About Ballater
The Victorian village of Ballater sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, Scotland inside the Cairngorms National Park. It is 43 miles (69km) west of Aberdeen and 8 miles (13km) from the Queen’s summer home of Balmoral Castle.
In the early 14th century the Ballater area was part of the estates of the Knights of St John, but the settlement did not develop until around 1770. First as a spa resort to accommodate visitors to the Pannanich Mineral Well, located on the hillside on the opposite side of the river Dee, then later upon the arrival of the railway in 1866 it was visited by many tourists taking advantage of the easier access.
Ballater railway station was closed in 1966 but remained in use as a visitor centre with an exhibition recording the village’s royal connection until 2015.
Many buildings date from the Victorian era and the centre of the village is a conservation area.
Now in the 21st century, the Visit Ballater website welcomes new and old visitors to the village and wants to help you to plan and maximise your time in the village.
Whether your visit is short or long, your first or a return, in the spring, summer, autumn or winter, everyone in Ballater welcomes you and hopes that you have a wonderful time with us.