10 Amazing Things to do Within an Hour of Glen Dye

#1. Dunottar Castle.

35 minutes drive.

An exceptional, jaw-dropping castle on a high rocky outcrop overlooking the North Sea. Most of the surviving buildings, of which there are many, date from the 15th and 16th centuries.

This is one of Scotland’s most iconic and dramatic castles and you will spend a happy hour or two exploring it and, perhaps, the rocky beach below. Be aware that there are around 220 steep steps to reach the castle (and the same on the way back, though it will feel like more).

#2. Stonehaven Harbour.

35 minutes drive.

This is a picturesque harbour that’s pretty much what you might imagine when you think of small, Scottish fishing port. There are boats and seagulls and a sandy beach when the tide obliges as well as pubs and restaurants.

#3. St Cyrus Beach.

35 minutes drive.

A vast, long, wide beach where sometimes you might not encounter another human.

It is part nature reserve, part perfect spot for dog walking and part place for a really bracing swim. It’s hard to believe that Britain has beaches as large, pristine and empty as this and, yet, here it is, on our doorstep.

#4. Banchory.

15 minutes drive.

Known by locals as a village, but actually a town, Banchory’s wide, straight High Street is seen by many as the gateway to Royal Deeside.

Banchory sits on the Dee at one of its wider points, and it has been something of a magnet for tourists since Queen Victoria made Deeside the place to visit in Scotland.

It is a surprising place because beside some rather dreary chain shops there are lots of fiercely passionate and independent shops and cafes, proving that the town is alive and well and very much worth a visit.

#5. The Falls of Feugh.

10 minutes drive.

There is a viewing bridge beside the ancient road bridge here. It looks down on these spectacular waterfalls not because they are amazing, though they are -and they can be really frightening during a spate- but so that pedestrians can watch the salmon leap as they migrate upstream between September and November.

This is a wonderful, awe inspiring thing to watch and if you are lucky you’ll see the fish trying time and again against all logic to climb the falls.

#6. Glen Tanar Riding School.

30 minutes drive.

This riding school caters to all abilities and to both groups and individuals.

The best thing about it, though, is the landscape that you’ll ride through. Glen Tanar is a lovely private estate of ancient pines, rivers and lochs.

#7. Balmoral Castle.

50 minutes drive.

The Royal estate on Deeside probably doesn’t need much introduction.

However, recently the castle has been opened to the public for the first time. At the time of writing the castle is open on select days between April and July and the grounds (only) in the autumn. It is well worth a visit.

#8. Prince Albert’s Pyramid, Balmoral.

50 minutes drive.

There are sixteen cairns on Balmoral estate and one, almost unbelievably, is a polished granite pyramid of around 35 feet tall which was built by Queen Victoria in memory of her husband Albert.

The others are scattered around, smaller than Albert’s but no less beguiling and often enjoying lovely remote locations and incredible views. Anyone can visit at any time and there are endless walks of varying lengths to suit most people.

#9. Ballater.

40 minutes drive.

Ballater is a lovely small town on the banks of the River Dee with an elegant bridge and a bustling high street that is alive with independent shops, cafes and restaurants.

It’s a great place to visit before or after a long walk and in a world where many town centres are struggling financially, a reminder that all is not lost.

#10. Victoria and Albert Museum, Dundee.

55 minutes drive.

This excellent, approachable museum of design opened in 2018 to widespread acclaim and has since held exhibitions on an exciting and diverse range of subjects from ocean liners to Mary Quant, kimonos to video games.

It watches confidently over the River Tay and is a wonderful space to linger in.