Camping in Ballater

Camping and touring around Ballater means staying inside, or right on the edge of, the Cairngorms National Park, with the River Dee, Lochnagar and the pinewoods of Glen Tanar all within easy reach of a tent or a pitch. The village itself has its own small riverside campsite a five-minute walk from the shops, which suits anyone who wants to explore Ballater on foot and use public transport or short drives for day trips into the hills. It is a straightforward, no-frills option rather than a resort-style park, and its position on the old railway path towards Cambus o' May makes it a good base for walkers and cyclists.

A short drive east, the country around Aboyne and Dinnet opens out into gentler, loch-studded landscape, and this is where Deeside's more established touring parks sit, generally geared towards caravans and motorhomes rather than tents, with hardstanding pitches, electric hook-ups and easy access to golf, fishing and the Muir of Dinnet nature reserve. Smaller, quieter sites certified for club members are dotted through the same stretch of the valley, typically limited to a handful of pitches and correspondingly peaceful, though they usually expect membership of the relevant caravanning club and offer fewer on-site facilities than a full commercial park.

Whichever site is chosen, this is a part of Scotland where the weather can turn quickly even in summer, and a well-equipped tent or a caravan with reliable heating pays off; several sites also close over winter, so it is worth checking opening dates before setting off, particularly for anything outside the main April-to-October season.