With our lodges situated just outside this handsome Scottish town, we’ll admit we’re biased; but Banchory truly is a delight. Within half an hour of Aberdeen and surrounded by beautiful countryside, bordering the fine River Dee, we couldn’t be more happily situated. This is our guide to the best things to do when visiting this charming town of ours.
Food and drink
There is great food and drink shopping in Banchory, with two large supermarkets, HM Sheridan butchers (which has a Royal Warrant to supply her Majesty The Queen when she is resident at nearby Balmoral), a fabulous ice cream and chocolate/sweetie shop, Continental Cream and a monthly farmers’ market on the third Saturday of the month selling fresh bread, warm pork pies straight from the oven, local beers and ciders and local fresh and cured meats. There are also numerous restaurants, tea rooms and cafes for you to dine out in (more on that in our Banchory eating out blog).
Banchory Museum
If you want to find out a bit more about local heritage, it’s worth looking in on Banchory Museum, which has displays about local history, characters, tartans, archaeology and Victoriana, and is a centre of excellence for the traditional culture of the Dee Valley.
The Great Outdoors
Banchory is surrounded by spectacular countryside and is a great choice as a base for exploring Royal Deeside, the Aberdeenshire coast and the Cairngorms National Park.
The Falls of Feugh just minutes from Banchory town centre offer the chance to see wild salmon leaping upstream, which is one of nature’s most inspiring sights. And a visit to Banchory isn’t complete without climbing Scolty Hill and heading up the tower at the top where the 360 degree views taking in mountains and sea, are spectacular.
We are also perfectly positioned for visiting numerous nearby castles, including Crathes, Craigievar, Drum and Balmoral. The walled garden at Crathes is one of the best in Scotland with many rare trees and shrubs – and is just five minutes drive from Banchory. Each castle is majestic and atmospheric, offering guided tours, tearooms, woodland walks and various activities for children so there is something to interest everyone!
Looking to stay in Banchory? Book our Banchory lodges here.
Royal Deeside Railway
The Royal Deeside Railway is just five minutes’ drive from Banchory and is well worth the trip. With an award-winning station building and a range of steam, diesel and electric trains, this heritage railway is a local treasure. There is an on-board buffet car serving light refreshments, and there are special Santa and mince pie services around Christmas and New Year. A really charming day out.
Fishing
Keen fishermen will find the world famous salmon fishing offered by the river Dee only a stone’s throw away. Even nearer is the Raemoir Trout Fishery with three fly-fishing lochs and a children’s bait pool.
Many other opportunities are close by, including the rivers Don and Spey, trout fisheries at Glen Tanar, Midmar, Ballater and Strathdon and sea angling and mackerel fishing from many of the small fishing ports along the coast.
Golf
We are fortunate to be graced by numerous excellent golf courses nearby, with Inchmarlo offering an 18 hole championship golf course, a nine hole golf course and a floodlit driving range. Other courses within a short distance include: Banchory, Torphins, Aboyne, Alford, Ballater, Tarland, Peterculter, Stonehaven, and Britain’s highest course at Braemar. The famous links course at the Cruden Bay, which consistently appears in the top fifty British Courses, is less than an hour’s drive away.
Banchory is a fabulous base for a holiday; why not find out more about our lodges in Aberdeenshire here and start planning your visit?