Ballater

Few Scottish towns carry their history quite so comfortably as Ballater. Sitting within the Cairngorms National Park along the River Dee, this neat, proud town has worn its royal connections well ever since Queen Victoria first arrived from Aberdeen in 1848. Balmoral Estate and Royal Lochnagar Distillery sit close by, yet Ballater never feels like a place that exists purely for passing visitors. Independent shops, good food and a tight-knit community give it a life of its own. The Cairngorms offer walking, cycling, salmon fishing and, in winter, skiing at nearby Glenshee — adventure is never far away.