Aboyne: Trails, History and Highland Games

Aboyne lies in the heart of Royal Deeside. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between three different priorities: the date of the Aboyne Highland Games, the history of Aboyne Castle, and activities in Glen Tanar and along the Deeside Way. If you are looking for a hotel in Aboyne, first decide whether a set event date or time on trails and in the countryside will shape your stay. This lets you match your search to the reason for your trip.

Glen Tanar and its trails

Glen Tanar is in the Cairngorms National Park and has more than 100 miles of estate trails. The types of routes described range from gentle riverside walks to more challenging climbs through ancient pine forests and on to viewpoints. This offers a variety of trail experiences: you can opt for a peaceful riverside route or a more challenging climb. The figure of more than 100 miles refers to the estate's trail network as a whole, not to a single walk.

The waymarked trails start at the Braeloine Visitor Centre. Connecting routes between Aboyne and Dinnet provide access to Glen Tanar without a car. These are two separate points to bear in mind when planning: the Visitor Centre as the starting point for the waymarked trails, and the connecting routes as a way to reach the glen without a car. This allows you to consider your journey and choice of route separately.

Cycling and clearly defined routes

The Banchory–Aboyne section of the Deeside Way is 13 miles (21 km) long and suitable for walkers and cyclists. This distance refers to a specific section, whereas Glen Tanar is known for the estate's trail network of more than 100 miles. The comparison helps put them in context: one is a named stage with a stated distance, while the other is an extensive network with a variety of route types.

Aboyne Bike Park was built in Bell Wood in Aboyne in 2013. It is open 24 hours a day and free of charge; there is no supervision on site. Check these conditions before your trip. This allows you to factor the operating details into your plans without expecting staff to be on site.

Aboyne Castle and the event date

Aboyne Castle is listed as Listed Building (B) 3122. It is located almost on the same site as a possible medieval peel and a horizontal motte-and-bailey castle of the Bissets, the Lords of Strathdee, dating from before 1233. The peel remains a possible medieval structure; the Bissets' castle is dated to before 1233. Thus, the castle site brings together a listed building and two distinct historical associations: a possible peel and the Bissets' castle, dated to before 1233. For travellers interested in local history, this connection offers a specific point of interest.

The Aboyne Highland Games take place on the first Saturday in August. If you want to plan your stay around this event, use its recurring date as a guide and check the date for your chosen year. This gives you a specific time anchor for planning your trip; the trails in Glen Tanar and along the Deeside Way appeal to different interests.

Discover more destinations: Strichen, Tarves, Ballater, Plaidy, Macduff, Fettercairn, New Aberdour, Chapel Of Garioch

Back to the regional travel overview: Aberdeenshire.