Banchory is a town in Aberdeenshire.

Banchory High Street

Understand

Banchory is a great base from which to explore this part of Scotland. Literally on its doorstep you have the Royal Deeside, the spectacular Cairngorms National Park as well as the magnificent coastline. The area, with its wonderful climate and beautiful countryside, is renowned for its beauty, which also captivated the British Royal family. Just 20 miles away is Balmoral, their Scottish home.

See

Balmoral Castle

• 1 Balmoral Castle, Balmoral Estates, Ballater, AB35 5T. Apr - Jul daily 10:00 - 17:00. The Royal Family's summer holiday home. You can visit one room in the castle, an exhibition in the stables and the gardens. The queen is usually resident in Aug & Sep, and so there is no access in late summer. £11. 

Do

• Outdoor pursuits are very popular in this area, from kayaking to horse riding, golfing and gliding.
• Walking
• St Ternan’s Fair is held around the second weekend of June each year. Celebrating Banchory’s history, culture and community.
• Banchory Museum will teach you more about Banchory’s history.
• Belwade Farm is about 6 miles from Banchory situated in glorious deeside countryside where you can meet rescued horses and ponies.

Buy

Famed for the local produce; this area is popular for farmers markets.

Eat

A variety of restaurants are on offer along with tea-rooms. Famous for its local produce, you will not be disappointed.

• Douglas Arms Hotel does good meals and is nice for coffee or afternoon tea

• Burnett Arms Hotel isn't what it was, but they still do a traditional High Tea.

• Dudleys is somewhere between haute cuisine and Scot cuisine. Pleasant atmosphere in a cosy space.

• Banchory Lodge Hotel offers full dining in the dining room, or bar lunches in the lounge. Surroundings are quintessentially Scottish and food is usually pretty good.

• Raemoir House Hotel. Further afield to the north is very nice, and even more quintessential! Even further out, but to the east, Miltons offers high-class dining.

For coffee and cakes in the middle of the day, also consider the Chocolate Shop and The Sheiling. Alternatively there's the Raemoir Garden Centre which has a large coffee shop/restaurant open during the day.

Finally, if you find yourself in Banchory on a Friday morning, nip round the corner at the church in the High Street and go in through the hole in the wall to find a down-to-earth authentic Scottish church coffee morning, complete with tray-bakes and chat.

Sleep

Hotels and guest houses are available in the town.