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Darroch Learg, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire

Darroch Learg

With a restaurant and breakfast. Children welcome. From £235 a night. Arrive from 3pm, leave by 11am.

Book on their website
Welcome

Darroch Learg is a hotel and restaurant in Ballater, on Royal Deeside in the Cairngorms National Park.

It stands in a sunny position in wooded grounds on the slopes of Craigendarroch, with views across the valley of the River Dee to the hills around Glen Muick. The house was built in 1888 in an Arts and Crafts style, opened as a hotel after the Second World War, and has been in the care of the Franks family since 1961.

There are ten bedrooms, each with a view south over the golf course and the Dee valley, or west into native oak woodland. On the ground floor are two sitting rooms with wood-burning stoves and a snug bar with over 50 Scottish malt whiskies, and breakfast and dinner are served in the conservatory dining room, with menus that change regularly. Balmoral Castle is eight miles from Ballater, and the village has its own galleries and an 18-hole golf course.

We very much look forward to welcoming you here.
The Franks family
What is here

Darroch Learg has ten individually decorated en-suite bedrooms in five types (Master, Superior, Standard, Family and Terrace rooms), all with views either south towards the Cairngorms or west into native oak woodland.

EV charging point
Step-free entrance
Accessible bathroom
Accessible rooms
Accessible toilet
Bar
Breakfast available
Breakfast served
Dinner Served
Family rooms
Licensed
Lift
Restaurant
TV
Good to know
Rooms
Ten, on the first and second floors; a lift to all.
Breakfast
Included; 8.30 to 10am in the conservatory.
Dining
Dinner from 6pm, last orders 8pm. Wednesday to Sunday for all; Mondays residents only; closed Tuesdays.
Afternoon tea
Fridays to Sundays, 2 to 4pm; 48 hours' notice.
Winter
Closed Monday and Tuesday nights, November to March.
Late arrival
The front door is locked about 11pm; arrange it ahead.
Dogs
Guide and service dogs only.
Access
A ramp to the front door; Room 9 has an accessible bathroom.
Car
Car park at the hotel; three chargers, for a fee.
Payment
On departure; not Amex or Diners Club.
Smoking
Not anywhere in the hotel.
Signal
Fair in Ballater, patchy in the glens; wifi in the hotel.
Where it is

Darroch Learg is at 56 Braemar Road in the village of Ballater (AB35 5UX), on Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire, with views across the Dee valley to the hills around Glen Muick.

Balmoral Castle is 8 miles from Ballater, and Braemar and the eastern Cairngorms lie to the west. Golf courses at Aboyne, Tarland, Balmoral and Braemar are all within 20 minutes’ drive, and the nearest ski centres are The Lecht (17 miles) and Glenshee (25 miles). The hotel has its own car park.

Getting hereAt 56 Braemar Road, Ballater, in wooded grounds on the slopes of Craigendarroch (what3words ///startles.workouts.perky). Park in the hotel's own car park; a ramp gives step-free access to the front door.

