Caledonian Sleeper has added Stonehaven to a newly highlighted list of Scottish destinations as part of its Joy of Missing Out campaign. The overnight rail service curated a selection of Sleeper Escapes, all places passengers can reach via the train.
Coastal town with castle views
Stonehaven is an affluent, picturesque resort town on Scotland's east coast, known for cliffside fortress ruins and harbour walks. Its showpiece is Dunnottar Castle, perched on a 160-foot sheer cliff promontory surrounded by the sea. A 40-minute coastal walk from the town to the castle offers clifftop views.
The historic Stonehaven Harbour is surrounded by traditional stone buildings, pubs, and a lively atmosphere. Tourists often visit for fish and chips from The Bay and ice cream from Aunty Betty's on the beach promenade.
Boardwalk and seawater pool
Stonehaven Boardwalk tracks the edge of the crescent-shaped bay and features metal sculptures. Nearby, a historic, heated open-air Olympic-sized seawater pool operates during summer months.
Lynda Walles wrote on the Scotland Travel Group Facebook page: "Stonehaven is a lovely town. Beautiful walk over the cliffs to Dunottar Castle. Best chip shop in the North East. Lovely beach with a promenade. Convenient trains to visit Aberdeen. And no, I don’t live there, but wish I did."
Graeme wrote on Trip.com: "On a sunny day, the colourful fishing boats, historic stone harbour and sparkling North Sea look more like a postcard than reality... It's the perfect place to slow down and appreciate Scotland's coastline at its best."
Other Sleeper Escapes destinations
The full Sleeper Escapes list includes Bridge of Orchy, Ardlui, Dalwhinnie and Aviemore, Carrbridge and Blair Atholl, and Pitlochry. Research from Global Rescue found that 66% of people are more interested in escaping crowded tourist destinations than they were a year ago.
The list coincides with Caledonian Sleeper's Winter Sale, offering 25% off all rooms and seats for journeys between 5 January and 10 February 2027. The sale runs from 4 November to 1 December 2026, with the discount available using promotional code GLEN25.
