Banchory - Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms, Scotland

The Go Local - Culture on Your Doorstep Campaign is being launched on September 9 and 10th - visit the website for the programme of events including live music, workshops, photography, dance demonstrations, theatre, wine tasting, storytelling & more!

The rural town of Banchory, surrounded by rolling countryside, is the Gateway to Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms. The coming of railway in 1853 turned the town into a country resort and much of its architecture dates back to that era.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert often travelled by royal carriage to Balmoral Castle on the Deeside Railway line – now a popular footpath that meanders through Banchory and beyond. Today more than 8,000 people live here making it the largest town in Deeside.

The bustling High Street, which stretches the length of the town, has a wide range of retail outlets, hotels and restaurants. A string of ‘off the beaten track’ gift shops and galleries can be found here and on the winding alleys that lead away from the main street, including Meg’s Attic and Yeadons bookstore. A WHSmiths, Michies the Chemist and Morrisons supermarket are also on hand for all those essentials.

There is a diverse, but quintessentially Scottish, eating experience on offer in Banchory. Hearty pub-grub is served with a selection of real ales at the Douglas Arms Hotel – a 19th century coaching inn featured in the latest CAMRA Good Beer Guide. While contemporary, fine dining can be found at the Raemoir Hotel which has held 2 AA rosettes for its food since 1996 and at the Tor-Na-Coille Hotel where menus using locally sourced produce are created for the seasons by head chef Robert Ramsay.

Friendly cafes which pepper the streets of Banchory offer some of the best high teas in Royal Deeside. Here, you’ll often come across a handful of Aberdonians who pilgrimage from the city on a sunny Sunday afternoon in search of cream teas and ice creams. Locally-produced fare, such as fine wine, cheeses and meats can also be sampled at the town’s independent delicatessens.

But it’s what’s on offer a little higher than street level that attracts many visitors to Banchory. The tumbling Falls of Feugh, where salmon can be spotted leaping up the river in winter and spring, is guaranteed to impress – as will the chocolate box tearoom set on its banks. Hill walkers will be in their element on nearby Scolty Hill or one of the higher peaks accessed from the Cairn O’Mount road, such as Clach na Ben. And those looking for more action from their visit have mountain biking, river canoeing or quad biking to choose from.

Traditional Scottish architecture is in its element at two National Trust for Scotland properties, Crathes and Drum Castles, just a short drive from the town centre. Widely believed to be one of the most beautiful and best persevered castles in the country, Crathes Castle also has stunning formal gardens - as summer approaches the herbaceous borders can only be described as magnificent. Set on an estate of more than 400 acres Drum Castle has a mediaeval chapel and romantic forest walks in the old wood of Drum. Thanks to a blend of architectural styles over the years - medieval, Jacobean and Victorian - the character of Drum changes as you move around.

Find out more about Banchory by visting www.visitbanchory.com

The Go Local - Culture on Your Doorstep Campaign is being launched on September 9 - visit the website for the programme of events including live music, workshops, photography, dance demonstrations, theatre, wine tasting, storytelling & more!