The Riverside Walk – A Dee Stroll and a Pint by the Fire
About 2.3 miles on foot.
Ballater's Riverside Walk is a gentle loop along the Dee from the edge of the village, with the golf course on one side and wooded hills across the water.
Come back in as the light goes to the Ghillies Bar at the Balmoral Arms, where there's a fire, local ales and a long shelf of malts. It's at its best on a cold autumn evening, and dogs are as welcome by the fire as their owners.
- Time
- An hour and a half for the 3.7 km loop.
- The path
- Mostly wide earthy paths, with some narrow rough and rocky sections and one short steep, uneven stretch.
- Where to start
- Free council car parks on Station Square, where the walk is signposted, with a voluntary payment asked by phone app.
- Set off
- Set off with an hour and a half of daylight left.
- When to go
- The riverside path is unlit, so the stroll is for daylight; the Ghillies Bar serves supper every day, 5pm to 8pm.
- Toilets
- Public toilets in the village.
- Before you set out
- After the clocks go back in late October, and through the winter, set off by 2.30pm.
The walk
The Riverside Walk is one of the village's waymarked paths, signposted from Station Square. It runs down to the Dee and along the bank, between the river and Ballater Golf Club, and loops back into the village.
It's 3.7 kilometres, and the national park says to allow an hour and a half. The path is mostly wide and earthy, with a few narrow, rocky bits and one short steep, uneven stretch, so wear sturdy shoes.
It's unlit, so walk it in daylight: it makes an evening stroll from April until the clocks go back in late October, and after that, through the winter, set off by 2.30pm.
If it rains
In heavy rain the riverside path is muddy and the rocky bits slippery: keep to the village streets, a few minutes down to the Dee and back, and make the most of the fire in the Ghillies Bar.
Afterwards
About 4 min on foot
Balmoral Arms
A drink
The walk ends back in the village at the Balmoral Arms, the old Deeside Inn on Victoria Road. Head for the Ghillies Bar, made for muddy boots, with a fire, ales from the area on the pumps and over 30 Scottish malts and gins. It serves supper every day from 5pm to 8pm; ring 01339 755413 to book a table. Dogs have their own corner of the bar, and it's level throughout. If it's busy, the Alexandra Hotel's bar on Bridge Square pours Cairngorm Brewery ales and has long been recommended by CAMRA, the real-ale campaign.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Darroch Learg in Ballater.
Book a table for supper in the Ghillies Bar at the Balmoral Arms on 01339 755413, any day between 5pm and 8pm, and say if a dog is coming.
Where to eat
Fish Shop Restaurant, a restaurant in Ballater.
For further reading, before you go.