Local Food Top 10

Royal Deeside has a reputation for food. The area is the birth place of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle breed, an international brand which early on gained a footing on the world culinary map! A range of other food products created by local artisan producers is expanding and increasing quality and choice to our visitors. The list below is alphabetical.

Aberdeen Angus Beef  Cairnton Farm is home to a pedigreed herd of Aberdeen Angus and the farm shop at Deeside Activity Park is the ideal stop to stock up on steaks for the barbecue and a host of other goodies including local ale from the Deeside Brewery.

Artisan Butchers Royal Deeside has a wealth of meat produce and our quality butchers make the best of it with fine cuts, game, prepared offerings, sausages, black pudding and haggis. H M Sheridan of Ballater hold a coveted Royal Warrant as suppliers to the Royal household. A range of speciality home made pies are complemented with a range of Scottish cheese.

Cambus O May Cheese Co Traditional cheese making from the company's own dairy. Three excellent cheeses Cambus O May, Lochnagar and Lairig Ghru named after local, diverse landmarks. Very apt!

The Chocolate Shop No destination is complete without chocolate! The Chocolate Shop in Banchory meets this need with a devotion to chocolate through locally hand made chocolates and a gallery of international chocolate. 

Deeside Smokehouse A most imaginative use of great game produce from the Royal Deeside area. Smoked game products are supplemented with Pheasant and Venison Salamis and smoked haggis for the more adventurous. 

Finzean Estate Farm Shop & Tea Room Located within the estate whose produce it show cases, Finzean was heralded by Pete Irvine of Scotland the Best as 'really special – one of the best in Britain, I'd say. A real foodie destination.' The tea room is the ideal place to try before you buy. Finzean is south of the River Dee.

Wark Farm A family farming business producing traditonal breed meats & charcuterie in the low hills of Aberdeenshire. Their quest to produce fantastic meats and products, spawned the Spotty Pig Pork Pie which has the residents of Melton Mowbray crying in their beer. Their products can be found in the excellent local delicatessens around Royal Deeside and they supply 4 of our AA rosette listed restaurants! The farm has an open 3-4 days every month for sale and collection of orders where talks, walks and tastings reveal exactly where this food comes from. Please see our events listing for this months dates.