In the basement of a granite townhouse in the centre of Aberdeen, my guide Calum Lockerbie's voice becomes hushed, bordering on conspiratorial. We're awaiting the main courses in Amuse, a new fine-dining restaurant by chef Kevin Dalgleish, when Calum leans in and says: "Everyone in here has, is or will work in the oil industry."
We do seem to be eating oily food, by which I mean cuisine served so perfectly (and priced so expensively) that it's only likely to be bought regularly by people with extra money in their pockets. There's east-coast crab and Orkney scallops, local lamb and Aberdeenshire venison. Of course, Aberdeen Angus features, too.
When I think about Aberdeen and wider Aberdeenshire I don't first think about food. I think about the lickety-split Doric dialect, hard winters and, yes, oil. Ever since huge reserves were first discovered in the North Sea in the 1960s, oil has shaped this region and its people, booming and busting and damaging the environment along the way. Other industries have faded or been pushed out - notably fishing in order to accommodate the petrochemical business, and while much of the vast fortunes it has generated have been carried away under flags of convenience, a sliver has been left behind to leave its mark in Aberdeenshire, too.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der UK and Ireland 2023-Ausgabe von National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der UK and Ireland 2023-Ausgabe von National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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Dianne Whelan
THOUGH NOT A SEASONED HIKER TO BEGIN WITH, THE FILMMAKER BECAME THE FIRST PERSON TO COMPLETE THE WORLD'S LONGEST TRAIL NETWORK
NIGERIA
The country's many communities come together over hearty meals with plenty of heat
Katie Hale
A VOYAGE TO THE GREAT WHITE CONTINENT IS BOTH A DREAM COME TRUE AND A CALL TO ARMS, TO PROTECT OUR ICY POLES AND, IN TURN, OUR PLANET
WILTSHIRE
BEYOND THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF STONEHENGE, WILTSHIRE HAS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE ANCIENT SITES, GIANT CHALK HORSES AND COSY PUBS IN HISTORIC VILLAGES
BATH
Thermal baths and Regency heritage have put this Somerset city firmly on the travel map - and this year the spotlight will be on former resident and literary great Jane Austen, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of her birth
GRANADA
In this Andalucian city, flamenco is an art form as well as a way of life not just for traditional dancers and singers but also for hip-hop stars, classical guitar legends and street artists
India's Golden Triangle
LINKING DELHI, THE TAJ MAHAL AND THE PINK CITY OF JAIPUR, WITH DETOURS FOR TEMPLES AND TIGERS, THIS IS THE PERFECT ROUTE FOR FIRST-TIMERS. WORDS: POOJA NAIK
FORGED BY FIRE
A SUBTROPICAL ISLAND IN THE ATLANTIC, MADEIRA HAS RUGGED VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS THAT RISE ABOVE THE CLOUDS, NATURAL SWIMMING POOLS DOWN AT SEA LEVEL AND MORE THAN 1,900 MILES OF HISTORIC AQUEDUCTS TRACING THE LANDSCAPES IN BETWEEN
ADRIFT IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
A KAYAKING EXPEDITION THROUGH NORWAY'S LOFOTEN ISLANDS OFFERS WHITE-SAND BEACHES, ROYAL ENCOUNTERS AND THE CHANCE TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER VIKING
the RETURN
ON A PRIVATE GAME RESERVE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, AN UNLIKELY CREATURE IS MAKING A TENTATIVE COMEBACK - AND VISITORS ARE OFFERED A GLIMPSE INTO THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO SAVE IT AND OTHER NATIVE WILDLIFE
