Speed and Sail

Aberdeen’s Tall Ships Heritage Walk

Stop 1: Aberdeen Harbour

North Pier

Aberdeen’s harbour has been a gateway to the world since 1136, making it one of the UK’s oldest continually operating ports. This historic entrance previously hosted the Tall Ships Races in 1991 and 1997, showcasing the city’s commitment to maritime tradition and youth development. The Tall Ships Races, organised by Sail Training International, are more than just a spectacle; they’re about nurturing the next generation of sailors. At least half of every crew must be young trainees aged 15–25, ensuring that maritime skills and camaraderie transcend borders.
Aberdeen’s harbour played a vital role in establishing the city as a maritime powerhouse. In the 19th century, Clipper ships built here and designed to carry cargo like tea, wool, gold, and spices, passed out of these waters. These fast, elegant vessels embodied Aberdeen’s innovation and ambition, cementing its place on the global stage. By the late 1800s, the harbour had expanded significantly to accommodate growing trade, including major engineering projects like the construction of the North Pier in 1811.

Directions: Walk along North Pier and stop before the octagonal Old Pilot’s House. The Silver Darling restaurant is to your right.

Stop 2: Old Pilot's House

North Pier

The Old Pilot’s House, built around 1800, guided countless Tall Ships and Clipper ships safely in and out of the harbour. Nearby, the Old Customs House (now the Silver Darling restaurant) monitored goods valued at thousands of pounds each week, including items brought by Clipper ships. Its legacy as a cornerstone of Aberdeen’s maritime trade endures. This area also bustled with other activities such as rope-making and sail-making, crucial for outfitting the Tall Ships and Clipper ships. Further on, Pocra Quay and York Street were the heart of Aberdeen’s shipbuilding boom in the 18th and 19th centuries. Here, shipbuilder Alexander Hall & Co. launched Britain’s first Clipper, the Scottish Maid, in 1839. Its revolutionary Aberdeen Bow design allowed the ship to cut through the water with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Directions: Continue a short distance along Pocra Quay. There is a silver plaque near the war memorial beside the water.

Stop 3: Thermopylae Plaque

Pocra Quay

The Thermopylæ, commissioned by the Aberdeen Line and built by shipbuilder Walter Hood & Co. in 1868, was one of the fastest Clipper ships ever constructed. This plaque commemorates the famous 1872 Tea Race between Thermopylæ and the Cutty Sark. Thermopylæ triumphed, completing the journey from China to London in just 106 days—eight days ahead of its rival. This legendary ship symbolises Aberdeen’s ingenuity and competitive spirit. The Thermopylæ’s fame extended beyond tea races. After its swift years as a tea clipper, it was repurposed for the wool trade to Australia, still renowned for her speed. In 1895, she was sold to the Portuguese Navy and renamed Pedro Nunes, serving as both a naval training ship and later a floating school for cadets. For decades, Portuguese naval officers learned seamanship aboard the former Clipper. She was finally decommissioned in 1907 and broken up in 1908 in Lisbon, ending her extraordinary career. Though no longer afloat, her story remains a powerful symbol of Aberdeen’s maritime heritage and its role in global trade.

Directions: Walk along Pocra Quay and around the bend to the Sea Cadets-Aberdeen on your right.

Stop 4: Sea Cadets Headquarters

43, Pocra Quay

The Sea Cadets-Aberdeen, based at Training Ship (TS) Scylla, are the city’s future mariners. In 1936 prefabricated steel structures were built here to house a barrage balloon unit to defend the harbour during World War II. The Sea Cadets-Aberdeen now use these huts as their meeting place. Their training programmes in sailing, navigation, and seamanship align with the spirit of the Tall Ships Races. The cadets gain hands-on experience aboard the Training Ship TS Royalist, a frequent participant in the Tall Ships Races. These young sailors are a testament to Aberdeen’s enduring connection to the sea.

Directions: Turn right alongside the Sea Cadets’ buildings, turn left down New Pier Road (for wheelchair access please return to the Silver Darling and enter New Pier Road). On your right is Footdee Village. Please respect residents’ privacy.

