Camping in Aboyne

Aboyne sits at the edge of some of Aberdeenshires best camping and outdoor country, with the River Dee, the Loch of Aboyne and the pine forests of Glen Tanar all within easy reach of the village. Scotlands right to roam, set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, means wild camping is generally permitted on unenclosed land across the area, pitch well away from roads and houses, keep to small groups, leave no trace, and be prepared to move on if asked by an estate or landowner, since much of the ground around Aboyne is managed sporting and forestry land rather than open hill. Glen Tanar Estate in particular asks wild campers to be considerate given its conservation status as a national nature reserve, and lighting fires is best avoided altogether given the amount of dry pine forest nearby.

For a more straightforward option, established campsites and touring caravan parks can be found along Deeside around Aboyne, Ballater and Banchory, offering pitches with proper facilities for tents, campervans and caravans, generally open from spring through autumn. Glamping has also taken hold in this part of Aberdeenshire, with pods, bothies and yurts increasingly available on farms and estates around the Dee valley, giving a warmer alternative to canvas without losing the sense of being out in Deesides forests and glens.

Late spring to early autumn is the best window for camping here, when the days are long and the hills are at their most walkable, though this is also midge season, still, damp evenings from June through August can bring them out in force, so repellent and a head net are worth packing. Autumn brings spectacular colour through Glen Tanars birch and pine woods and along the Dee, with cooler nights but far fewer midges, while winter camping is only for the well-prepared given how cold and changeable conditions can turn this close to the Cairngorms.