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Morning
Leave Aberdeen around 9am and drive on the A93 through Deeside’s splendid scenery to Crathie, where you’ll find Balmoral Castle opening its gates. If, however, you’re outside Balmoral’s short opening season (see Balmoral and Royal Deeside) , then visit Crathes or Drum Castle instead – less famous, but equally impressive .
Return to Ballater, which you passed through on the way, but take the B976 on the south of the river. The Station Restaurant does all-day meals, anything from a bacon sandwich or pain au chocolat to a three-course meal.
Afternoon
While browsing the shops in Ballater, Look out for royal insignias: they indicate the Queen’s favourite establishments. From Ballater find the A939 and drive north on a twisting road. The terrain is wild, heathery moorland and mountainous. The road takes you past quaint and lonely Corgarff Castle, and on to Tomintoul, one of the highest villages in Scotland. From here, take the B9008 to the distillery of Glenlivet for a tour of their whisky-making vats, stills and barrels, and a tasting. Tours last about 40 minutes; the tastings, unfortunately, much less.
Spend the night around Dufftown or Keith with a view to driving to Portsoy and taking the coast road either east or west the next day. About 90 miles (150 km) in total.
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