Greenacre Lodge - Banchory

Fun Days Out

Battle Grounds Paintball Aberdeen - 5.3 Miles (8.5 KM)

Battle Grounds Paintball Aberdeen is a premier gaming venue located in beautiful woodlands on the outskirts of Aberdeen. There are a choice of activities to choose from including Archery, Airsoft, Laser Tag and Paintballing each is thrilling and exciting. The facilities here are excellent well maintained and the arena designs for the games is excellent, the new Trench Warfare zone is fantastic, really realistic, the surroundings are perfect for these activities. They provide all the equipment which, again is maintained to an excellent standard. Safety is paramount here and they have an unblemished safety record, before any activity a full safety briefing is given, with clear and concise instructions. The staff throughout are great, so friendly, professional, patient and encouraging. The facilities are faultless with changing rooms, lockers, seating and catering onsite, it has everything you need for a superb day out. Battle Grounds Paintball Aberdeen are open Saturday and Sunday from 8.00am to 5.00pm, they offer a range of deals and packages so worth checking out their website for these, overall the activities are great value for money. If you are looking for an adrenalin rush and a day packed with adventure and fun then you need look no further than Battle Grounds you are assured a fantastic time and will leave wanting to return. 

Beach

Montrose - 25.6 Miles (41 KM)

Framed by an impressive 9m sand dune, Montrose beach is a lovely place to visit, with a nearby golf course, promenade and beautiful sands. Have fun playing beach sports and take a dip in the clear waters.

Biking & Hiking

Moray Monster Trails - 28.3 Miles (45.3 KM)

Amateur and professional mountain bikers alike will love these cycle routes. There a 3 independent sites covering 18 miles (30 km), which can be coordinated in whichever way you desire. The most athletic will love all 3 sites from Fochabers to Craigellachie.

Golf & Sports

Ballater Golf Club - 18.3 Miles (29.3 KM)

Ballater Golf Club is in a prime location in the beautiful countryside of Upper Deeside. It is an 18 hole, par 70, blend of parkland and heathland, medium length golf course, that is slightly rolling. There are a number of natural hazards with a number of the holes being near to the Rover Dee. It is a picturesque course with stunning views. The course is beautiful and in superb condition with fast fairways and lovely greens. The course will offer challenges to all level of golfer. It is a very warm and welcoming club and they extend a true Scottish welcome to all visitors. The Clubhouse has excellent facilities, it is roomy and has a warm and inviting atmosphere and they have a diverse menu that offers a great choice of dishes that are tasty and great value for money. Ballater Golf Club offers a good round of golf with lovely scenic views for an excellent price.

Montrose Golf Links - 25.6 Miles (41 KM)

Montrose Links Golf Course is a superb course that has been carved out of the natural landscape to produce a course that is both aesthetic and challenging to any level of player, it is not surprising it attracts players from all over the world. Montrose has been recognised as the 5th oldest course in the world and is considered to be a tops link course. The course and greens are superbly maintained and are a pleasure to play. The course is predominantly level, close to the ocean and with lots of heather that doesn't make it easy to find a misjudged ball, each hole is different. The staff here are friendly and approachable and the pro in the shop is most knowledgeable. The clubhouse is welcoming and inviting and offers a great selection of food and drinks after a challenging round, the food is tasty and offers good value. The pro shop is stocked with all the usual items. The green fees to play here are very reasonable further enhancing its appeal. If you get the opportunity to play at the Montrose Links Golf Course then do, you will be thrilled with the experience.

