Ballater is found ten miles west of Aboyne and eight miles east of Balmoral, it is a Victorian Spa town best known for its connection with Queen Victoria. It is quaint and historic and provides a wonderfully rich tapestry for its prolific collection of Ballater Hotels; these hotels are accustomed to hosting a string of highly esteemed individuals and as such are perfectly engineered for the most discerning tastes.
Ballater offers a wonderful platform to explore the great outdoors, it offers great hiking and walking trails, the town lies within Cairngorms National Park and is surrounded by wooded hills of birch and fir in the Eastern Highlands. In the 19th century the town underwent a growth with the arrival of a new railway line, which brought holiday makers and tourist money to it and many neighbouring villages.
The town gained immediate fame when Queen Victoria arrived in 1848 as she would allow the railway line to draw any closer to Balmoral castle. The Train station has long ceased to provide transport however the building now houses the Ballater Tourist Information Centre and Museum. It is part of the signposted Victorian Heritage Trail in Royal Deeside; the centre remembers the past with pride and looks wistfully back to the days when it was gloriously connected to royalty.
The towns rise in popularity grew in the 19th century when its Spring water was rumoured to cure scrofula, a form of tuberculosis and this lead to its development as a Spa town, although this is in the past visitors may buy bottled water from the Pannanich Wells.
The Town bursts with vitality during the beginning of August when it celebrates its Victoria Week, and the Ballatar Highland Games and in May the Ballater Walking Festival and the Royal Deeside Golf Week is held.
This collective history provides a fascinating backdrop for its many hotels and these are described through family friendly affairs, luxury resorts over many acres and unique Heritage Hotels these are engineered to suit families, honey moon couples and tourists. They are perfectly situated to allow guests easy access to all that the town has to offer as well as magnificent views and the perfect platform for outdoor pursuits. Entrances and reception halls are described through grand vaulted halls to quaint ambiently dark wood panelled, cosy lounges where warm receptions are given and overviews of the local area are provided by passionate concierges.
Accommodations range from cosy family rooms where parents may relax with little ones ensconced in cribs and connecting rooms offer peace of mind. Luxurious suites host dining areas, sitting rooms and study areas and floor to ceiling windows host magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. Master bedrooms provide four poster beds, kings, queens and twins dressed in fine linens and duck down duvets. The rooms flow into luxurious bathrooms and are companioned with a range of communication and entertainment devices.
The Ballater Hotels are home to some of the towns best restaurants presided over by master chefs who create delicious culinary masterpieces from the freshest of seasonal produce and companioned with vintage wines. Wine Bars and Cigar Bars are richly decorated through leather wing backed chairs, plaid textured fabrics and crackling wood fires providing a warm and inviting ambience.
The Ballater Hotels provide guests to this historic region a wonderfully warm and luxurious retreat and the perfect springboard to Royal Scotland.
