Local Area

Aboyne

Aboyne is a charming village on the River Dee, set in the magnificent back drop of Royal Deeside and lies at the edge of the Cairngorms mountains.

The village has a varied selection of shops and places to eat, a theatre and swimming pool.  A family butcher, small supermarket, The Paper Girls Shop and Strachans general store will serve all your catering requirements. There is a Pharmacy, Post Office, Gift shop, Spider On a Bicycle, The Black Faced Sheep and Corner House Cafes.

Within stumbling distance of the Coo Hoose is the Boat Inn for eating out or a quiet drink.  Nurtaj Indian Restaurant, The Golden House Chinese takeaway and Aboyne Fish and Chips are all within walking distance also.

The large village green is the venue of the annual Highland games and also the focus of the Aboyne and Deeside Festival held every July.

We hope you don’t require, but its worth noting the Dentist and Health Centre!

~ Eating out

Lunch

• ~ The Black Faced Sheep in the village is excellent for coffee and lunch and has a great emporium of gifts and goodies.
• ~ Spider On A Bicycle in the Station Square,  great lunch venue has a fantastic selection of cakes. Great for a coffee, breakfast or lunch.
• ~ The Finzean Farm Shop, has a fantastic selection of local Scottish produce, crafts and fabulous home cooked food. Very good for local supplies, they also have some delicious frozen evening meals. 10am-4pm.
• ~Potarch Cafe, great coffee and lunch menu 10am-4pm
• ~ The Fish Shop restaurant, is exceptional in Ballater. They have a very reasonable lunch menu which is a real treat. Absolute must do.
• ~ The Fife Arms, Braemar is a artist and interior design dream. Dinner or Sunday lunch at the Clunie restaurant or pub grub in the Flying Stag bar. Ask about art tours or have a sneaky peek around the hotel. The whisky bar you have to book and I would suggest a taxi home.
• ~ In Banchory Buchannan’s Restaurant has great coffee and light lunches at the Woodend Barn Arts Centre.
• ~ Tease and The Bird cage on the High Street in Banchory have fab coffee, cakes and light lunches.

Dinner

• ~ The Boat Inn is barely a 10 minute walk they do good pub grub and beer.
• ~ The Banchory Lodge Hotel has bistro style food and has a fine position overlooking the River Dee. Cocktails on the deck on a lovely summers evening is worth a try.
• ~ If your travelling towards Logie Coldstone or Kildrummy, the Kildrummy Inn has a fine menu with delicious food, half an hour from the Coo Hoose.
• ~ Buchannan’s is a favourite with the Banchory locals, which is always good to know. Very good bistro food.
• ~ The Fish Shop Ballater for special occasions
• ~ There are many many more options, ask us if you want more information.

~ Eating In

Local Produce

I know you are on holiday but the following is a helpful guide to the best places to find local Scottish produce. The Coo hoose has a well equipped kitchen and has some great recipe books for inspiration.

• ~ Supermarkets: There is a well stocked Co-op in the village and Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrison all deliver to the door.
• ~ Finzean Farm Shop, from which you can obtain game from the estate, beef from their farm, Ingram’s pork, with a great selection of grocery products and fresh vegetables.
• ~ John Troup Butcher, Aboyne – Great beef, pork and lamb. Their pies are excellent for an easy tea.
• ~ Sherridans Butcher, Ballater. Good for game, beef and sausages of all flavours made on the premises.
• ~Courie Courie Bakery Aboyne, or Highland Bake House Crathie both sell fantastic artisan baked goods.
• ~ George Strachan, Aboyne. By Royal appointment, this grocers shop has great selection of Scottish Whisky fresh produce and everything in between..
• ~ Deeside Deli in Ballater has a great selection of cheese, preserves, and fresh fruit, vegetables & herbs. They will also make fresh takeaway sandwiches to order.
• ~ The Bakers in Ballater; a must try is their Balmoral Bread, my kids love it! Also good for picnic lunches with a very retro selection of cakes, tray bakes and freshly made sandwiches.
• ~ Raemoir Garden Centre in Banchory has a great deli selection, very good cheese, cold meats and homemade ready meals.
• ~ Fish – There are many fish vans that flee about Deeside on a daily basis, they come from Arbroath, Montrose and Gourdon on the coast. They stop and sell from the back of their van, so keep a look out or listen for the toot on Thursday morning 8:45 right here in Birse!