Nature Reserves

Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre - 25.4 Miles (40.6 KM)

Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre is housed in 750 hectares in an encircled inlet on the river South Esk. It offers an ideal habitat to more than 50,000 migratory birds including, pink-footed geese, Arctic terns, knots and sedge warblers, as well as seals, insects, butterfles, bees and many more. On site is a top class visitor centre that is open all year around and entrance is for a small fee. It is easily found if you follow the brown signs from Montrose town centre. On their website there is all sorts of information to enhance your visit, from tide timetables and the best places and times to watch the birds. Within the centre you will find, telescopes, binoculars as well as live footage on visiting migratory birds, lots of information and leaflets on the local inhabitants and history, interactive toys for the younger visitors including, microscopes, species peepholes and puzzles. You will also find good hides and walks in the area. There is a schedule of regular events operated here that include guided walks and special children's activities. Relax and enjoy a delicious hot drink as you take in the stunning vistas across the Basin, particularly stunning at sunrise/sunset. There is a nice gift shop that sells a range of wildlife gifts. The staff are friendly and helpful and have lots of knowledge on the area and its inhabitants. Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre is an interesting and enjoyable place for people of all ages, and abilities, it allows you to get up close with nature.

Corrie Fee - 27.3 Miles (43.7 KM)

One of 9 national nature reserves located in the Cairngorms National Park, this reserve was sculpted thousands of years ago by ice which left behind corries, cliffs, moraines and a meandering river. This breathtaking landscape is a haven for scarce arctic-alpine plants, birds and animals able to cope with the challenges of mountain life.

Gardens & Woodlands

Edzell Castle and Garden - 19.1 Miles (30.6 KM)

The beautiful walled garden at Edzell is one of Scotland's unique sights, created by Sir David Lindsay in 1604. The 'Pleasance' is a delightful formal garden with walls decorated with sculptured stone panels, flower boxes and niches for nesting birds.

House Of Dun - 24.7 Miles (39.5 KM)

Royal mementos are on view at this Georgian house overlooking the Montrose Basin, much of which is nature reserve, internationally important for wildfowl and geese. There are waymarked paths and observation hides. (Dogs are not allowed in the walled garden or the formal terrace gardens)

Mountains Animal Sanctuary - 27.2 Miles (43.5 KM)

Set in beautiful surroundings, this sanctuary operates an adoption scheme for its rescued horses, ponies and donkeys. Guided tours are provided. There's also a visitor centre, gift shop and picnic area.

Dunninald House and Gardens - 27.7 Miles (44.3 KM)

An early 19th century mansion house which is still a family home, set in an 18th century planned landscape with a superb walled garden. The house is best known for its architectural merit.

Local Attractions

Woodend Barn - 3.6 Miles (5.8 KM)

Woodend Barn is a multi-arts venue located in a charming converted barn in Banchory amongst lovely surroundings. It is a lively and vibrant cultural centre in the middle of Deeside and is extremely popular within the community. It has a comprehensive programme schedule with everything from live music events to exhibitions, theatre productions and films, opera and ceilidh nights, you are spoilt for choice. The Barn being the main performing space is highly equipped with all modern technologies for the customers benefit. The gallery is located in a converted byre, and is the sole independent contemporary art gallery in Aberdeenshire, it is modern and bright and displays a varied selection of local, national and international artists. The cafe is bright and spacious whilst maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere, it is open throughout the day serving light snacks, lunches and dinner as well as a choice of beverages, the food is locally sourced, home cooked and delicious and is great value for money, service is excellent too. You also great wonderful views across the hills just outside Banchory. Relax in the Wild Garden and enjoy the delights of nature as you sit amongst the wild flowers or down by the small pond and savour the peacefulness. The venue is run by a team of staff and volunteers, who you will find to be extremely friendly and helpful. Woodend Barn is a great place to meet and socialise either with a coffee or at one of their events, it is a gorgeous venue and well worth a visit.

Go Health and Beauty - 3.6 Miles (5.8 KM)

Go Health and Beauty are a mobile service that bring the spa to your home, workplace or wherever you choose. They offer a great choice of Alternative and beauty treatments with emphasis on Eastern and Western Holistic procedures. Each service is adapted to your personal needs and requirements and all treatments are discussed with you prior to your treatment starting. The therapist Natalia is a highly qualified and trained therapist who has many years experience and uses high quality products. The ideology is that rather than being a treat that some of these treatments form part of your regular health care. Whatever treatment you choose you will receive the best service and will feel refreshed and relaxed at the end of your treatment.