Close byWhere the hotel sends its guests, nearest first.
  1. Ballater Golf Course, AberdeenshireBallater Golf CourseBallater's 18-hole course, with wonderful views of the River Dee and the hills; the south-facing bedrooms look over it.Half a mile 3 min by road
  2. The Strong Water Co, AberdeenshireThe Strong Water CoA fine range of whiskies in the Ballater shop; tastings in its own room, or arranged at Darroch Learg.Half a mile 2 min by road
  3. Burn O’Vat, AboyneBurn o' Vat and Loch KinordOne of the hotel's favourite walks round Darroch Learg: the Burn o' Vat and Loch Kinord.6 miles 9 min by road
  4. Stravaig Saunas, AberdeenshireStravaig SaunasAn outdoor sauna with views over the River Dee and Abergeldie Castle to Lochnagar: a sauna like no other.5 miles 7 min by road
  5. Casks stencilled Royal Lochnagar Distillery stacked in the warehouse.Royal LochnagarThe local distillery, at the foot of the Cairngorms, fed by the Scarnock springs; book a tour on its website.8 miles 12 min by road
  6. Balmoral Castle's turreted grey towers rise above ivy-covered walls and manicured lawnsBalmoral CastleGrounds, gardens, exhibition and café open April to early August, when the Royal Family arrive, and again from early October.11 miles 27 min by road
  7. Snow-dusted hills reflect fading light over a still loch at duskLoch Muick and LochnagarA favourite walk; Hillgoers run group walks up Lochnagar, Ballater's local mountain, and private guided ones.9 miles 33 min by road
  8. Sitting room with white fireplace, portrait and framed prints, sofas draped in floral coversBraemar CastleFurther up Deeside: one of the castles the hotel calls well worth a visit.16 miles 21 min by road
  9. Glen Shee from the road, heather and hills under a wide sky.GlensheeOne of the two ski centres near Ballater; check its social media for snow before you go.31 miles 41 min by road
  10. Crathes Castle, AberdeenshireCrathes CastleDown Deeside towards Banchory: one of the castles the hotel calls well worth a visit.28 miles 44 min by road
  11. A ruined clifftop castle enclosed by sea stacks, waves breaking against the rocks belowDunnottar CastleOn the coast at Stonehaven: one of the castles the hotel calls well worth a visit.43 miles 61 min by road
Walks from here
  1. The Riverside WalkThe Riverside Walk2¼ miles, about two and a half hoursUnder a mile away
  2. Cambus o' MayCambus o' May8 miles, about four and a half hoursUnder a mile away
  3. The Mackenzie MemorialThe Mackenzie Memorial1½ miles, about two hoursUnder a mile away
  4. BallaterBallater5½ miles, about four and a half hoursUnder a mile away
  5. CraigendarrochCraigendarroch2 miles, about three hoursUnder a mile away
  6. The Balmoral Cairns WalkThe Balmoral Cairns Walk5½ miles, about three hours7 miles away
Directions
The granite front of the Deeside Deli on Bridge Street, Ballater, flowers hanging by its windows.ShoppingDeeside Deli & Garden Shop0.5 miles
Fish Shop Restaurant, AberdeenshireRestaurantsFish Shop Restaurant0.5 miles
The Balmoral Arms' dining room, dark walls hung with pictures above tartan banquettes.RestaurantsBalmoral Arms0.6 miles
Cappuccino and sliced cake on a wooden table in a caféCafeBridge House Café0.6 miles
ÖSLEY's granite front on Bridge Street, Ballater, a navy sign above the door.ShoppingÖSLEY0.6 miles
The Albert Memorial Hall, with a red telephone box outside its turreted stone facadeRestaurantsLunch and a Wander in Ballater0.7 miles
Old gravestones in the round kirkyard at Tullich among trees, the ruined kirk wall behind.AttractionsTullich Kirkyard and its carved stones2.4 miles
Knock Castle, AberdeenshireAttractionsKnock Castle2.5 miles
Cambus O'May Suspension Bridge, AberdeenshireAttractionsCambus o’ May Suspension Bridge4.5 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Darroch LeargAll days out from here
  1. The Cambus o' May circular walk from BallaterThe Cambus o' May circular walk from BallaterHalf a mile away A day out
  2. Ballater and Crathie: a royal day on DeesideBallater and Crathie: a royal day on DeesideHalf a mile away A day out
  3. The Mackenzie Memorial walk at BallaterThe Mackenzie Memorial walk at BallaterHalf a mile away A few hours
  4. The Seven Bridges walk at BallaterThe Seven Bridges walk at BallaterHalf a mile away A day out
  5. Up Craigendarroch, above BallaterUp Craigendarroch, above BallaterHalf a mile away A few hours
  6. A wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch LeargA wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch LeargHalf a mile away A few hours
  7. A round at Ballater Golf ClubA round at Ballater Golf ClubHalf a mile away A day out
  8. Ballater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral ArmsBallater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral ArmsHalf a mile away A few hours
  9. Loch Muick and a picnic at Glas-allt-ShielLoch Muick and a picnic at Glas-allt-ShielHalf a mile away A few hours
  10. Whisky, Castles & Pyramids - A 35-Mile Trail Through Aberdeenshire’s Royal HeartlandWhisky, Castles & Pyramids - A 35-Mile Trail Through Aberdeenshire’s Royal HeartlandHalf a mile away A day out
  11. 1 day in Royal Deeside1 day in Royal DeesideHalf a mile away A day out
  12. Knock Castle and lunch at the Rothesay RoomsKnock Castle and lunch at the Rothesay RoomsHalf a mile away A few hours
  13. Cambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty'sCambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty's3 miles away A few hours
  14. A picnic by the Cambus o' May bridgeA picnic by the Cambus o' May bridge4 miles away A few hours
  15. A sauna at dusk at Stravaig, facing LochnagarA sauna at dusk at Stravaig, facing Lochnagar5 miles away A few hours
  16. Burn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in BallaterBurn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in Ballater5 miles away A few hours
  17. Loch Kinord walk to the Kinord CrossLoch Kinord walk to the Kinord Cross5 miles away A few hours
  18. Loch Kinord and pizza at Kite in DinnetLoch Kinord and pizza at Kite in Dinnet5 miles away A few hours
  19. Tarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoomTarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoom5 miles away A day out
  20. A tour of Royal Lochnagar DistilleryA tour of Royal Lochnagar Distillery6 miles away A few hours
  21. The Balmoral cairns walk: a day on foot from CrathieThe Balmoral cairns walk: a day on foot from Crathie6 miles away A day out
  22. Balmoral's grounds and gardensBalmoral's grounds and gardens6 miles away A few hours
  23. A walk up Mount Keen from Glen TanarA walk up Mount Keen from Glen Tanar7 miles away A day out
  24. A walk through the old pines of Glen TanarA walk through the old pines of Glen Tanar7 miles away A few hours
What guests remember

The hotel is immaculate and the owners are welcoming and nothing is too much.

Ian, who stayed in November 2022
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