Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour
Overview
Available languages
7 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
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 12th of August 24 until 1 October 24. We visit the National Trust For Scotland's Crathes Castle during the closure.
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.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
WiFi on board
Lunch
Gratuities
Balmoral Castle Tickets (General Admission)
What To Expect
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.
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.
Options
Balmoral & Royal Deeside Tour
Reviews
79 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Very good indeed
MADTRAINSPOTTER M,
Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went on day trip to deeside today and the driver's name was Jaime and he was very good indeed and I enjoyed it very much indeed
What an experience
Paige P,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Alex was a phenomenal guide. He was so knowledgeable and very engaging. I recommend this tour a 100%..
Balmoral was great.
billpU1117ZH,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was great. Jaime was very informative and accommodating. Highly recommended. Weather was great, although a bit windy.
Great Day Out
H5152PVrobertd,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took a full day tour of Balmoral and Royal Deeside with Grampian Escapes. Jamie was an excellent guide, full of information and humour. Balmoral Estate was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852. The Castle was then commissioned. It is the personal property of the monarch. The Royal Family spend their summer holidays here from August through September. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral in 2022. The Estate is open to the public from April until the beginning of August. Grampian Escapes' website instructs you to purchase a ticket in advance for entry into the Balmoral Estate, which I did. (Unfortunately, you are unable to combine a guided tour of the interior with this excursion.) I wrote a separate review of Balmoral Estate. This excursion gives you plenty of time to wander around the estate and see the beautiful gardens. The only part of the Castle that is open to the public is the Ballroom. You enter the Ballroom through the sunken garden. They had an exhibit on King Charles III's plans for the gardens in the Ballroom. After our visit to Balmoral, we went to the nearest town, Ballater, for some free time to explore the town and grab a bite to eat. The railway reached Ballater in 1866. One hundred years later, in 1966, the line was closed. Inside the station, there is now a tourist information centre, a library, and a cafe. There is also an exhibit on the history of the station, with a royal carriage on display. Since the town is near Balmoral, the royal family often goes into town to do their shopping. Several businesses have Royal Warrants. Royal Warrants last five years. That is why these warrants are displayed, even though the Queen died in 2022. The Cambus O'May Bridge was built in 1905 and crosses the River Dee. Our last stop was Tomnaverie Stone Circle in Tarland. It was built around 2500 BCE. It was an enjoyable day out.
Fun filled tour
Brad G,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour guide Jamie was absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgeable and fun personality. The tour was un rushed, relaxed and overall amazing experience. We even got to see the king and queen. I highly recommend this tour to everyone.
Jamie is the best!
michelle p,
Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Jamie was the BEST!!! He had sooo much knowledge of Aberdeen and Aberdeeshore and answered all our questions, even if they were personal! Showed us the most beautiful sites and took us to the best places I had truly had a great time!
Beautiful day out with magnificent views.
zebinar2024,
Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip with a very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Ballater village was great and fish shop restaurant superb. The views from the Tomnaverie stone circle was spectacular.
Best Day Trip to Balmoral and Royal Deeside
Eileen K,
Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful scenery, interesting history, excellent service. The driver and guide, Jamie, was wonderful.
Lovely day around the Aberdeen countryside
thememorymarket,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Alex was delightful and provided so much interesting information throughout the tour. The van was quite comfortable as well and his driving skills superb. We debated whether to take the tour since the royal family was in residence and Balmoral was non-accessible, but it was still a very worthwhile trip and the Crathes Castle and Gardens were a lovely stand in.
Caroline O'Dwyer
Caroline O,
Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Tour guide Alex fab great tour guide would recommend fab day out with a lovely bunch of people thanks
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Operated by Grampian Escapes Tours Ltd