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Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour

104 Reviews 4.86 out of 5 stars Based on 104 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 97% of reviewers
97% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Aberdeen, Scotland
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from $142.75 per person

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Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour Image 1
Tomnavarie Circle
Ballater
Victorian Station in Ballater
The River Dee

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On average, this is booked 23 (0) days in advance.
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7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
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Offered in: English

Overview

Starting from Aberdeen we trace the river Dee to Balmoral where you can walk in the footsteps of generations of Royals who have called this estate home.

*Balmoral Estate is closed from 9th of August 26 until early October 2026. We visit the village of Braemar and optional Braemar Castle.

Take a stroll in the charming Victorian village of Ballater, explore the local heritage, the Victorian train station and the views of the area.

Next, we visit the iconic Cambus O'May suspension bridge, before we continue our journey to the Tomnavarie Stone Circle.

Finally, on our way back to Aberdeen, we stop at Queen Victoria's favourite views of Aberdeenshire.

What's Included

  • WiFi on board
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Balmoral Castle Tickets (General Admission)
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Union Terrace
Aberdeen AB10 1NP, UK

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Balmoral Castle

Balmoral is a treasured family home for the Royal family since 1850, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert chose this beautiful region to create their great escape. A landscape with stunning views of the hills and mountains, fields of heather and the majestic river Dee that flows through it.We highly recommend listening to the audio tour. The audio will share stories and guides you around the estate.The Ballroom is only room open to visitors within the Castle. The objects in the Ballroom are from within the Castle, and are all objects that belong to the Royal Family.*Balmoral Castle & Estate is closed from mid August until the early October 26. This tour stop will be changed to the National Trust for Scotland's- Crathes Castle thereafter.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Ballater

The Victorian village of Ballater sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, at the eastern gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, making it one of Scotland’s most scenic visitor spots. A stroll around the village reveals an interesting range of specialty shops and good selection of restaurants and cafes to enjoy some of the local food & drink. Notice the shops which display Royal Warrants on their store fronts, a sure sign of quality and support from the Royal family. Sitting alongside the river Dee and surrounded by hills and mountains, Ballater is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Be sure to visit the beautiful Victorian Railway Station and the tourist information centre which has more information about the village. Walk past the Victorian Barracks, still in use, when the Royal family are staying in Balmoral.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Cambus O' May Suspension Bridge

The Cambus O' May suspension bridge spans the river Dee and is a legacy from the estate of Alexander Gordon. Built in 1905, the footbridge is 50 m long and carries visitors to the other side. The Deeside Way, a trail following the former Deeside Railway, passes the north-eastern end of the bridge. Footpaths from the bridge lead to Torphantrick wood and the Muir of Dinnet nature reserve, popular spots for visitors who enjoy woodland walks and wild swimming in the river.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tomnaverie Stone Circle

Tomnaverie is a recumbent stone circle, a kind of monument found only in north-eastern Scotland. Their characteristic feature is a large stone on its side, flanked by two upright stones, usually on the south or south-west arc of the circle. The stone circle surrounds a burial cairn dating to about 4,500 years ago. Relatively little is known about why we have these structures, there are several theories which you’ll discover on your visit.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

B9119

Just outside Tarland is the Queen's View, reportedly one of Queen Victoria's favourite views over the Howe of Cromar towards Lochnagar. We will stop to admire the view and on a good day, where you can see 12 different hills and Munros!
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-75607P9

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Reviews

4.86
104 reviews

Average 4.86 out of 5 stars based on 104 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
94
4 stars
7
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
1

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On average, this is booked 23 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • WiFi on board.
The following is NOT included:
  • Lunch.
  • Gratuities.
  • Balmoral Castle Tickets (General Admission).
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 8..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour is as follows:

  • Service animals allowed
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

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  • WiFi on board
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Balmoral Castle Tickets (General Admission)

Additional Info

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  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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  • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on Cool Destinations and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
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  • Cool Destinations reserves the right to verify the lower price details. Examples of acceptable forms of verification include a web screenshot or a web address.
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (BST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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