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CYCLING
The old railway line is popular with walkers and cyclists alike. It runs from the outskirts of Ballater to Dinnet. Cambus o’May is a favourite destination and makes a lovely spot for a picnic on the banks of the River Dee.
For those who prefer a more energetic ride you will be interested to know that Scotland has twice been named as the World’s top mountain bike destination by the International Mountain Bike Association IMBA. Cycle Scotland and the Forestry Commission websites are good to refer to.
Bicycles can be hired in the village from, amongst other places, The Pavillion in Victoria Road. Phone: 013397 55864
FISHING
River Dee
The River Dee is internationally renowned for its salmon fishing; especially its multi-sea winter spring salmon. The river has also some excellent summer fishing for salmon, grilse and sea trout. A good website to find out more about fishing near Ballater is Fish Dee. A good source of information is the Countrywear Shop in Ballater; phone 013397 55453.
Tullich Fishery
This rainbow trout fishery is found 2 miles (3kms) outside Ballater on the A96 to Aberdeen. It has two lochs, one of which is for beginners. Phone: 013397 55648
Braemar area
Permits for fishing in the rivers Clunie, Gairn and Shee can be obtained from the Braemar Tourist Information Centre, phone 013397 41600. The season is March to September and is fly fishing only.
GLIDING
The Deeside Gliding Club between Dinnet and Aboyne is famous for being the foremost wave soaring site in the British Isles and holds the UK altitude record of 38,600 feet. The club also provides a range of training courses including one for novices.
GOLF
BALLATER
(18 hole course)
Founded in 1892, as you can see it is one of the most beautiful settings imaginable with almost 360 degree views of hills and bordered on one side by the River Dee.
OTHER GOLF COURSES
HORSE RIDING
Appreciate Royal Deeside from the back of a horse by contacting Balmoral Estates or Glentanar Estate, near Aboyne.
JOGGING/RUNNING
The forest, hill and river trails around Ballater give the recreational jogger or running enthusiast a wide range of choices. For annual events please see our Local Events page. In addition, both the Ballater Highland Games and the Braemar Gathering have a hill race competition.
Ballater also has a running club that meets every Monday and Wednesday at Monaltrie Park at 7pm. Email: ballaterrunningclub@live.co.uk
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE
The Deeside Activity Centre provides a range of activities including quad biking, kart racing, clay pigeon shooting, archery, paint balling, rock climbing and off road 4x4 driving and is situated 14 miles (23kms) from Ballater in Dess just outside Aboyne.
SNOW SKIING (Arranged in order of proximity)
The Lecht
The Lecht2090 is the closest ski slope to Glenbardie and is at 2090 feet above sea level amid the beauty of the Eastern Cairngorms. It offers various exciting outdoor activities throughout the year including its newly opened mountain bike trail.
Glenshee
This is Scotland’s largest ski-centre and is located at Cairnwell 8 miles (13kms) south of Braemar. These slopes offer the UK's most extensive skiing and snowboarding facilities with 20 lifts and 36 runs. They give an amazing diversity of natural terrain for all standards of skiers and snowboarders.
Alford Ski Centre
This ski centre is situated in the picturesque Howe of Alford, 41 mins from Ballater, surrounded by the beautiful hillside of Benachie and Donside and offers all year round facilities.
SWIMMING
Craigendarroch Hilton Hotel, Ballater
This local hotel offers a health and beauty spa, Fitness Centre, as well as a lagoon style swimming pool. Check with the hotel as there is usually a “Dip and Dine” Deal, which offers a swim and a meal at discounted rates
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Aboyne Swimming Pool
The pool is attached to Aboyne Academy, Bridgeview Road, Aboyne and offers an excellent range of sporting and social facilities, within a friendly and welcoming environment. Phone: 013398 86222.
WALKING / HILL CLIMBING
A stay at Glenbardie would not be complete without a walk along the River Dee and for the more active to the top of Craigendarroch Hill. However, the area has an almost inexhaustible list of walks and websites to consult are the Royal Deeside one, which highlights walks near Ballater, and those of the Forestry Commission and Walk Highlands.
A walk of note is the one on the way to Cambus O'May which is one of those places that you will want to visit again and again. It has lochans, bridges and winding trails through the Scots Pine. They also have some walks for less-abled visitors leading to wonderful view points and past the shallow lochans to picnic benches. The area has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geological features. Cyclists and horse riders are requested not to go there.
For the avid climber, there are many Munros in the area and a site worth looking at is www.munromagic.com. A Munro is a Scottish mountain above 3,000 ft or 914.4m. They take their collective name from Sir Hugh Munro who first published his tables in 1891, identifying around 280 peaks when the conventional wisdom had always been that there were probably only 30 mountains in Scotland above 3000ft. The two closest are Mount Keen and Cac Carn Beag better known as Lochnagar, which incidentally was immoratalised in verse by Lord Byron. Amongst the many who have climbed this Munro is Queen Victoria.
WATER SKIING
Aboyne Loch Water Skiing
The picturesque Loch of Aboyne is the home of the Aberdeen Water Ski Club where a volunteer committee supports the club on behalf of the thriving membership. As well as individual visitors the club welcomes groups and corporate bookings.
WILDLIFE
Ballater lies at the Eastern border of the Cairngorm National Park which stretches over to the west to Dalwhinnie and Laggan and from Grantown-on-Spey in the north to the heads of the Angus Glens in the south. The park covers roughly 10% of Scotland. It is home to a quarter of Scotland's native woodland and is a refuge for a host of rare plants and creatures, including 25% of the UK's threatened species. The National Park takes in some of the most spectacular landscapes in Britain, from the wild tundra of the high mountain tops to the wind-rocked seclusion of the ancient pinewoods. Heather moor, vivid with summer colour, and grand glens, haunt of red deer, golden eagle and ospreys, are just some of the other habitats within the park.
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