Home Report Banchory

Banchory is a small, affluent, rural burgh town of roughly 7,500 residents in Aberdeenshire that has seen considerable expansion in recent years. It is surrounded by lovely rural forest and agricultural land, about 18 miles west of Aberdeen, nearby to where the Water of Feugh river meets the River Dee. It is primarily a self-contained dormitory town for Aberdeen, but it is also a thriving tourist spot because of its local attractions not to mention it is a great base to explore the nearby Cairngorms National Park.

Despite being a dormitory town for Aberdeen, transport links currently exist by road only. Due to the recent growth in the town, there is much discussion about expanding the available transport links, most significant is the reinstatement of trains on the Deeside Line to the old Banchory Railway Station.

In terms of attractions and things to do, Banchory is abundantly served to locals and visitors alike. Banchory High Street has several independent businesses you would expect like newsagents, takeaways, restaurants, and pubs, as well as nearby hotels and other businesses to cater for the area’s tourist trade. Banchory Golf Club caters to the local golfers. Tourists typically use Banchory as a fantastic base to explore Royal Deeside – indeed, Banchory is known as the Gateway to Royal Deeside – the area that captivated Queen Victoria with its characteristic Scottish blend of scenic mountains, crags, rivers and moors and forest land. The Royal Deeside area offers excellent opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, biking and wildlife watching, and many accommodation options. It is also a gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, which has in itself an abundance of things to do and see.

Other attractions include Scolty hill; a hill topped by a tower monument acting as a memorial to General Burnett who fought alongside the Duke of Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars. Also, worth mentioning is the nearby Dark Matter Distillers, Scotland’s only rum distillery. Further still, Banchory holds an annual River Festival every June and features a weekend of varied activities for all ages. Similarly, the popular Banchory show is held annually in July with goings-on such as an agricultural show, a dog show, a craft fair, Highland games and dancing competitions, and more still.

In terms of local schooling, the local primary schools are Banchory Primary and Hill of Banchory Primary. Banchory Academy is the local high school.