Ballater

A small resort village, home to 1400 people, in the Royal Deeside parish of Glen Muick, Tullich and Glengairn, W Aberdeenshire. Ballater lies on the River Dee 43 miles (69 km) west of Aberdeen. It developed as a spa resort, first in the 1770s to accommodate visitors to the Pananich Mineral Wells, and later after the arrival of the railway in 1866.

Ballater has enjoyed a Royal connection since the 19th Century when Queen Victoria's husband purchased the nearby Balmoral estate as a present for his wife. Even today Balmoral castle is the official Summer residence of the Queen and signs of the Royal connection can be seen all over Ballater.

Royal warrants abound in Ballater!

Largely built of reddish granite, its houses are laid out in a regular pattern around a central church green.




Ballater Church and war Memorial

Bridge Street is the main shopping area with a mixture of 'oldy worldy' curio shops, sporting equipment suppliers, traditional clothing shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

Some of the varied shops to be found in Bridge Street

The town lies amidst dramatic mountain and forest scenery at an altitude of 213m (700 feet) above sea-level and is today a centre for wayfaring, cycling, shooting, climbing and orienteering with tourist and sporting facilities that include an 18-hole golf course, the nearby Balmoral Castle, Deeside activity centre, the Lecht ski centre, salmon fishing on one of Britain's best known rivers as well as a sports centre located at the Craigendarroch Hilton in the village, and some of the best walks you will ever find, in the nearby Glen Muick Estate.

Some of the local views

Village Green (or should that be village White?) In Winter.

 

Ballater in bloom