Stop 5: Footdee Village

New Pier Road

Footdee, pronounced “Fittie,” was designed by architect John Smith in 1809 (who also designed Balmoral Castle) as a haven for shipbuilders and sailors. Its quaint cottages housed generations of maritime families, many of whom crewed Aberdeen’s Clipper ships. While men worked at sea, women managed households, supported local economies, and preserved community traditions. These contributions were crucial for the smooth operation of Tall Ships and their crews.
The village’s unique layout, with its sheltered squares, reflects the practical needs of its seafaring residents. Walking through Fittie feels like stepping back in time, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who kept Aberdeen’s maritime legacy alive. The charming gardens, often adorned with nautical decorations, are a nod to the seafaring traditions of its residents.

Directions: At the end of New Pier Road there is a bus shelter opposite which contains a plaque commemorating 150 years since the launch of the Thermopylæ. Also stop at the history boards on York Street opposite.

Stop 6: Shipyards of Footdee

York Street

Aberdeen’s shipyards launched over 3,000 vessels with major shipbuilders Alexander Hall & Co. producing almost 300 vessels, while Walter Hood and Co. building around 100. The Maritime Museum’s Collections section has a database of them all. Women also worked in the shipbuilding trade, sewing sails, repairing nets, or managing families dependent on this industry. Dales Marine Services are based where these shipyards operated from, and is the current dry dock operator also offering marine services. The company has produced some history boards which tell the history of the shipyards.
The Aberdeen Bow, developed here, was a revolutionary design that set Aberdeen’s shipbuilders apart. This innovation featured a sharper, more pronounced angle at the bow, allowing ships to cut through water with greater efficiency and reduced drag. Unlike traditional bows, the Aberdeen Bow channelled water more smoothly along the hull, enhancing both speed and stability while still retaining a good amount of cargo space in the hull - an essential part of the design.
Tragically, Walter Hood, one of the city’s most prominent shipbuilders, drowned in the harbour in 1862. He went on board a ship to see the captain before it sailed. The night was dark and the ship was on the outside of one of a row of three or four ships. There were some planks to cross but Walter Hood slipped between and he was never seen alive again. The next morning a man with a grappling iron lifted his body from the water.

Directions: Continue along York Street to Clipper Quay.

Stop 7: Clipper Quay

York Street

Named after Aberdeen’s famous Clipper ships, amongst other things, this quay celebrates the ships that raced from China to London with tea. The annual tea races were more than just a competition—they were a high-stakes endeavour where speed meant profit and prestige. These Clippers captured the public’s imagination, with newspapers closely following the progress of ships and bets being placed on their arrival times. The Clipper ships were not just vessels; they were symbols of national pride.
A famous Clipper ship built in Aberdeen in 1873 for the Aberdeen Line was the Samuel Plimsoll, named after the Member of Parliament who campaigned for a ‘load line’ to be placed on vessels. The owner of the Aberdeen Line, George Thompson Jnr, never overloaded his ships and introduced a load line even before the Act of Parliament made it law. The line became known as the Plimsoll line, and today features on the ships in the harbour.

Directions: From York Street, turn left onto York Place and right onto St Clement’s Street. Stop at St Clement’s Churchyard on the right.

Stop 8: Saint Clement's Churchyard

St Clement's Street

This historic churchyard is the final resting place for many of Aberdeen’s maritime families. Notable shipbuilder Alexander Hall (1760-1849) and shipowner William Duthie (1789-1861) as well as others are buried here, together with others from the fishing settlement at Fittie. St Clement’s church was built in 1828 and closed in 2006. The churchyard is a peaceful spot to reflect on the lives of those who built and sailed the ships that made Aberdeen famous.
Maritime-themed headstones and epitaphs tell stories of lives spent at sea. The churchyard serves as a poignant reminder of the risks and rewards of a life tied to the ocean.