Loch Muick Reserve - 18 Miles (28.8 KM)

Loch Muick Reserve forms part of the Balmoral Estate. Loch Muick is located at the base of Lochnagar, one of Scotlands best mountains. The area is stunningly beautiful and the panoramic views are amazing, it offers wonderful photo opportunities. There is a real sense of calm and tranquillity about the area it offers the perfect escape from it all. The region has a number of marked walking trails that vary in length and difficulty, you can in fact walk all the way around the loch. If you choose to walk around the loch, you will pass Queen Victoria's hunting lodge where a waterfall cascades down the hills, beautiful. It is also home for a lot of native wildlife including grouse, deer, hare and various birds. The visitor centre is very helpful, it has lots of information and the staff are most helpful and very knowledgeable. It is recommended that you wear suitable footwear and warm clothing as it can get quite blustery here. Loch Muick Reserve is simply stunning and should not be missed if you get the opportunity to visit.

aMazin! Adventure Park & Maze - 18.2 Miles (29.1 KM)

aMazin! Adventure Park is a fun filled day out for all. They are located just outside of St Peter's Village and there is plenty of parking, as well a bus service. The park is clean and the equipment is well maintained. Admission includes all activities and there is no restrictions on how often you can use them. There is lots of activities to keep everyone entertained with jumping pillows, tractor rides, pedal go-karts, water fun, slides, walkways, rope walks, zip wires, cannons, farm animals and much more. It is the perfect day out regardless of the weather with the heated indoor barn you can visit throughout the year. There is a snack bar and the Snack Shack where there is a good choice of hot and cold dishes, snacks, cakes and drinks available. The staff are very friendly and helpful. They are open daily throughout the year and the admission prices are very reasonable, they offer a number of ticket options as well as annual membership, full details are on the website. aMazin! Adventure park offers a safe and fun environment where both children and adults can have loads of fun and with more than thirty activities available you can easily spend the day here, a great place for children and real value for money too.

The Braemar Royal Highland Society Coilacriech - 18.5 Miles (29.6 KM)

The Braemar Gathering is a popular Highland Games event that always takes place on the first Saturday in September, and is hosted in The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. It is an extremely popular event that has taken place for the past 900 years and are attended by members of the Royal family. It is not surprising that the event sells out quickly with tickets going on sale almost a year in advance. There are a choice of ticket options available. There are lots of different games and activities taking place including, international athletes participating in the heavy and track events, pipers and dancers, a tug of war, hill race, bagpipe competitions, childrens sack race and lots more. The Braemar Gathering is world renowned for its friendly and hospitable welcome it extends to all visitors. It is a day long event and the weather cannot be depended on so it is best to dress to cover all eventualities. The Braemar Gathering is a brilliant community event with a friendly and bustling vibe and loads of entertainment and fun, a fantastic day out for everyone.

Caledonian Railway (Brechin) Ltd - 24.1 Miles (38.6 KM)

Steam railway running four miles from a unique Victorian terminus station at Brechin, to Bridge of Dun, a former stopping place for Royal trains set in remote countryside. Visitors can take interesting walks from the station to the bird sanctuary along both banks of the river.

Royal Lochngar Distillery - 25.2 Miles (40.3 KM)

Royal Lochnagar Distillery is positioned beside Balmoral Castle and offers the ideal opportunity to find out how Scottish Whisky is manufactured. Still made to traditional methods, with the original type of equipment you will see the process from start to finish, barley to bottle. Water is taken from the local Scarnock Springs and local barley is also used in the process. The tour guides are very good they are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate in explaining the history of the distillery as well as the process of how the whisky is made. You are given the opportunity to smell the aroma of some of the older casks which, is interesting. At the end of the tour you are rewarded with a testing session of their award-winning Royal Lochnagar 12 year old single highland malt. Unfortunately children under 8 are not allowed in the production areas of the distillery. The tour is very interesting and informative nad there are a choice of tour options, they all offer excellent value for money.

Montrose Museum And Art Gallery - 25.6 Miles (41 KM)

The museum has a wide range of displays of local interest covering archaeology, Montrose history, the Picts, Montrose silver, and maritime and natural history. The art gallery has a changing selection of local paintings and exhibitions.

