Aberdeen Dundee Train

Sometimes referred to as The Granite City, Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city. Modern day Aberdeen's economy is strongly linked to the oil and gas fields of the North Sea. Traditionally, however, the city was involved in fishing, paper making and shipbuilding. The city has won the annual Britain in Bloom competition a record breaking ten times and also hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival which is a major international event which attracts up to 1,000 of the most talented young performing arts companies.

Buildings of note in the city include the Town and County Bank, the Music Hall, the Trinity Hall of the incorporated trades (which is now a shopping mall), the former office of the Northern Assurance Company and the National Bank of Scotland. All of these buildings are located on Union Street.

Situated next to each other are Victoria Park and Westburn Park. Victoria Park opened in 1871 and contains a conservatory used as a seating area and a fountain made of fourteen different granites, presented to the people by the granite polishers and master builders of Aberdeen. Opposite to the north is Westburn Park opened in 1901 which has large grass pitches and is widely used for field sports. There is also a large tennis centre with indoor and outdoor courts, a children's cycle track, play area and a grass boules lawn.

The city of Dundee is located in north east Scotland and is Scotland's fourth largest city. Dundee is home to cutting edge life sciences research sector, a growing digital media industry and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. Due to open in 2017 is the V&A Dundee which aims to embody the enterprise of the city and make a huge contribution to Scotland's cultural heritage. It is aims to stimulate growth by establishing Scotland as a leading global player in design. The museum, whose building was designed by Japanese-based architects Kengo-Kumo and Associates, will showcase design talent, provide a UK base for major international touring exhibitions, and promote a wider understanding and application of design. There is no better way to see the city and its wildlife than taking a trip along the famous River Tay. Numerous tour operators offer trips from March to September. Bottlenose dolphins and seals are regular visitors to the estuary, and the famous hump back whale still remains part of Dundee folklore. The city centre is a family-friendly pedestrianised hub with more than 5,000 car parking spaces, which offers a range of shopping. The Overgate and Wellgate shopping centres with the Forum Centre in-between offer a mix of high street and designer shopping.