EATING
OUT:
Nearby
Banchory and Strachan offer excellent restaurants, hotels and pubs for evening
meals. Banchory is an attractive
little town offering very good shops and an excellent garden centre with
restaurant.
ACTIVITIES:
Many
activities can be enjoyed in the area. Local
fishing facilities at Heughead Fishings are literally on the doorstep (www.heughhead.co.uk).
Walking, pony trekking, golf and cycling are some of the available
recreations. Skiing in winter at
Glenshee and the Lecht are within easy reach.
Beautiful forest walks can be taken directly from the house without
getting into your car!
PLACES
TO VISIT:
Many
of the spectacular Scottish National Trust properties are very close, for
example Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Craigievar Castle and Castle Fraser.
(http://www.nts.org.uk/web/site/home/home.asp?).
Balmoral Castle is open to visitors until early July.
Stonehaven, with it’s outdoor swimmimg pool and spectacular Dunnottar
Castle lies on the coast nearby.
Aberdeen
is some 20 miles away. The maritime museum www.ifb.net/webit/maritine.htm
is well worth a visit, telling the story of the impact of oil production in the
North-East. Aberdeen has an
excellent theatre, music hall and art gallery www.myaberdeen.net/aberdeen/arts.htm.
HIGHLAND
GAMES:
During
the summer months Highland Games and Gatherings can be visited, notably the
famous Braemar Gathering (early September), the Lonach Gathering and the Aboyne
Highland Games. (www.albagames.co.uk).
WHISKY
DISTILLERIES:
Local whisky distilleries at Fettercairn, Lochnagar and the famous Speyside Whisky Trail are all easy to reach. http://www.scotchwhisky.net/distilleries/fettercairn.htm