Campsites in Banchory, Aberdeenshire

2 bookable campsites within 15 miles of Banchory Sorted by distance

Why visit Banchory?

The river Dee and Falls of Feugh

Surrounded by the wide open countryside of Lower Deeside, Banchory is located on the Dee, one of Scotland’s prettiest rivers and among the most popular with fishermen. Take a riverside walk along the Deeside Way keeping an eye out for otters and birdlife, or head to the Falls of Feugh near the centre of town and relax by the water. Standing on the stone bridge here in salmon spawning season, you may even see fish leaping up the falls as they return to their ancestral breeding grounds. 

Castles and royal connections

This part of Aberdeenshire is often known as ‘Royal Deeside’ because of its longstanding connections to the monarchy. Queen Victoria started the tradition of visiting Balmoral, 20 miles away, in the 19th century, and the royal family continue to stay in the surrounding Aberdeenshire countryside every year. The burgh also has aristocratic connections and is close to some of Scotland’s finest castles, including Crathes Castle and Drum Castle, both of which can be reached in under a 15-minute drive. 

Scolty Hill

One of the best vantage points to appreciate the local landscape has to be Scolty Hill, a steep but fairly short climb on the outskirts of town where you can head to the top of a tower on the summit for even better views. Walking through woodlands and heather-carpeted heaths on the way, you might even spot the sea on clear days. 

Close to the Cairngorms, coast and city 

Banchory is a great all-round destination, as it’s close to both the shops and striking granite architecture of Aberdeen and the Cairngorms National Park, home to gorgeous Scots pine-clad mountains around small towns like Ballater and Aviemore. The east coast is also within easy reach here, with Stonehaven about half an hour away by road. Head here to walk the surrounding cliffs and coves in summer, or come at Hogmanay in deepest winter to see the town’s spectacular fireballs ceremony. 

The best things to do around Banchory

  • A National Trust-managed property just outside the burgh, Crathes Castle is a gorgeous 16th-century building set in mature grounds and a walled garden 

  • Drum Castle, roughly 15 minutes’ drive from Banchory, is a classic Scottish tower house dating back to the 1300s with an ornate Jacobean wing and an extensive collection of roses

  • Make your way through the canopy at Banchory’s Go Ape, a woodland aerial obstacle course with zipwires, tarzan swings and rope bridges

  • Banchory has been home to golf clubs for over 100 years and has both 18- and nine-hole courses to try out 

  • Spend a day or half-day with a local fly fishing company and experience what it’s like to go angling for salmon along the river Dee. If you prefer to stick to just eating the fish, Banchory has a number of top-class restaurants serving freshly caught local salmon and trout

  • The Royal Deeside Railway is a steam heritage service that operates just outside Banchory where you can learn all about the history of the ​​Deeside Railway, a local line that once ran between Aberdeen and Ballater

Unexplored Banchory

The Nine Stanes

The Nine Stanes, also known as the Mulloch Stone Circle, are located in a forestry plantation on the road between Banchory and Stonehaven. This atmospheric ancient site is free to enter and well worth visiting, especially as a pit-stop if you’re on the way to the coast. 

The Barn

Explore the local arts scene, watch a film or find out more about Deeside’s ecology at The Barn, a multi-arts centre in Banchory where performances, screening and hands-on workshops are available for locals and visitors all year round. 

Burn O’Vat

Half an hour's drive to the west of Banchory, Burn O’Vat is an intriguing glacial pothole formed thousands of years ago by retreating ice. Timeworn stones, frondy ferns and a waterfall – as well as stories connecting the place to legendary outlaw Rob Roy Macgregor – have made this nature reserve popular with visitors since Victorian times.  

Here’s how

Banchory and the surrounding area have lots of accommodation out there waiting to be explored, from family-friendly campsites to Aberdeenshire glamping lodges. Use the tick-box filters on this page to mix and match the features and facilities you’re looking for, or see below to check out some of our most popular searches:

While you’re at it, if you’re looking for more spots to add to your Scotland itinerary, check out our range of campsites in Aviemore, Inverness, Perth or Fort Augustus (or browse our whole range of Scotland campsites…)

 

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