FURRYBOOTS: A DORIC SEARCH-AND-FIND PUZZLE BOOK
Keep the kids entertained for hours and teach them Doric too
Furryboots is the World's first Doric search-and-find puzzle book. Featuring lively illustrated scenes of 14 popular hotspots in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including:
- Dunnottar Castle
- The fishing village of Crovie
- Stonehaven Open Air Pool
- The Lecht Ski Centre
- The Maiden Stone at Bennachie
- The Braemar Gathering
- The Duthie Park Winter Gardens
- Pittodrie Football Stadium
- The Castlegate
- The Zoology Museum
- St Machar's Cathedral
- Marishall College
- The Torry Battery
- Crathes Castle
Spot the hidden items, find all the items listed in Doric, and locate the Glaikit Puddock on every page. There are answers at the back (but dinna swick) and a handy Doric glossary if you get stuck.
Kids and adults will both enjoy doing the activity book.
FUrryboots OR FAR ABOOTS?
The Doric word for whereabouts
Although the title of the book is called Furryboots (voted by a social media poll), it's not widely used in North East Scotland by Doric spikkers.
The more authentic Doric term is 'far aboots', meaning whereabouts. It's normally used to ask someone's location or to ask where they hail from.
Far aboots are ye?
Whereabouts are you?
Far aboots are ye fae?
Whereabouts do you come from?
Gen Z sometimes text Furryboots? to ask the whereabouts of their lost mates on a nicht oot on the toon, or to locate them in a busy crowd at The Belladrum Festival.
The front cover design features the Braemar Gathering, the traditional Highland Games, held on the first Saturday in September in Braemar, usually attended by members of British Royalty.
Taak a dook in Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool
Stonehaven Open Air Pool is an institution. Its Art Deco lido has an Olympic-sized pool, water slide and cafe. The heated saltwater pool means you can stay toasty even when the local Haar rolls in, and it's Baltic oot.
It's open from early May to late September, where they host fun events such as the Aqua Ceilidh and midnight swim sessions, where you can swim underneath the stars.
Jine a peaceful demo at Marishal College
Marishal College is the second-largest granite building in the world. Built on the site of a medieval Franciscan friary, the construction of the Gothic Revival architectural gem began in the 1830s and was completed in 1906. Today, it houses Aberdeen City Council’s headquarters.
Outside, you'll find the statue of Robert the Bruce on horseback, waving the 1319 Stocket Charter, one of the most significant and influential historical documents in the fortunes of Aberdeen city.
Dee an Easter egg hunt at Crathes Castle
Crathes is a 16th-century tower house and large country estate, once owned by the Burnetts of Leys, now managed by The National Trust for Scotland.
It has a cafe, play parks and a pretty walled garden with eight different sections to explore, including its iconic sculpted topiary hedges, a doocot (dovecot) and croquet lawn.
The wider estate has pretty woodland walks along the Coy burn, home to red squirrel and other wildlife. The castle is said to be haunted by The Green Lady, a ghostly servant carrying her baby in her arms.
Bonny blooms at The Duthie Park Winter Gardens
The David Welch Botanical Gardens in Duthie Park have won Britain in Bloom many times. You'll find rare and exotic plants on display from all around the world.
The hothouses include fish ponds, a lush tropical house, Japanese garden, Victorian corridor, scented corridor, Temperate house with terrapins. Kids love interacting with Spike, the Doric-spikkin cactus in the arid cactus house. Mr McPuddock the frog pops up from his pond in the Fern House to say Fit Like.
It’s free entry and open all year round, and especially good to visit on a dreich, rainy day when you need to feel cosy.