Historical & Heritage Sites

Banchory Museum - 2.9 Miles (4.6 KM)

Banchory Museum is a compact museum but still manages to pack a lot in, it has quite an eclectic collection of items and lots to interest everyone. It is conveniently located in the centre of the town not far from the high street. The museum narrates the local history of the town through displays, photographs and artefacts, in particular it centres on the life of local resident James Scott Skinner - the Strathspey King, a musician and composer. Other displays include Deeside's royal connections, 19th century tartans, Victoriana and Deeside's natural history and archaeology, from Mesolithic through to Bronze Age. There are both permanent and temporary exhibits here so always something new to see. The Museum is open throughout the year from but on specific days in winter and summer, best to check the website for full details, there is no charge for admission. A number of events are organised during the year and again details are on the website. Volunteers run the museum, you will find them to be very friendly and helpful and also knowledgeable on the history of the local area and items on display.  Banchory Museum is the ideal place to go if wanting to get the local history on Banchory, a small but interesting and informative museum and certainly worth a visit if in the area.

Glenesk Folk Museum - 17.4 Miles (27.8 KM)

The museum contains many artefacts and archives relating to the lives of the local people over the past century and displays information about the Glenesk area. There is a tearoom and gift shop.

Old Royal Station - 17.9 Miles (28.6 KM)

Old Royal Station is beautifully restored with lots of its original features and is a reminder of a time gone by when the railroads were the main mode of transport. The station itself has a nice selection of Victoria and Albert history, with interactive displays and some activities for the children. The waiting room is beautiful so ornate and luxurious a real reflection of the grandeur of that time. The Royal railway carriage is an exact replica of the one that would have been used by Queen Victoria and her family and gives a real insight into how royalty travelled and what it would have been like when the Queen and her entourage arrived to holiday in Balmoral. The exhibition is very well done with lifelike figures all in period clothing. The entrance fee is only nominal and represents great value for money.  The station itself has a long and interesting history and this is dealt with as well at the Old Royal Station. Old Royal Station is a lovely museum that gives a true reflection of life during that period, it is both interesting and informative and will appeal to all ages.

Pictavia Visitor Centre - 24.2 Miles (38.7 KM)

Pictavia Visitor Centre tells the fascinating story of the ancient Picts, who inhabited Scotland during the 1st millennium AD, offering an insight into these enigmatic people through a mix of artefacts and interactive exhibits. Pictavia is just off the A90 at the Brechin bypass.

William Lamb Memorial Studio - 25.4 Miles (40.6 KM)

William Lamb is a well noted and respected Scottish artist, who was totally committed to his work. Although he injured his right hand in World War I he did not let this deter him in his pursuit as an artist,  he went off and learnt to draw with his left hand. He drew inspiration from the local people, culture and landscape, and this is evident in many pieces of his work. The building that served as his studio between 1934 to 1951 now showcases a great collection of his work. The studio is pretty much as it looked when he died so you get a true feel of how he worked and lived. On display here are sculptures, prints, etchings, drawings in addition to his tools in the workroom and his living room that is furnished with his individual-styled furniture. Some of the prominent pieces on display here are the model portrait heads of Princess Elizabeth and Margaret Rose that Lamb was commissioned to do by the Duchess of York, so pleased was she with his skills that she also commissioned Lamb to create a portrait of herself. The studio is open to the public throughout the summer months, entry at other times can be arranged with the curator of Montrose Museum. The staff at the museum are friendly and knowledgeable and more than willingly to chat about the artist and his work. Whether you are an artist, art lover or not you can't help but be impressed and enthralled by the work of William Lamb, a fascinating and insightful experience.

Fyvie Castle - 26.1 Miles (41.8 KM)

Located on the banks of the River Ythan, Fyvie Castle is a fascinating 13th century fort. The childhood home of Charles I, the site of one of the many battles of Robert the Bruce and a family home this impressive castle was originally built by William the Lion in 1211. See if you can spot any of the ghoulish wanderings of the resident ghost!