To the east of the Scottish port city of Aberdeen lies a truly picturesque fishing village. Here’s what visitors can expect on a trip to Footdee.
Footdee was actually a village designed from the drawing board: two rectangular layouts with carefully arranged little houses. But over time, the residents have given the buildings their own character. Colorful gates and doors, ornate low walls, and varied facades line the alleys with their cast-iron streetlamps.
You won’t see any cars here; the parking spaces for residents are located outside the neighborhood, as are the (controversial) trash containers. This, too, creates the perfect backdrop for visitors—and for the residents as well.
Because they love their little houses. As soon as the sun comes out, many of them start doing crafts, gardening, and sprucing up their homes, hanging up their laundry, or letting their wetsuits dry. The little gallery also opens its doors.
Footdee, or “Fittie,” is located in the far east of the city of Aberdeen, where the River Dee flows into the sea. Originally, however, the fishing village was situated a bit further west, inland. The current settlement wasn’t completed and occupied until 1809. For the fishermen of that time, it was a real improvement in comfort.
Twenty-eight of these small houses were grouped around each of the two squares. Over the decades, the number grew to about 80 (depending on how one counts additions and mergers). On the outer sides, the closed rows form a sort of protective barrier against the wind and the sea. Inside, the little houses stand individually and are partly surrounded by gardens.
To the east, the settlement borders directly on the North Sea. There, only a narrow path separates the row of houses from the protective wall against the sea.
In the center of the northern complex stands a rather unassuming church. It is barely visible from the main paths; you have to take one of the paths between the houses to see it.
There are other exciting things to discover around this central part of Footdee. Pocra Quay stretches along the river’s end, just before it flows into the sea. There are also parking spaces here, and car enthusiasts sometimes gather here.
An eye-catching diver statue has stood here since June 2025. It commemorates all the commercial divers who lost their lives in the North Sea.
The artist behind it is Allan Beattie Herriot. He also designed the Robert the Bruce statue in front of Marischal College in the city center, as well as the fishermen’s memorial in Pittenweem and others.
Pocra Quay is also home to the old harbor master’s office, an octagonal building dating from 1798. It remained in use until 2006. Today, it houses offices.
A hundred meters behind it stands a much larger yet similar building: the Marine Operations Centre.
This modern glass building was designed by SMC Parr Architects and now manages operations at the Port of Aberdeen.
In between stands a low, crenellated building. This is the Silver Darling Restaurant. It serves freshly caught fish.
At this point, only a narrow strip of land separates the river from the sea. Children will find a playground here, and a large black-and-white rabbit statue keeps watch over the area. It is the statue titled “Life is Better by the Sea.” It is one of 92 such statues, each with a different name. They were designed by various artists and auctioned off in 2023 to benefit cancer research. The port authority purchased this rabbit for 4,000 pounds and installed it here.
On the other side of the Landeck, you can already make out Aberdeen’s harbor promenade, with Queen’s Links Leisure Park. The low tide is already revealing a bit of sandy beach.
The Footdee neighborhood is a must-see on any tour of Aberdeen. A stroll among the colorful houses and along Porca Quay lets you breathe in the sea air and experience the harbor at its best.
Did YouKnow: Footdee’s History
One might think that “Footdee” means “at the foot of the Dee” and refers to the river’s mouth. However, that’s unlikely. After all, Aberdeen already means “mouth of the Dee,” and the fishing village was once known as “Fittie.” The name comes from St. Fittikus, known to us as Saint Fiacrius. He is a Scottish saint who is also the patron saint of coachmen—which is why the carriages in Vienna are called “Fiaker.”
The first 56 houses in what is now Footdee were handed over to the residents in 1809. Behind the architecture stands a man with an unassuming name and a great legacy: John Smith. He also designed the new Slains Castle.
The name “Pocra Quay” comes from “Pockraw.” Behind this lies the word “Powk,” which in this case describes a small ditch. There used to be one here that channeled fresh water from a stream to Footdee. “Raw” means “row.”
Incidentally, before 1809, Footdee was located further west. The church of the old town still stands there today on St. Clements Street, surrounded by a cemetery.
The current building has stood since 1828 and was designed by the same architect who designed Footdee: John Smith. Today, however, the church stands empty.
Walking from Aberdeen to Footdee
If you’re a good walker and have some time to spare, you can walk along the harbor to Footdee. There’s plenty to discover along the way. Many of the old buildings feature plaques explaining their former functions.
The one-way distance from the end of the harbor to Footdee is 1.5 kilometers and takes just under half an hour. Basically, you stick to the quay streets, such as Regent and Waterloo. As you walk, you’ll come across black plaques here and there. These show which buildings and areas used to be located here.
Later, you’ll need to turn onto York Place and York Street. With a bit of luck, you might even catch a glimpse of some ships there.
From York Street, stairs lead down to the Footdee.
You can then take the return route via St. Clement Street and Virginia Street, where you can admire the old Footdee Church and see some murals.
Or you can take the path along the waterfront promenade to the amusement park and turn left behind it to head back toward downtown.
How to Get There
Public transportation: Footdee is part of the route of the Aberdeen Adventurer, a hop-on-hop-off bus.
With a GPS: Entering “AB11 5DQ” will take you to Footdee.
Without a GPS: Simply head down Regent Quay, then turn left onto York Place and immediately right onto York Street. Then turn right onto Pocra Quay and look for a parking spot.
