Ballater
The visitor guide on Ballater and Balmoral in Deeside will guide you with information on and aroud the place. Also includes eating, self catering in Ballater, Balmoral Castle, hotels & accommodation in Ballater.
The neat little town of Ballater is proud of its royal connections. You can buy meat from the butcher with his 'By Royal Appointment' sign, or clothes from royal outfitters. This is where Lizzie and Phil pop down to the shops for a pint of milk or perhaps to choose a video. Ever since Queen Victoria first arrived by train from Aberdeen in 1848, the royal family have been spending their holidays here in their summer residence, Balmoral Castle. She was not amused at the prospect of having an unsightly rail station on her doorstep, so the line ended eight miles east, at Ballater. The line has been closed for some time, but you can still visit the old train station, which now houses an elegant tearoom. (see local history site)
The Tourist Information Centre is housed in the old Royal Station, Tel. +44 (0)1339 755306. It's open Easter-May and Oct Mon-Sat 1000-1300, 1400-1700, Sun 1300-1700; Jun and Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1300,1400-1800, Sun 1300-1800; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 1000-1300, 1400-1900, Sun 1300-1900.
The royals are not the only famous summer visitors. The poet Byron (who attended Aberdeen Grammar School) spent many childhood summer holidays at Ballaterach, a few miles east of Ballater. He had a narrow escape when he slipped and nearly fell into the fast flowing stream at the Linn of Dee, beyond Braemar. He was rescued just in time and went on to wax poetic about the beautiful hills which are Ballater's other great attraction. The town makes the ideal base for hiking (see below) as well as a number of other outdoor activities. Many of the walks set off from Loch Muick (pronounced 'Mick'), nine miles southwest of Ballater, at the head of Glen Muick. (For details, see 'Walks in Deeside' below). There's a visitor centre and car park at Spittal of Glen Muick. From here a track leads along the west shore of the loch to the lodge where Queen Victoria met John Brown. For guides and equipment for canoeing, climbing, mountain biking and skiing, contact Adventure Scotland in Banchory (see above). There is a new Internet cafe in Ballater that offers fast Internet access for visitors wanting to surf and collect email click here for further details
Phone code: +44 (0)1339
Eating Out
Apart from the hotels listed above, there are lots of places to eat.
Best of all is The Green Inn, Tel./Fax. +44 (0)1339 755701, on the green in the town centre. It boasts a well-deserved reputation as one of the very best restaurants in the region, classic Scottish cooking with an imaginative and health-conscious twist, expensive. Open daily 1900-2100 (closed Sun Oct-Mar); also has 3 rooms upstairs .
Also good is the family-friendly La Mangiatoia, Tel./Fax. +44 (0)1339 755999, on Bridge Sq (lunch cheap-mid-range; dinner mid-range to expensive).
Region
AberdeenshireTravel Directions to Ballater
Activities
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The Lecht Ski Resort Full Day
Full day of skiing in a full slope area with magic carpet lift for starters to a black run for experienced. Higest standard of ski instruction. Includes all the facilities in one building. -
100 Paintballs Day near Aberdeen
Paintball day near Aberdeen that includes up to 6 games. Includes 100 paints, overalls, referees, guns etc. Dirty, exciting day out. -
4X4 Blindfold Off Road Driving, Aberdeen
4x4 Off Road Driving is tough enough now add a blindfold! We can help book this activity and also transfers to and from the activity center. -
Clay Pigeon Shooting Aberdeen
Start shooting and splinter those flying clays in the air who knows you may end up being a pro.
Local Sights & Activities for Ballater
One of the main draws of Ballater is spying out Balmoral Castle, the summer home of the Royal Family and the place that really started the craze for Scottishness.
Castles Nearby
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Abergairn Castle
A small tower-house, erected in 1614, comprising a rectangular main building surviving to 4ft maximum height, with a round tower at its NW angle, 10ft maximum height. The small size of the structure suggests that it was a hunting lodge of three or four storeys with garret.
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Balmoral Castle
Eight miles west of Ballater is the area's main attraction, Balmoral Castle. You can visit the gardens and some of the castle between April and July during the year...
