River Dee flowing out towards the North Sea. She is also 'very impressed' at the audio descriptions, relayed via a pair of bright orange headphones – and provided in three languages. Jane adds: 'I thought Aberdeen was a lot smaller, so this is a nice way to see the city.' Elsewhere on the bus, Hannu Koukkari is braving the slightly chilly temperatures with a seat on the top deck. Hannu has come to Aberdeen from Finland with his wife and daughter, on a bit of a golf holiday. But how does he rate the Aberdeen Adventurer? 'It has been good so far, although the weather could be warmer,' he chuckles. 'It's a similar experience as to when I've been on others in different cities. 'Aberdeen is a nice city – not too big, not too small.' Hannu is enjoying the granite architecture of the west end as I head across to chat with another couple taking in the views from the upper level. Having met Americans and Fins, I wonder what part of the world this couple hail from. Sandy and Janice Hepburn smile back up at me and tell me they're from Inverurie. Now living in Dunblane, the pair are back in the north-east to revisit some old haunts. And there is one part of the Aberdeen open-top bus tour that's especially meaningful to them. Looking out at the sights, Janice tells me why the King's College stop brought some magical memories flooding back. She says: 'We thought the trip was very comfortable, very interesting, and hit all the main historical areas. 'We were both students in Aberdeen. And it was lovely to go past the King's College chapel, as that is where we got married 55 years ago. 'We've been on similar busses in London and Florida but it was interesting to go around your own area in this way.' The project is a partnership between McGill's Xplore, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, VisitAberdeenshire and Aberdeen Inspired. It runs every day, with six rotations per day. VisitAberdeenshire chief executive Chris Foy said such sightseeing tours entice tourists into staying longer and exploring more – which is exactly what they want for Aberdeen. What do American tourists think of Aberdeen as first cruise ship of 2025 season sails in Rebecca Buchan: How my trip on new Aberdeen tour bus helped me see city in a whole new light
Press and Journal
23-04-2025
- Press and Journal
Rebecca Buchan: How my trip on new Aberdeen tour bus helped me see city in a whole new light
Picture this, you're sitting atop a double decker bus, the roof is down and the wind is in your hair. You pass golden sands, beautiful blue sea, historic buildings aplenty and row after row of world class architecture. No ladies and gentlemen, you are not picturing yourself on a Barcelona tour bus, but in fact, the Aberdeen Adventurer – which I had the pleasure of riding for its maiden voyage last week. So please bear with me while I wax lyrical about all that is good about the Granite City and why you should take the journey, at least once, to change your perspective of Aberdeen. We hopped aboard on Queen's Road, immediately outside the Chester and Malmaison hotels. Personally I thought this was a fantastic starting point as the full splendour of Aberdeen's granite heritage was on display. One of the first things I noticed was that an unrestricted view from this height was something I had never experienced before and certainly allows you to see the city from a whole other light. The intracacies of those impressive buildings, at that level, were honestly not something I had ever noticed before – and they are truly stunning. As you drive down Albyn Place you do not lose sight of this. The beauty of Aberdeen's west end really catches the eye… While it would be easy to think this would all fade away as you enter onto Union Street, it honestly doesn't. I can't tell if it's the different vantage point, but things just looked better from the height. It even refocuses the eye away from the roadworks going on below. As we cruised down the main thoroughfare and onto Union Terrace, the gardens look simply stunning. It is then you see St Mark's Church, His Majesty's Theatre, The Cowdray Hall and Art Gallery and you remember what it is about this city that makes it so special. In fact it makes you ashamed for ever having a negative thought about it, because we are really very lucky to live in such a place with such magnificent heritage. However what it does make you realise is that we have not been the best at taking care of it. The beauty of the architecture is such that it really is the first thing you are struck by. But while you sit and gaze at it, you start to become aware of where we have let things go. The foliage growing from between the granite blocks, or the gutters, is just the start. Wasn't there £11m pledged by Aberdeen City Council to start to try to deal with this? I know our great leaders must be aware of this problem too, as a number of them were aboard this bus too. As you carry on down towards Marischal Square, Marischal College and Broad Street you start to hear on the audio guide about the many great minds to come from Aberdeen. Whether that be the statue celebrating our most famous son Denis Law, or taking in the first Brewdog pub to open its doors before James Watt and Martin Dickie's worldwide domination. Did you know there's a Nobel Prize winner or two to hark from these parts? I didn't but you learn something new every day. Old Aberdeen and the university campus provided another fabulous picturesque pitstop before we headed off towards the beach, Duthie Park and back round to Queen's Road again. I am astonished every time we cover the first cruise ship of the season berthing in the South Harbour and I see the reception the city gets from these foreign visitors. Not because I don't think Aberdeen deserves the warm response, but because sometimes we get so caught up in the negative narrative that is portrayed. I would say I am one of Aberdeen's biggest supporters. I love the city and try my best to promote it but sometimes even I need to see things with new eyes. The investment McGill's has made in launching a route here, in partnership with the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, speaks volumes about the confidence they have in the city's tourism sector. It took long enough to get off the ground from its inception when a group of Vanguard volunteers, who came together in a bid to try to rejuvinate our city centre, saw the potential almost seven years ago! And now it's finally on the road I would encourage you as locals to hop aboard too. Remove that negativity from your mind and pretend you're seeing the city for the first time with fresh eyes. I can guarantee you, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Rebecca Buchan is deputy head of news and sport for The Press and Journal and Evening Express.