Directions: Walk to the end of St Clement’s Street, turn left onto Church Street, and right onto Regent Quay. Continue to Commerce Street on your right.

Stop 9: Cargo of the Clippers

Commerce Street

Until the middle of the 18th Century you would have been standing in the waters of the harbour here. After that Commerce Street and neighbouring streets were reclaimed from the shorelands. The name of this street recognises the goods carried by Aberdeen-built ships around the world. Tea and silk from China, wool from Australia, sugar from the Americas, opium from India, and timber from Canada. From 1753, Aberdeen was also a whaling port. Tall Ships journeyed to the Arctic bringing back whale blubber to convert into oil in order to light lamps and make soap to distribute around Europe. At the same time Aberdeen became a redistribution port for the rest of Scotland. These global trade networks brought wealth to the city.
The bustling docks were a melting pot of cultures, with sailors from all over the world contributing to Aberdeen’s cosmopolitan character. The cargoes unloaded here were vital for industries and households.

Directions: Walk along Regent Quay and to Sugarhouse Lane on the right.

Stop 10: The Sugar Trade

Sugarhouse Lane

Sugarhouse Lane is a reminder of Aberdeen’s role in the sugar trade. In 1776, the Sugar House Company was established here to refine raw sugar brought from the Americas for resale. This raw sugar was carried on Tall Ships, many of which were built in Aberdeen’s shipyards.
The sugar trade was intricately linked to the history of slavery, as much of the raw sugar originated from plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas. This stop provides an opportunity to reflect on this particular element of the complex and sometimes inhuman legacies of global trade.

Directions: Continue along Regent Quay until you reach Marischal Street on the right, turn up this street.

Stop 11: Rise of The Aberdeen Line

35 Marischal Street

Number 35 Marischal Street was the office of the Aberdeen Line, founded in 1825 by George Thompson Jnr. Over the course of a century, the Aberdeen Line became one of the most reputable shipping companies in Britain. It operated on various trade routes, including the UK coastal Baltic, North American, South American, Chinese and Antipodean routes, before in 1856, establishing itself in its own right on the Australian trade under the banner of the Aberdeen Line (or Aberdeen White Star Line). Though the advent of steamships marked the end of the Clipper era, the Aberdeen Line’s impact on maritime history is undeniable.
The company also pioneered luxury passenger services, offering travellers unparalleled comfort during their voyages to Australia and beyond. This diversification helped the company survive in the competitive shipping industry.

Directions: Return to Regent Quay and turn right to the Port of Aberdeen building.

Stop 12: History of Tall Ships Races

Aberdeen Harbour

The Tall Ships Races began in 1956 as a one-time event to celebrate traditional sailing ships and international friendship. Due to its success, it became an annual tradition. From 1973 to 2003, the races were famously sponsored by Cutty Sark whisky, named after the iconic tea Clipper ship. These races bring together young sailors from around the world, keeping the art of traditional sailing alive.
Aberdeen has hosted the races twice, turning the harbour into a festival of sails. The event attracts visitors from around the globe, highlighting the city’s maritime heritage and its ongoing commitment to fostering international cooperation. The last Tall Ship to be built in Aberdeen was the Malcolm Miller, built by John Lewis & Sons for Sail Training Association in 1968.

Directions: Walk along Regent Quay, cross over Virginia Street and turn right onto Shore Brae to the Maritime Museum.

Stop 13: Maritime Museum

Aberdeen Harbour

The Maritime Museum is the perfect place to conclude your journey. You’ll find models, artefacts, and original plans of legendary ships like the Thermopylæ. The museum also features a mock-up of the Chief Ship Draughtsman’s office at Hall Russell shipbuilders, offering a glimpse into the innovation that defined Aberdeen’s maritime history.
The goal of the Aberdeen Line 200 Committee - which produced this heritage trail - is to highlight Aberdeen’s important heritage around Tall Ships and Clipper ships by raising awareness amongst young people and visitors.

Directions: Walk along Regent Quay, cross over Virginia Street and turn right onto Shore Brae to the Maritime Museum.