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Corgarff Castle
Very striking tower house that was converted into barracks. Its setting on the moorland make this a very remarkable and unique castle.
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Drum Castle Gardens & Estate
14th Century castle of the Irvine family and now National Trust. Wonderful gardens and you can visit inside the castle as well. One of Scotland's oldest tower house castles.
Nearby Distilleries
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Royal Lochnagar Distillery
1845 Ballater based distillery made famous by children's books by Prince Charles
Ballater Hotels & Accommodation
There's plenty of Accommodation in Ballater, from expensive hotels to reasonably priced B&Bs.
Pick of the bunch is the Darroch Learg Hotel, Tel. +44 (0)1339755443, darroch.learg @exoams.wk.com, half a mile from town, off the A93 heading west to Braemar. 18 rooms, open Feb-Dec. Friendly country house hotel with fine views and a reputation for superb food (expensive), good value.
Hilton Craigendarroch, on the Braemar Rd, Tel. +44 (0)1339 755858, www.hilton.com 44 rooms. Victorian country house converted into a modern resort hotel with full leisure and sports facilities, 2 good restaurants.
Balgonie Country House Hotel, Tel./Fax. +44 (0)1339 755482, on the western outskirts of town, off the A93. 9 rooms, open Feb-Dec. Friendly and comfortable country house hotel, excellent food (expensive).
Glen Lui Hotel, Invercauld Rd, Tel. +44 (0)1339 755402, www.glen-lui-hotel. co.uk 19 rooms. Another comfortable hotel offering fine food (lunch cheap; dinner mid-range).
Deeside Hotel, set back from the A93 heading out of town towards Braemar. Tel. +44 (0)1339 755420, www.royal-deeside.org.uk Friendly, good value and good food (mid-range).
Among the many B&Bs is the recommended Inverdeen House, 11 Bridge Sq, Tel. +44 (0)1339 755759, www.inverdeen.com French, German and Polish spoken, great breakfasts, no smoking.
Also good is Moorside House, Tel./Fax. +44 (0)1339 755492, on the Braemar Rd.
There's a campsite at Anderson Road Caravan Park, Tel. +44 (0)1339 755727, open Apr-Oct.
Ballater Cottages and Holiday SelfCatering
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Corndavon Cottage near Ballater - Sleeps 4
Single-storey lodge/cottage in rural setting near Ballater. Sleeps four people in two bedrooms. Hot tub. River fishing. -
Granville Cottage in Ballater - Sleeps 8
Detached cottage in Ballater in Cairngorms National Park can sleep eight people in four bedrooms. -
Ordie Cottage, nr Aboyne - Sleeps 2-4
Peacefully situated in the little hamlet of Ordie, within a 10 minute drive of the pretty Royal Deeside towns of Ballater and Aboyne and 20 minutes from Balmoral Castle, this detached south-facing .... -
Granite Cottage, Ballater - Sleeps 4
Ballater is an exceptionally attractive village lying amongst magnificent mountain and forest scenery in Royal Deeside, a few miles from Balmoral Castle and less than an hour\'s drive from Aberdeen. .... -
Bryron Cottage, Ballater - Sleeps 2
These tastefully converted holiday cottages overlook the stunning Dee Valley in the Cairngorms National Park. Each with their own character, they are ideally situated for exploring the north east of Scotla... -
Fir Tree Cottage, Ballater - Sleeps 2
These tastefully converted holiday cottages overlook the stunning Dee Valley in the Cairngorms National Park. Each with their own character, they are ideally situated for exploring the north east of Scotla... -
Victoria Cottage, Ballater - Sleeps 2
These tastefully converted holiday cottages overlook the stunning Dee Valley in the Cairngorms National Park. Each with their own character, they are ideally situated for exploring the north east of Scotla... -
The Coyles, Ballater - Sleeps 9
These two holiday properties stand near to each other in their own grounds, each with their own garden, and enjoy a convenient setting close to the heart of the delightful small market town of Ballater wit... -
The Coyles Cottage, Ballater - Sleeps 4
These two holiday properties stand near to each other in their own grounds, each with their own garden, and enjoy a convenient setting close to the heart of the delightful small market town of Ballater wit...