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Nestled amongst the surrounding hills with the backdrop of Lochnagar and bordered on one side by the River Dee, Ballater is an ideal centre from which to explore Royal Deeside, Balmoral Castle just 8 miles away, and the Cairngorms; Ballater is the eastern border of the Cairngorm National Park. In spite of its smallness, Ballater and its surrounding area provide such a plethora of activities, attractions and events that there is something for everyone.
Ballater has its own website, www.visitBallater.com and a newspaper the Ballater and Crathie Eagle. There should be the most recent copy for you at Glenbardie. It also has a “slightly irreverent” on-line site called the Ballater Bugle. Other useful websites are: Ballater Scotland, Undiscovered Scotland, Royal Deeside and Visit Scotland.
The village of Ballater first developed in the late 1770s to accommodate the visitors to the Pannanich Mineral Wells. However, it wasn’t until Queen Victoria bought Balmoral Estate in 1852, hence Royal Deeside, and the railway which followed in 1866, that the town blossomed and you will find that the architecture of the village is predominantly Victorian. The centre of the village is a conservation area. Unfortunately, the railway fell foul of Dr Beeching and it closed one hundred years later in 1966. Many of the stretches of the railway line still exist and one can walk and cycle where the train once ran. The Old Station still exists and has been refurbished and houses an excellent museum, the Tourist Information Office and a restaurant.
A visitor to Ballater will note that many of the shops carry Royal Warrants bestowed on them by members of the Royal family as Ballater is the closest town to Balmoral Castle. When the Queen is in residence during the months of August and September, the Royal Guard is billeted in the Victoria Barracks in the village.
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