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Whisky casks stacked in stone cellar, stencilled "Royal Lochnagar Distillery 1986 212
Aberdeenshire

Royal Lochnagar Distillery

One of Scotland's smallest distilleries, a mile from Balmoral, founded in 1845 and named Royal after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited in 1848.

Welcome

In the woods on the south side of the Dee, a mile from Balmoral and below the great dark hill that gives it its name, Royal Lochnagar is one of the smallest traditional distilleries in Scotland.

John Begg founded it in 1845, and three years later Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, newly settled at Balmoral, came to visit. Soon afterwards the distillery was allowed to call itself Royal.

It is still a small, old-fashioned place, making a delicate single malt with notes of light fruit and gentle spice. Tours lead through the stillhouse and the warehouses, and there are tastings from a simple introduction to premium drams, best booked ahead.

The Beggs Bothy Bar, named after the founder, pours drams and cocktails from ten in the morning. With Balmoral, Crathie Kirk and the hills of Lochnagar all around, it makes an easy stop on a day in Royal Deeside.

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Arrives at 5am every day.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A short drive awayStravaig Saunas5 min by roadSee itStravaig Saunas
Before you go

Open daily, 10am to 5pm, in September and from March to May, 10am to 6pm in summer, and Thursday to Monday in January and February.

Tours are best booked ahead. The Beggs Bothy Bar serves drams from 10am. Under-18s must be with an adult.

Where
Balmoral, Crathie, Ballater AB35 5TB.
Founded
1845, by John Begg.

Opening hours

Monday
10am–5pm
Tuesday
10am–5pm
Wednesday
10am–5pm
Thursday
10am–5pm
Friday
10am–5pm
Saturday
10am–5pm
Sunday
10am–5pm

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Where it is

On the south side of the Dee at Crathie, a mile from Balmoral Castle, between Ballater and Braemar.

Close byCrathie.
  1. Crathie KirkCrathie KirkThe royal family's parish church on Deeside.1 mile 3 min by road
  2. John Brown’s Grave, BallaterJohn Brown’s GraveQueen Victoria's Highland servant, under the stone she had carved.1 mile 4 min by road
  3. Shelves of fresh rolls, butteries and bakes at the Highlanders Bakehouse under a chalkboard.The Highlanders BakehouseA family bakery by the Balmoral road at Crathie, built where the garage once stood.1 mile 3 min by road
  4. Balmoral Castle's turreted grey towers rise above ivy-covered walls and manicured lawnsBalmoral CastleThe royal family's Highland home.3 miles 18 min by road
  5. Knock CastleKnock Castle7 miles 12 min by road
Directions
Crathie Gallery and Post Office, AberdeenshireShoppingCrathie Gallery and Post Office1.0 miles as the crow flies
A landscape view of Faunoran House from the garden, the terrace and its white table, the house reflected in the long pond.CrathieFaunoran HouseSleeps 10 · 1.4 miles
Stravaig Saunas, AberdeenshireActivityStravaig Saunas2.6 miles
Two grey linen sofas face each other across a dark wooden coffee table, checked roman blinds at the windows and a framed landscape print on the wall.BallaterOld School CottageSleeps 7 · 6.2 miles
A wooden table and chairs with green cushions stand on a stone patio beside a gabled stone house, a lawn stretching in front.BallaterLaggan CottageSleeps 8 · 6.2 miles
A grand stone house with multiple gables and chimneys stands on a lawn at dusk, a Land Rover parked in the drive under a stormy sky.GlengairnGairnshiel LodgeSleeps 16 · 6.2 miles
Inverenzie Cottage, AberdeenshireBallaterInverenzie CottageSleeps 4 · 6.2 miles
Darroch Learg, AberdeenshireBallaterDarroch LeargPlace to stay · 8.0 miles
The granite front of the Deeside Deli on Bridge Street, Ballater, flowers hanging by its windows.ShoppingDeeside Deli & Garden Shop8.5 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the distillery, and when each is next free.

A landscape view of Faunoran House from the garden, the terrace and its white table, the house reflected in the long pond.Faunoran House
  • Sleeps 10
  • In Crathie
  • Under a mile from Royal Lochnagar
Free 1–3 NovA grand stone house with multiple gables and chimneys stands on a lawn at dusk, a Land Rover parked in the drive under a stormy sky.Gairnshiel Lodge
  • Sleeps 16
  • In Glengairn
  • 5 miles from Royal Lochnagar
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovA wooden table and chairs with green cushions stand on a stone patio beside a gabled stone house, a lawn stretching in front.Laggan Cottage
  • Sleeps 8
  • In Ballater
  • 5 miles from Royal Lochnagar
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovTwo grey linen sofas face each other across a dark wooden coffee table, checked roman blinds at the windows and a framed landscape print on the wall.Old School Cottage
  • Sleeps 7
  • In Ballater
  • 5 miles from Royal Lochnagar
Free 5–7 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more in Aberdeenshire.

From the magazineA Weekend Exploring Royal DeesideArticleThings to do in Royal DeesideCollectionDistilleries to visit in ScotlandCollectionDistilleries Worth the Tour
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