Braemar in Royal Deeside, Scotland and holiday cottages

Wild and exhilarating, the hills surrounding Braemar offer lovely views.  The heather clad hills are at their best towards the end of the summer when the hills are covered in a dense pink carpet of flowering heather. This is a fabulous area for an outdoor activity holiday walking, cycling or skiing. Find self catering accommodation for your self catering break in Braemar.

Sheep roam freely over the hillsides.  There is absolutely nothing for miles except moor, deer and more wildlife.

Small streams trickle their way down the hills.

Long abandoned stone  cottages gradually collapse back into the land leaving ruined shells in amongst the gorse and heather. 

The town of Braemar with its solid granite houses is cheery with a touristy feel despite the harsh weather conditions in winter.  It is a small town with a few shops, tea rooms, hotels and a couple of art galleries and welcomes visitors all year round for both sun and snow. Souvenirs for tourists are on sale in various shops and range from the usual tartan rugs and clothing to crystal light catchers.

The Highland Heritage Centre which houses the tourist office and souvenir shops provides a small audio visual exhibition about the attractions of the area, including its royal connections. 

Braemar town centre	One of the two art galleries in pink

The River Dee, in turbulent mode in Braemar, flows over its rocky bed through the town.

The Linn of Dee, about 6 miles west of Braemar, is a popular spot with walkers and day trippers, where the Dee is forced through a narrow rocky gully to produce fierce and turbulent currents.  There is a plaque here as a memorial to the deaths of two youngsters from drowning and a warning to others.  Further along the path, the Dee is shallow and ideal for paddling.  

Another beautiful location is the Linn of Quoich on the nearby Mar Lodge Estate. Go for rambles in the hills, wildlife spotting and picnics.

To the north of the town,  Braemar Castle  with its fairytale turrets (open daily, except Fridays, Easter to September, 10 am - 6 pm, free car park, small admission fee) offers a good historical  introduction to the area. 

The ski slopes of Glenshee lie a few miles to the south of Braemar. Skiing in Scotland has been very good during the last couple of winters when there has been, if anything, too much snow. Here you can hire ski equipment, take lessons in skiing and snowboarding, enjoy  refreshments and purchase ski wear and accessories. The best months for skiing are January to March.

If you have visited a place that you have particularly enjoyed, then please tell us about it.  Photographs would be most welcome.

Click here for a list of Scottish self-catering holiday cottages and apartments.

A small sample of some of the cottages and self catering accommodation we have to rent near Braemar, Scotland

Honey Cottage is a traditional semi-detached granite cottage situated in a country lane in the village if Dinnet, in the heart of Royal Deeside within easy distance of Braemar. In the 19th century, the cottage was originally used as a cottage to house workers from the local estate.

Today, Honey Cottage offers clean and cosy accommodation to tourists and visitors, providing an excellent base for exploration, adventure or relaxation.

Furbished to a very high standard throughout, Honey Cottage has an open-plan kitchen/sitting room with wood burning stove. Upstairs are 2 bedrooms - one double and one with 3/4 sized bed - and a bathroom with bath and shower. The cottage also has a clematis clad patio area to the back with seating for four with barbecue and chimniere. Rent is inclusive of all linen and towels, fuel and logs.

For the hill walker, the hills of Deeside start at the front door; for the skier, the cottage is conveniently placed for Braemar, The Lecht and Glenshee ski slopes; golf, hunting, shooting, fishing, pony-trekking, gliding and many more outdoor and water sports activities are all available locally and can be arranged.

Click on the cottage photograph for email link and prices.

Self-catering holidays in Royal Deeside,  Scotland

Sleeps 2-6: Stranduff Lodge Croft is a delightful detached country cottage situated in an idyllic location, just outside the charming village of Kincardine O'Neil , in the heart of Royal Deeside.

Built out of granite in the 19th century, Stranduff Lodge Croft was originally a working croft, since upgraded to provide superior and spacious accommodation for tourists and visitors, the croft is an excellent base for exploration, adventure or relaxation. With the addition of the superb views (see the peak of Lochnagar on a fine day) and the spacious garden grounds (over half an acre) with barbecue and garden furniture, a stay in Stranduff will be a stay to remember.

Please click on the photograph to find out more about a stay in this country cottage near Braemar with views of Lochnagar.

Book a self-catering log cabin in Dinnet, Royal Deeside as a treat for the one you love

Our comfortable self-catering log cabins are set in the centre of Royal Deeside at the Eastern Gateway to the Cairngorms National Park.

Located in the wee rustic village of Dinnet, our Woodland Lodges make a convenient base to visit and explore the many sporting and tourist activities Royal Deeside has to offer.

Outdoor activities include bird watching, fishing, walking, gliding, shooting, quad biking, archery, go-carting, mountain climbing, skiing (Glenshee and the Lecht for skiing and fabulous views are only a 45 minute drive away).

Visitor attractions in this north east part of Scotland include Balmoral Castle (10 miles away), the Castle trail, Whisky Trail for a range of distilleries to tour and whiskies to sample, Victorian Heritage Trail, Aberdeen City and the Coast, Braemar and the Cairngorm National Park with plenty of opportunities for bird spotting including eagles and other birds of prey .....

Each lodge has 2 bedrooms sleeping up to 4 people. They have fully fitted kitchen including integrated dishwasher and fridge freezer. With spacious open plan lounge/kitchen/dining areas and a decked patio area to enjoy in the summer months. The bathroom has bath tub and shower. The lodges are double glazed and centrally heated making them a cosy retreat after a day out on Royal Deeside.