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A mini guide to
Royal Deeside: tips and FAQs
Local know-how and common questions
Local know-how
Tips for visiting
Check castle seasons
Balmoral, Braemar Castle and the National Trust for Scotland castles keep seasonal opening days. Check each official site before planning a day.
Drive for the outlying castles
Craigievar and Castle Fraser are well north of the A93 and much easier to reach by car than by bus.
Plan hill walks carefully
Lochnagar and the hills around Braemar are mountain terrain. Check the mountain forecast and carry a map before setting out from Loch Muick or the Linn of Dee.
Book Braemar Gathering early
The Gathering is on the first Saturday of September; the organisers put tickets on sale in February.
Stay in a village
Banchory, Ballater and Braemar all have hotels and guest houses, and make better bases than a day trip from Aberdeen for the upper valley.
Events in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Dates to plan around
Dates confirmed on the organisers' own websites.
Braemar Gathering
Saturday 4 September 2027 (first Saturday of September each year)
Highland games held in Braemar since 1832, in the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. The organisers say tickets go on sale on 1 February 2027.
Stonehaven Fireballs
31 December, at midnight
About 40 people swing fireballs along the High Street for around 20 minutes, followed by fireworks. Crowds gather from 10pm and the street can close once full.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where is Royal Deeside?
Royal Deeside is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Castles, Balmoral and the Cairngorms villages of the Dee valley. Nearby stops and stations include Banchory, Ballater, Braemar.
How long do I need in Royal Deeside?
One to two days. Allow longer if you plan to eat out or visit several attractions.
What are the highlights?
Highlights include Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Castle Fraser. See the Things to do page for more.
How do I get there?
Nearby: Banchory (Stagecoach Bluebird buses from Aberdeen); Ballater (Stagecoach Bluebird buses from Aberdeen); Braemar (Stagecoach Bluebird buses via Ballater). The Getting there page links to the official timetables and journey planners.
Where can I eat and drink?
We list 12 places to eat and drink in and around Royal Deeside, with filters to help you choose.
Where should I stay?
We list 10 hotels and other places to stay nearby. Check availability and prices with each property.
Is Royal Deeside accessible?
Accessibility varies by street, building and venue. Check each attraction or operator’s access information before you travel.
While you are here
Things to see in Royal Deeside
A few of the sights in the area. The Things to do page lists them all, with directions and official links.
Crathes Castle
Sixteenth-century castle east of Banchory, with a designed landscape and gardens, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
Drum Castle
Castle between Peterculter and Banchory, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
Castle Fraser
Z-plan castle north of the Dee, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
More areas to explore
Photo credits
- Linn of Dee: Trish Steel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Crathes Castle: Oyoyoy, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Drum Castle: Ikiwaner, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Castle Fraser: Karora, Public domain, source
- Stonehaven and Dunnottar: Onderwijsgek, CC BY-SA 2.5 nl, source
- Aberdeen city: Carl Farnell, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire