Torphins & Lumphanan
Torphins rests in a valley surrounded by rolling hills and rich farmland. Just six miles north west of Banchory, it was a small settlement until the arrival of the railway in the mid 19th century. With a good selection of local shops and sports facilities, it has grown to become one of the largest villages in Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms.
Stroll through the sleepy village and you will uncover more than a few historic treasures. The Deeside Railway line – used by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert when they travelled by Royal carriage to Ballater – passed through this area until 1966 and the charming bridges and buttresses that scatter the village are testimony to this. In 1898, Joseph Walker opened his first bakery in the village - more than one hundred years later Walkers Shortbread is a household name and the original bakery building in Bridge Cresent can still be seen.
Dense pathways weaving through Caledonian pine forests can be found in this beautiful part of Deeside, making it ideal for a spot of wildlife watching – the endangered red squirrel is a common find on the nearby Learney estate. After exploring to your heart’s content, try afternoon tea with tasty home bakes at Platform 22 – a ceramic gift shop, with coffee shop attached.
A traditional Scottish celebration can be experienced at Torphin’s annual village gala with a host of fun filled activities for all the family, including a Mini Highland Games and parade.
Nearby, the smaller village of Lumphanan, which was predominantly built in the late 19th century, is also steeped in history. It was here a fierce battle took place in 1057 which saw Macbeth, the King of Scotland, mortally wounded. Macbeth's Stone and Macbeth's Well attract large numbers of visitors every year eager to trace the history of the Scottish noble.
Lumphanan is an ideal base for a variety of outdoor activities, including walking, hiking, cycling, canoeing, golfing, fishing or just touring around. For those serious about sport, local experts Running the Highlands will arrange tailored runs for you taking in some of the most picturesque trails in Deeside. Lumphanan’s renowned Detox Fun Run is held every January and attracts participants from as far afield as Canada.
Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing
An excellent range of outdoor clothing and equipment is available at Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing's shop in Aboyne. As well as stocking major outdoor brands such as Páramo, Hilltrek make their own outdoor clothing for walking, climbing, cycling, angling, nature watching and bushcraft, using special fabrics such as Ventile and Nikwax Analogy.
If you are have forgotten a vital piece of gear, such as an ice axe, GPS or walking poles, Hilltrek's equipment hire service can help you out.
From its Clachan Yell Workshop, named after an iconic hill in Glentanar, Hilltrek operate an outdoor clothing repair service to help restore that beloved jacket to almost pristine condition.
Hilltrek's staff are all outdoor enthusiast pleased to provide up to date information on local walking, skiing and biking routes and conditions.
Clachan Yell Workshop Ballater Road, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5HN
Tel: 013398 86062
Email: sales@hilltrek.co.uk
Platform 22
Platform 22 is a ceramics studio, gallery and coffee house run by Emma and David Pattullo. It produces a great range of ceramics including hand painted table and giftware, commemorative plates and bowls and tiles for interior decoration. An integral part of the business is our gallery and coffee house where there is a range of works by local artists and craft makers - jewellery and gifts. The coffee shop serves a full range of coffees, teas etc and delicious home baking! Open from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday.
Pottery, Ceramics Studio and Coffee House 22a Station Road, Torphins, AB31 4JF
Tel: 013398 882039
Email: mail@platform22.co.uk
Cairnton Farm Cottages
Cairnton Farm Cottages originally started life as 3 farm outbuildings, now they are 3 self catering cottages to sleep between 1 and 7 guests. They have been finished to a very high standard with all the mod cons of a mordern home, underfloor heating, fully fitted kitchen with dishwasher and washing machine but all being on the grounds of a working Aberdeen Angus Farm.
The cottages are only 2 miles away from Deeside Activity Park which has various activities from Kart Racing to Quad Biking and Paintballing to Clay Pigeon Shooting. Staying at The Cottages will get you a 10% discount at the park!
Dess, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB34 5BD
Tel: 013398 83536
Email: info@deesideactivitypark.com
Walkdeeside Ltd
WalkDeeside Ltd offer a wide range of quality outdoor activities and walking holidays based on Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms. WalkDeeside offer qualified guides and instructors for their walking holidays, NNAS map reading and navigation courses, wildlife watching , trail cycling or guided walks. All their activities are based on providing an opportunity for customers to achieve, to be fulfilled, to be inspired and to experience the environment for personal development. 1 Balnastraid Cottages, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire, AB34 5NE
Tel: 013398 80081
Email: info@walkdeeside.com
Running the Highlands
Local company, Running The Highlands, offers Training Weekends, Tailored Running Holidays and quickie Guided Runs lasting one hour upwards. The company has established a network of top quality running trails for all standards and staff include qualified running guides, sports physiotherapists and massage therapists, nutrition advisors and fitness instructors. Running The Highlands is the foremost company in its field in Scotland.
Craig Cottage, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, AB31 4SJ
Tel: 08451 577422
Email: info@runningthehighlands.com
Cambus O’May Cheese
All of our cheeses are handcrafted cheeses using unpasteurised milk from traditional recipes. Visit our website for our Cheese History, our Nutritional Guide and to browse in our online market.
The Creamery South Lodge Craigmyle Torphins , Aberdeenshire, AB31 4HP
Tel: 013398 89327
Email: scott@cambusomay.com
Burnhead Bed & Breakfast
Burnhead Farm, Perkhill, Lumphanan, AB31 4RB
Tel: 013398 83687
Learney Arms Hotel
The Square, Torphins, AB31 4GP
Tel: 013398 82202