Walking is by far the most popular activity in the Cairngorms National Park. And there are so many walks you can do from the hostel front door, without the need for a car.
Why not start the morning with a walk up Craigendarroch
– you get an amazing view of Ballater from the top. Or in the opposite direction you have Pannanich Woods
& Craig Coillich
(the hill used during the Ballater Highland Games and the famous Hill Run). Why not extend this latter route to the trig point at the top of Pannanich Hill.
Or stroll along the river – there’s a lovely 3km circular along the river and back into the village. Or you can extend the walk in either direction to either the Polhollick Bridge
(5km) in the west or the Cambus O’May Bridge
(6km) in the east. Unfortunately both of these bridges are currently out of action following Storm Frank in December 2015 so you have to return the same way.
If you have a car an absolute must is Loch Muick. Sitting at the base of Lochnagar, residing in the Balmoral Estate and with Queen Victoria’s house half way round, the 13km circular route around Loch Muick is highly recommended.