Top 10 Things to Do in Royal Deeside & the Cairngorms, Scotland

This Top Ten section of our website is designed to help you make the most of any particular interest you may have. We encourage you to cross reference with our Great Days Out page which gives you access to ready made day-long itineraries, which have a variety of activities combined into a day.

Do also check our events listing if you are planning ahead since this is regularly updated with planned events of all kinds across the Deeside area.

Here is a suggested list of the overall Top 10 Things you must do if you are visiting Royal Deeside for a few days:

1. Walk round Loch Muick at the foot of Lochnagar

2. Watch salmon jumping at the Falls of Feugh on the River Dee at Banchory 

3. Visit Royal Lochnagar Distillery and Balmoral Castle and walk in its spectacular grounds 

4. Eat at the Green Inn restaurant in Ballater

5. Spot golden eagles and red deer on a Braemar Highland Safari trip in the Cairngorms

6. Explore Strathdon and visit the Lost Gallery in Glenbuchat and Kildrummy Inn in Donside

7. Hear traditional Scottish fiddle and folk music at a Deeside session in Tarland 

8. Hire a mountain bike in Ballater at Cycle Highlands and cycle into remote Glen Gairn

9. Try a new sport at Deeside Activity Park and then visit the Deeside Brewery

10. Have a coffee at the Lodge on Loch and watch the sun set over Aboyne Loch