Things to do and how to find us.
Things to do in Ballater include discovering the royal associations and links throughout the Royal Deeside region.
There are a whole host of things to do in Ballater whilst visiting. Balmoral Estate and Royal Lochnagar Distillery are near Ballater, whilst the scenery, wildlife, local walking trails, and a range of activities around the town, Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms National Park have attracted visitors since the time of Queen Victoria.
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Ballater Station
Railway Museum
The old royal station in Ballater is at the heart of the village and is now used as a tourist information center. The last passenger train to pass through the station was in 1966. After a tragic fire in 2015, the station had to be rebuilt and was reopened in 2018 after donations from the Princes Trust helped to fund renovations.
Balmoral Estate
Royal History & Residences
The Scottish holiday home of the British Royal Family, the castle is an excellent example of Scots Baronial architecture and has been awarded a category A listing by Historic Scotland. The grounds, gardens, exhibitions, gift shop and cafe are open daily to the public from April to July.
Ballater Village
Shops & Local Eats
There is so much to do in Ballater, from visiting heritage sites, discovering wildlife, sampling the local larder and shopping. The Victorian village of Ballater is bustling with art galleries, delis and gift shops. Whether you are looking for a souvenir of your time, some new country boots or equipment for your adventure, we have listed some of our top tips below.
A Royal Area
Balmoral Estate
Admission includes parking, access to the formal and vegetable gardens, the exhibitions in the stable area and largest room in the Castle, the Ballroom.
Crathie Kirk
Crathie kirk is a small local church and is known as being a regular place of worship for the royals when they are visiting Balmoral Castle. Crathie Kirk yard is the resting place of Queen Victoria’s well known highland servant John Brown whose name you may recognise from the film Mrs Brown.
Drum Castle
Drum castle is one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses and has many wonderful attractions worth seeing other than the castle building itself, the historic art inside, old oak trees or the wonderfully aromatic rose garden. We personally recommend visiting the rose garden whilst the sun is setting for the most beautiful experience.
The Victorian Village
A Taste of Royal Deeside
Outside of 1852 and The Ghillies Bar, there are many local cafes and delis where you can sample the taste of Royal Deeside.
From your homemade ice cream from Shorty's Ice Cream Parlour to Byron Bakery, producers of the classic Balmoral bread along with wonderful pies and cakes. There are many local confectionaries and delicatessens that will satisfy your tastebuds.
Shopping
There is an array of local shops in Ballater, offering everything from crafts, country attire, art and much more. Spend the day scouring the shops, followed by a coffee and cake comfort break.
Activities in Ballater
Hiking
There are a range of options open to visitors from gentle walks around the glens of the River Dee, up to more challenging routes which often see visitors traversing a munro, such as the famous Lochnagar.
Fishing
Anglers have many opportunities in Ballater, from catching wild brown trout in the misty mountain lochs to bagging salmon or seeking rainbow trout in one of the many lochs nearby.
Skiing
Balmoral Arms, Ballater is located near Glenshee Ski Centre and The Lecht.
Cycling
The area offers the option of road touring, to challenging mountainous routes for mountain biking. We are located opposite Cyclehighlands, Scotland's number one Santa Cruz dealer and demo centre. Visit the Bike Station on Station Square, which has a variety of bikes, including e-bikes for hire.
Cosy up and settle in for a good read.
Whether you have a taste for fine dining or a passion for the great outdoors, we've collected some of Britain's best experiences to help you start your story.
Directions to Balmoral Arms
Travelling from the south on the A93, follow the road to the centre of Ballater and turn right on to Victoria Road. Balmoral Arms sits on the left hand side of the road. From Aberdeen and the east, follow the A93 into Ballater, driving alongside the River Dee on Tulloch Road. At the end of Tulloch Road, turn right on to Bridge Street, then take a left turn into Victoria Road, where Balmoral Arms sits on your left. The nearest railway station is Aberdeen. From there you can take the Stagecoach bus to Ballater. For full information on public transport links to and from the area, visit www.travelinescotland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Victorian village of Ballater is located in the county of Aberdeenshire, 36 miles west of city Aberdeen and 76 miles north of the capital, Edinburgh. The village sits in the heart of Royal Deeside at the eastern gateway to Cairngorms National Park, so makes it a very popular destination for tourists.
The current Balmoral Castle was built in 1856 by William Smith for Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. The previous buildings that were enhanced by Sir Robert Gordon were taken down in 1855. The original Balmoral Castle dates all the way to 1390, built by Sir William Drummond who was a famous Scottish poet and diplomat.
Balmoral Castle is due to reopen in April, where rangers lead two-hour guided walks around the estate. This walk is included in the price of admission, but must be booked in advance.
You can still visit the Balmoral Estate through the winter, with the gates open and no admission fees during October, November and December.
Ballater does not have a train station, however there are regular buses (the 201 service) that passes Victoria Road and Golf Road in Ballater, which takes you between Banchory, Ballater and Braemar, from Aberdeen which itself has train services.
You can take a train to Aberdeen, then either hire a car from there and drive to Ballater, or take the 201 bus to Braemar, which stops at Victoria Road or Golf Road in Ballater.
By air, Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) is under a 20 minute drive or taxi to Aberdeen Train Station, and the airport is a few miles from Dyce train station with transfer options, the train from Dyce takes less than 10 minutes to reach Aberdeen Train Station. The First Bus X27 also travels between Dyce station and Aberdeen City Centre. The railway station in Aberdeen is helpfully located right next to the bus station.
Otherwise, if you are visiting in a car, put Ballater in your satnav and enjoy the scenic journey through the gorgeous Aberdeenshire countryside.
Book Your Balmoral Break
Set within the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, bursting with adventure and exploration, a relaxing bar area, cosy suites and rooms, the Balmoral Arms is the perfect Inn in Aberdeenshire.
Explore our suites and rooms, and check our available dates. With adventure on our doorstep, our rooms are in high demand, so we would recommend booking your hotel break in advance to save disappointment.