~ Outdoor Activities

Salmon & Trout Fishing

Salmon fishing on the River Dee is internationally famous as the top Spring Atlantic Salmon River in the world during February – May. It has some of the best beats in Scotland, and all set in the stunning scenic back drop of Royal Deeside. All the Beats along the Dee are fly based and have a catch and release policy only.  Check  availability at https://www.FishPal.com – buy fishing permits for salmon fishing on the Dee or Trout Fishing in the Hill Lochs.  There are some fabulous stocked Trout Lochs. Have a look at the Glen Tanar website as they have the most picturesque loch with two boats and four rods. Tullich Fishery just outside Ballater is great too, with the mountain of Lochnagar as a back drop, it’s perfect for beginners and has a pool for kids to have a go too. Rods for hire.

Aboyne Golf Course

You will find over 50 great courses in Aberdeenshire, catering for both the novice and more experienced golfer. Aboyne can boost two golf courses. Aboyne Golf Club, is a well maintained 18 hole Parkland course with spectacular views and well stocked pro shop.  Braemar, Ballater and Banchory are all well within reach.

Deeside Activity Park

Deeside Activity Park offers a range of outdoor activities including: quad biking, kart racing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, 4×4 offroad driving, paintball, and rifle target shooting. Great fun for all ages. Farm shop and restaurant, with indoor play barn and outdoor all-weather sledging slope.

Battlegrounds Adventure Activities

Battlegrounds Adventure Activities bases at Banchory is a 5 star fun day out with Paint Balling and Lazer Tag for big and little kids!.  More info at www.battle-scotland.co.uk

Walking & Hill Walking

The area is a walkers paradise and offers some of the best walking in Scotland. There is no less than 24 Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet) in the Braemar area alone.

• ~ The Ballater Walking Festival in May is a major annual event.
• ~ The Active Aboyne Festival in September has a large number of hill walking and outdoor activity events.
• ~ Walk Deeside is a local company that offers outdoor activities and guided hill walking holidays.
• ~Royal Deeside Golf Week – July
• ~ RunBalmoral which is annual events usually the last weekend in April, for more information visit www.runbalmoral.com
• ~Braemar Literary Festival September

Skiing

3 of Scotland’s 5 major Snow Centres and within easy reach of Aboyne.

• ~ The Lecht is 45 mins (28 miles)
• ~ Glenshee is 1 hour (43 miles) and the biggest
• ~ Cairngorm is less than 2 hours away (66 miles)

Deeside Gliding Club

If you fancy taking to the air, Deeside gliding Club is located near Aboyne and is reowned for being the foremost wave soaring site in the British Isles. the UK altitude record of 38,600 feet was set in a glider flown from the club.

Horse Riding

Glen Tanar Equestrian Centre offers safe, quality riding along some of the most stunning country side on Deeside. For all abilities and ages. Trek up mountains, along riverside and through ancient Caledonian woodland. Spectacular views and scenery to be enjoyed.

Water Skiing

Aberdeen Water Skiing Centre operates on the Loch of Aboyne and catering for all levels and ages, from beginner through to national competition level. April – October. Visitors welcome Saturday and Sunday afternoons, booking required.

Cycling

Deeside is surrounded by terrain suitable for all abilities. Explore forest trails, single track descents and quiet roads. The IMBA has recently awarded Scotland the worlds’ top mountain bike destination for the second year running. Cycle Highlands, in Ballater, specialise in bike hire, guiding and corporate events.  Speak to Richard the owner for more information or visit their website. Bike Station Ballater have a good selection of Hire bikes including E-bikes.  Also in Aboyne is a mountain bike park, situated in Bell Wood Forest on the out skirts of the village. With ‘pump track’, a down hill section, and jumps area.

• ~ Cycle Highlands
• ~ Bike Station Ballaterhttps://www.bikestationballater.co.uk/
• ~Braemar Mountain Sports also offer bike hire if you want fast access to the Munros.

Castles, Scottish History & Culture

Scottish Castles, beautiful walled gardens, art galleries, the Granite City – Aberdeen, and much more. Please use the following to plan your tour:

• ~  www.nts.org.uk   (National Trust for Scotland)
• ~  www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
• ~  www.snh.gov.uk  (Scottish National Heritage)
• ~  www.visitscotland.com
• ~  www.aberdeen-grampian.com
• ~https://balmoralcastle.com/
• ~https://www.malts.com/en/royal-lochnagar

Email to a Friend