Things to do |
|
Kincardine O'Neil is well situated. Within reach of Aberdeen (25 miles) it is also located on the edge of the highlands that form much of Scotland’s core. A great range of hills separates the village from the south and to the west lie the spectacular Cairngorm mountains. As a result the village lies in a rain shadow and enjoys a low rainfall (27 inches per annum), cool winters and warm summer days while avoiding the coastal fogs (haar) that can often shroud Scotland’s North Sea coast in the spring and early summer.
Royal Deeside is famed for its spectacular scenery of river and forest, moorland with its purple heather in summer and the wild and rocky corries and mountain tops. |
|
The Castle Trail:
Castle Trail
Kincardine O’Neil is under 10 miles from two of the more spectacular castles on the Castle Trail. Craigievar Castle with its tall fairy-tale turrets stands in splendid isolation just as it did when built in the early 17th Century. Crathes Castle, dating from much earlier also has one of the country’s greatest gardens.
Other stops on the trail include Drum Castle, Castle Fraser, Kildrummy Castle, Leith Hall, Huntly Castle, Duff House, Delgatie Castle, Fyvie and Tolquhon Castles and Haddo House. |
|
Victorian Heritage Trail:
Victorian Heritage Trail
This signposted trail takes one from Fettercairn, over the spectacular Cairn o’Mount Road (B974) into Deeside and then up to Balmoral which is Her Majesty the Queen’s summer home. The trail covers the historic house of Fasque, two whisky distilleries, some wonderful views, a remote highland glen and, of course, Balmoral Castle which is open until mid-summer closure so that the Royal Family may enjoy their summer holiday in relative solitude. |
|
Coastal Trail:
The Coastal Trail
For a longer drive Kincardine O’Neil lies just 25 miles or so from the coast at Stonehaven. The Coastal Trail takes you to the cliffs at Fowlsheugh with their amazing colony of nesting sea-birds – puffins, razorbills, guillemots and kittywakes by the thousand; to the astonishing Dunottar Castle, standing alone and invulnerable on its rocky promontory; and north past Aberdeen to picturesque fishing villages nestling amongst cliffs on Aberdeenshire’s north coast.
|
|
Ancient History and Stone Circles:
Standing Stones
There is a wealth of evidence of early habitation from the Stone Age onwards in the area. The web-link leads you to a map of the main features. You can visit stone circles from the time of the pyramids, vitrified forts, underground earth houses (take a torch and mind your head), early motte-and-bailey castles. |
|
Golf:
Visit Scotland
Draw a 30-mile circle around Kincardine O’Neil and you have a choice of 40 golf courses and two driving ranges. From pretty, rural courses that rely upon an honesty box for payment, through to the challenging and world-famous links courses such as Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen. All are within easy reach. Every year the Royal Deeside Classic competition is held on the four courses at Aboyne, Banchory, Ballater and Braemar. |
|
Walking:
Walks Around the village
Visit Scotland
From the leisurely to the challenging, guided or unguided walks abound. There is a network of short walks centred on Kincardine O’Neil. Longer walks which may involve transport cover passes over the hills, to Angus in the south or through the famous Larig Gru to Speyside. Walk around Loch Muick on the Queen’s Balmoral Estate, or climb one of the many hills and get views that, on a good day, seem to go on for ever. |
|
Pony Trekking:
This is readily available from a number of centres in the area. Rides cater for most abilities and can range from short sessions up to day-long expeditions into the hills with a packed lunch in panniers. |
|
Cycling:
Visit Scotland
Bicycles can be hired from a number of reasonably local places. |
|
Fishing:
The Dee is famous for its salmon and sea-trout fishing. So famous that it can sometimes be difficult to find availability. However do not despair. The Fish Dee Website offers you the best chance of finding a space - Fish Dee
There is also a number of still-water fisheries for brown and rainbow trout in the area. |
|
Art and Culture:
The Deeside Festival is a month-long art and music festival with a wide range of performances by some high calibre performers. The festival runs for the month of July. www.royal-deeside.org.uk/Abnews/festival.htm
Highland Games are a well-known feature of Scotland’s summer. These gatherings take place in many villages, towns and even cities and are well advertised. The Local Tourist Offices will provide more information. |
|
Cairngorms National Park:
Cairngorms National Park
Kincardine O’Neil lies just outside but on one of the main access roads into the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland’s largest. Kincardine O’Neil is a good place from which to visit the Cairngorms from the east. |
|
Gliding:
Deeside Gliding ClubDeeside Gliding Club near Aboyne is just 7 miles from Kincardine O’Neil. The Club is renowned for being the foremost Wave soaring site in the British Isles, with the U.K. altitude record of 38000 Ft. being set by a glider flown from the club. The peak wave-soaring season is September to October. |
|
Other Attractions:
www.royal-deeside.org.uk/RDnews/eventguide.htm
The above website lists a diary of events.
In addition there are excellent clothes and country-wear shops in Banchory and Ballater, a shop with literally hundreds of different whiskies for sale, antique shops, art galleries, you name it . . . happy shopping. |
