Balmoral Arms, Ballater ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

13-15 Victoria Road, Ballater, United Kingdom, AB35 5RA

Rooms and Amenities

Balmoral Arms offers a range of rooms, including Classic Rooms with twin, double, and king options, Coorie Double rooms, Feature Rooms, Junior Suites (Lochnagar and Crathie), and premium suites (River Dee, Loch Muick, Balmoral, and Birkhall). All rooms include organic toiletries from the Highland Soap Company and sweet treats from Tunnocks. Premium Suites add Nespresso machines, and a dram with shortbread. Junior Suites add roll-top baths, and luxury wool bedding. Each room has tea and coffee facilities, a sitting area, a flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, heating, an electric kettle, an AM/FM alarm clock, a wardrobe, and a private bathroom with free toiletries, a shower, and a hairdryer. Some rooms have a bath, satellite channels and chocolate.

Dining Options

Balmoral Arms features 1852, a Scottish brasserie and grill, offering dishes made with fresh produce from the Cairngorms area. Local connections provide Head Chef access to game from the Royal Estate at Balmoral. Steaks are matured for a minimum of 28 days. The Ghillies Bar provides local bottled ales, guest ales from Inveralmond in Perth and Royal Deeside Brewery. The menu includes fresh Scottish salmon, Balmoral Chicken, venison, and beef. The Ghillies Bar is dog-friendly. Afternoon Tea is served in the lounge and includes finger sandwiches, a homemade venison sausage roll, cakes, and scones, with tea. Guests can pair their Afternoon Tea with Cremant de Loire Rose de Chanceny NV or a cocktail.

Things to do

Guests can explore the scenery, wildlife, and walking trails in Ballater, Royal Deeside, and the Cairngorms National Park. Activities include visiting Balmoral Castle, Crathie Kirk, and Drum Castle. The Aberdeenshire Castle Trail features stately mansions and historic castles like Crathes and Braemar. Outdoor activities include Skiing at Glenshee or the Lecht, exploring the mountains, walking, cycling, and fishing. Cyclehighlands and The Bike Station offer bike rentals. Winter activities include skiing at Glenshee and The Lecht. Dog-friendly activities include walks along the Deeside Railway Line and through the woodlands from Aboyne to Banchory.

Location & Access

Balmoral Arms is in the village of Ballater, Royal Deeside, Scotland, at the eastern gateway to Cairngorms National Park. It is 65 km from Aberdeen. Nearby landmarks include Glenmuick Church (0.3 km), St Kentigern's Church (0.5 km), Larks Gallery (0.5 km), The Ballater Gallery (0.3 km), McEwan Gallery (2.5 km), and Crathie Church (2 km). From Aberdeen Airport (ABZ), guests can take a 20-minute drive to Aberdeen Train Station, then take the Stagecoach bus to Ballater, stopping at Victoria Road or Golf Road. Alternatively, guests can drive to Ballater.

Hotel Services

Balmoral Arms offers a dog-friendly environment, with a dedicated dining area in The Ghillies Bar. A maximum of two dogs are allowed per room for an additional charge of £20 per dog per night. Wow Dog Beer Bones, made from BrewDog's Aberdeenshire brewery, are available. Free WiFi is available throughout the inn. The inn has level access, with one guestroom on the ground floor with a walk-in shower. The hotel caters to guests with allergies and special diets. A free car park is within a two-minute walk. The hotel can arrange cots and high chairs for families. There is a dedicated dining area for dogs and their owners in The Ghillies Bar. There is a fair fund, where the teams share service charge equally.