Ballater

Ballater
Scottish Gaelic: Bealadair
Ballater  Ballater shown within Aberdeenshire
Population	1,446 [1] (2001 census) est. 1,520[2] (2006)
OS grid reference	NO369958
Council area	Aberdeenshire
Lieutenancy area	Aberdeenshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BALLATER
Postcode district	AB35
Dialling code	01339
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Scottish Parliament	Aberdeenshire West
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 57°02′41″N 3°02′58″W / 57.0448°N 3.04942°W / 57.0448; -3.04942

Ballater (Scottish Gaelic: Bealadair) is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains. Situated at an elevation of 213 m (700 ft), Ballater is a centre for hikers and known for its spring water, once said to cure scrofula. It is home to more than 1500 inhabitants.

Glenmuick Parish Church, in the square.

History

The medieval pattern of development along this reach of the River Dee was influenced by the ancient trackways across the Grampian Mounth, which determined strategic locations of castles and other Deeside settlements of the Middle Ages.^[3]

The old railway station now used as a visitor and exhibition centre.

In the early 14th century, the area was part of the estates of the Knights of St John, but the settlement did not develop until around 1770; first as a spa resort to accommodate visitors to the Pananich Mineral Well, then later upon the arrival of the railway in 1866 it was visited by many tourists taking advantage of the easier access thus afforded.

Ballater railway station was closed in 1966 but remains in use as a visitor centre with an exhibition recording the village's royal connection. Many buildings date from the Victorian era and the centre of the village is a conservation area. The old railway station/ visitor centre was substantially damaged by fire in May 2015 and is now closed.

Royal connection

Balmoral Castle, the British Royal Family's holiday home, lies approximately 12 km west, and the family has visited the town frequently since the time of Queen Victoria. Birkhall lies about 2 km south-west of Ballater. Victoria Barracks is used by the Royal Guard for the castle.

Local stores had for decades Royal Warrants bestowed upon them. Five years after the passing of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who had granted them, the warrants lapsed and, to the chagrin of many townsfolk and especially shop owners, were removed.^[4] Several shops still display the arms marking the royal warrant.

Climate

A Met Office weather station collects weather data at Balmoral, just over 7 miles to the west of Ballater. Like the rest of Scotland and the British Isles, Ballater experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. Its upland position means temperatures throughout the year are cooler than lower-lying areas, and snowfall more plentiful during winter months.

Attractions

Ballater is a centre for tourism in Royal Deeside, with the Cairngorms and Balmoral Castle nearby. There are two bike hire shops in the village.

The old Ballater station, containing Queen Victoria's waiting room, is now a visitor centre with a replica royal carriage.^[7] Balmoral Castle is a 10-minute drive from the village.

There are many walks from the village. For the easy going walker, there is Craigendarroch, a small, peculiarly shaped hill near the village. About 12 km (7 miles) south-west of Ballater is Loch Muick. From there experienced walkers can head up the prominent mountain, Lochnagar. Ballater is the home of many challenging walks due to the abundance of Munros in the area.

The River Dee flows through Ballater, and is famous for salmon fishing.

Events in the town include:

• The Ballater Walking Festival each May attracts many hillwalkers of all levels.^[8] Participants are guided through the hills and valleys of the eastern Cairngorms.
• The Ballater Boules Challenge, on alternate Sundays from November to March each year, provides an alternative sport when the weather is not cold enough for the traditional game of curling.^[9]
• Victoria Week, held annually in August, is a celebration of Ballater's connection with Queen Victoria and Balmoral Castle.^[10]

The village has its own 'tongue in cheek', on-line newspaper, the Ballater Bugle.^[11]

Recently five Ballater residents refurbished the Automobile Association's Patrol Box at Cambus O'May, one of only an estimated 8 to 10 such historical call boxes remaining in situ in Great Britain.^[12]

Transport

There is a bus garage located near to the village centre which provides an hourly public service to Aberdeen's Union Square bus station. The bus company was granted permission to build a new site at Pannanich Road in December 2014.^[13] In April 2015 the bus station was re-opened as a Co-Operative supermarket.^[14]

Notable residents

• Sir Patrick Geddes, biologist and botanist

See also

• Aboyne
• List of burghs in Scotland

References

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Ballater.

• Ballater town's official website

Settlements and places of interest in Marr, Aberdeenshire
Primary settlements	Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins
Other settlements	Backburn Bellabeg Birse Birsemore Bogniebrae Brathens Brideswell Cairnie Corgarff Crathie Dinnet Finzean Forgue Gartly Inverey Keig Kildrummy Kincardine O'Neil Kirkton of Tough Logie Coldstone Lumsden Monymusk Potarch Rhynie Ruthven Strachan Strathdon Tornaveen Towie Tullich Ythanwells
Places of interest	Alford Valley Railway Badenyon Balmoral Castle Blelack Braemar Castle Burn O'Vat Cairn O' Mounth Cairngorms National Park Castle Forbes Corgarff Castle Craigievar Castle Crathes Castle Crathie Kirk Forest of Birse Grampian Transport Museum Huntly Castle Kildrummy Castle Lochnagar Lost Royal Deeside Royal Deeside Railway Yonder Bognie Ythan Wells (Glenmailen) Roman Camp

Areas and primary settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City)
in Banff and Buchan	Aberchirder Banff Fraserburgh Gardenstown Inverallochy and Cairnbulg Macduff Portsoy Rosehearty Sandhaven Whitehills
in Buchan	Boddam Crimond Cruden Bay Fetterangus Hatton Longside Maud Mintlaw New Deer New Pitsligo Peterhead St Combs St Fergus Strichen Stuartfield
in Formartine	Balmedie Cuminestown Ellon Fyvie Newburgh Oldmeldrum Pitmedden Potterton Rothienorman Tarves Turriff
in Garioch	Blackburn Insch Inverurie Kemnay Kintore Newmachar Westhill
in Kincardine and Mearns	Drumoak Fettercairn Gourdon Inverbervie Johnshaven Laurencekirk Newtonhill Portlethen St Cyrus Stonehaven
in Marr	Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins