Banchory

Banchory is a town in Aberdeenshire, with a population in 2016 of 7560. It's in the scenic Dee valley 18 miles (25 km) west of Aberdeen, and its main visitor attraction is Crathes Castle. It's also a good base for visiting Balmoral Castle and Cairngorms National Park.

Get in
See Aberdeen for air, rail and road inter-city transport.

Stagecoach Bluebird Bus 201 runs from Aberdeen Union Square every 30 min to Crathes Castle and Banchory (50 min). Alternate buses continue up the Dee Valley to Ballater and Balmoral Castle, and every couple of hours they reach Braemar.

Get around
The Aberdeen-Braemar bus connects the valley along A93, but you need a car to explore the area.

Stagecoach Bus 205 makes an hourly figure-of-eight around the village.

See

 * St Ternan Parish Church was built in 1825. Two cross-slabs in the churchyard are all that remains of the ancient monastery.
 * is a wooded hill topped by a monument to General William Burnett who fought with Wellington. It may be possible to climb to the viewing platform.
 * Castle Fraser: See Westhill for this and several stone circles north of Drumoak.
 * is not so much a folly as an up-yours: it was built to celebrate victory in a law suit in 1824. At stake was not just land ownership but the Earldom of Peterborough. It's reached by a lane that crosses the Dee by a scenic bridge: in 2021 it is closed to vehicles and it's not known whether access to the tower is permitted.
 * Castle Fraser: See Westhill for this and several stone circles north of Drumoak.
 * is not so much a folly as an up-yours: it was built to celebrate victory in a law suit in 1824. At stake was not just land ownership but the Earldom of Peterborough. It's reached by a lane that crosses the Dee by a scenic bridge: in 2021 it is closed to vehicles and it's not known whether access to the tower is permitted.
 * is not so much a folly as an up-yours: it was built to celebrate victory in a law suit in 1824. At stake was not just land ownership but the Earldom of Peterborough. It's reached by a lane that crosses the Dee by a scenic bridge: in 2021 it is closed to vehicles and it's not known whether access to the tower is permitted.

Do

 * Deeside Way is a walking and cycling path from Aberdeen to Ballater along the trackbed of that railway. See Aberdeen for the first section from the city to Keith's Tower (above) in Drumoak. The next section flanks A93 west through Crathes to Banchory, 7 miles. The third section leaves the railway to follow the ridge south side of the river to Aboyne, 13 miles. See Ballater for the final stretch.
 * Golf: Banchory GC is in the village beside the river. Inchmarlo a mile further west is a 9-hole course and driving range.
 * Banchory Sports Village on Provost Webster Rd has a gym and small pool.
 * Deeside Gliding Club is based at Aboyne Airfield, Dinnet AB34 5LB, 12 miles west of Banchory.
 * Banchory Agricultural Show is in July on Bellfield Park, with the next on Sa 27 July 2024.
 * Aboyne Highland Games are held in that village in early August, with the next on Sa 3 Aug 2024.
 * Grampian Forest Rally in mid-August is for cars along the forest trails of Fetteresso and Drumtochty, with the start, finish and rally admin at Milton of Crathes.
 * Aboyne Highland Games are held in that village in early August, with the next on Sa 3 Aug 2024.
 * Grampian Forest Rally in mid-August is for cars along the forest trails of Fetteresso and Drumtochty, with the start, finish and rally admin at Milton of Crathes.

Buy
Tesco east end of the village is open M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 8AM-10PM and has a filling station. There's also Morrison's and Scotmid in Banchory.

The Farmers Market is held in Banchory at Bellfield Park on the third Saturday of the month 09:00-13:00.

There's also one on the fourth Saturday of the month 10:00-14:00 at Church Green, Ballater, and another every Wednesday 10AM-2PM at Platform 22, Torphins.

Eat

 * The Derbar at 75 High St serves Indian food Tu-Su 4-11PM.
 * Mamma Mia at 18 Dee St is open W Th noon-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM.
 * Raemoir Garden Centre has a cafe open daily 10AM-4PM.
 * Raemoir Garden Centre has a cafe open daily 10AM-4PM.

Drink

 * There isn't a stand-alone pub, see restaurants and hotels.
 * Distillery: Dark Matter on Burn O'Bennie Rd produce spiced rum. No tours.

Sleep

 * Silverbank Caravan Site a mile east of town has tourer pitches but no campsite, and Banchory Lodge in the village is just for static caravan lets, no tourers.
 * Raemoir House 3 miles north is nowadays an event venue and doesn't run as a hotel or restaurant.
 * Raemoir House 3 miles north is nowadays an event venue and doesn't run as a hotel or restaurant.
 * Raemoir House 3 miles north is nowadays an event venue and doesn't run as a hotel or restaurant.
 * Raemoir House 3 miles north is nowadays an event venue and doesn't run as a hotel or restaurant.
 * Raemoir House 3 miles north is nowadays an event venue and doesn't run as a hotel or restaurant.

Connect
As of Sep 2021, Banchory and the approach road from Aberdeen have 4G from EE, O2 and Three, but a very patchy signal from Vodafone. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * Aberdeen is the transport hub and grey granite city to the east.
 * Ballater higher up the valley is near Balmoral Castle.
 * Braemar is gateway to the east side of Cairngorms National Park; then the road winds over the bleak hills into Glenshee.
 * Stonehaven is a small harbour with a castle teetering on the cliffs.