Scotland's Beautiful Banffshire

Escape to Scotland on this wonderful five-day break, taking in the beautiful Banffshire Coast. With stunning views and dramatic scenery, we explore the charming coastal towns of Fraserburgh and Banff as well as one of Scotland's gems, Ballindalloch Castle, where fascinating traces of the Macpherson-Grants and their rich history can be found throughout the house.What's Included?
- Return coach travel- 4 nights at the Waterside Hotel, Peterhead (JG2 rating) with dinner & breakfast- Excursions to Ballindalloch Castle & Gardens & Banffshire Coast (Banff & Fraserburgh)Optional excursion to Cruden Bay & Aberdeen (£14pp)

Itinerary
Included Excursions\n\nBallindalloch Castle & Gardens (half day)We take the scenic route to Ballindalloch Castle, the family home of the Macpherson-Grants since 1546. It is one of the finest surviving examples of a Scottish baronial castle, and throughout the 23 generations, the working estate has upheld traditions while also seeking to improve it for the future. There are plenty of rooms to explore, including the dining room, once the Great Hall and the beating heart of the 16th-century fortress, the library and the elegantly decorated drawing room. Treasures include military memorabilia, fine china, portraits of King George III painted by famous royal artist Allan Ramsay and more. The old servants' quarter is now a nursery, and the dungeon, which once housed family enemies, is now a wine cellar. Outside, there are three beautifully manicured formal gardens, a rockery, the courtyard garden and a walled garden, as well as woodlands and riverside meadows.\n\nBanffshire Coast (Banff & Fraserburgh) (full day)Combining sandy bays, rugged cliffs, quaint seaside towns and historic fishing villages, Scotland's Banffshire Coast is breathtakingly unspoilt and we discover two of its highlights on our second included excursion. First up is the county town of Banff, popular with Robert Burns and Lord Byron, where the sights range from the former royal Banff Castle and the pre-Reformation market cross to the old harbour and the intriguing treasures in Banff Museum. We continue to the fishing port of Fraserburgh, which offers a wide range of shops and plenty of delicious local produce. Or for a piece of Scottish heaven, take a stroll along Fraserburgh Beach, which holds a Green Coast Award and a Marine Conservation Society Recommendation.\n\nOptional Excursion\n\nCruden Bay & Aberdeen (£14pp) (half day)Why not join our lovely optional excursion to discover more of stunning Scotland? We head to Cruden Bay, renowned for its sweeping expanse of pink sands and dunes. The area is rich in history too - it is believed that the Scots defeated the Danes here in 1012, and the beach was made famous by Norwegian aviator Tryggve Gran who completed the first solo flight across the North Sea. Take a stroll down to the beach, accessed by a charming wooden footbridge, and admire one of the most striking panoramas Scotland has to offer. Next up is the thriving seaport of Aberdeen, described as 'one of the most architecturally distinctive cities in Europe' thanks to its sparkling Granite buildings and monuments. There's plenty to discover, from Old Aberdeen, with its cobbled streets and 15th-century cathedral, to the quirky fishing quarter of Footdee at the water's edge. Look out for dolphins leaping at the harbour mouth and listen for the warming tones of'Doric',the localScots dialect, or why not indulge in some retail therapy in the many shops dotted along the mile-long Union Street?

Cruden Bay
This lovely small village lies on the north coast of the spectacular Bay of Cruden, renowned for its sweeping expanse of pink sands and dunes. The area is rich in history too, it is believed that the Scots defeated the Danes here in 1012, and the beach was made famous by Norwegian aviator Tryggve Gran who completed the first solo flight across the North Sea. Take a stroll down to the beach, accessed by a charming wooden footbridge, and admire one of the most striking panoramas Scotland has to offer.

Aberdeen
Known as the Granite City, the thriving sea port of Aberdeen has been described as "one of the most architecturally distinctive cities in Europe" thanks to its sparkling Granite buildings and monuments. There's plenty to discover, from Old Aberdeen, with its cobbled streets and 15th-century cathedral, to the quirky fishing quarter of Footdee at the water's edge. Look out for dolphins leaping at the harbour mouth and listen for the warming tones of'Doric',the localScots dialect , or why not indulge in some retail therapy in the many shops dotted along the mile-long Union Street.\n

Banffshire Coast (Banff & Fraserburgh)
Combining sandy bays, rugged cliffs, quaint seaside towns and historic fishing villages, Scotland's Banffshire Coast is breathtakingly unspoilt and beautiful. There is also an abundance of wildlife to look out for too, including dolphins, seals and puffins.
Located on the stunning Banff Bay, the county town of Banff is a delight to explore and has attracted visitors for centuries, including Robert Burns and Lord Byron. From the former royal Banff Castle and the pre-Reformation market cross, to the fine Biggar Fountainand Georgian architecture, it's easy to see why Banff has one of the best preserved townscapes in Scotland. The old harbour, which has been developed as a marina is well worth a visit, or head to Banff Museum to admire some of the oldest surviving silver teapots in Scotland, browse some local works on display and uncover the story of the notorious Scottish outlaw, James MacPherson.
Fraserburgh is a major fishing port and a busy commercial harbour. It is the proud holder of the mainland British wind speed record, a whopping 144 mph! There's a wide range of shops and plenty of delicious local produce on offer here, while the Fraserburgh Heritage Museum showcases the rich heritage of this Scottish fishing town. Or for a piece of Scottish heaven, take a stroll along Fraserburgh Beach, which holds a Green Coast Award and a Marine Conservation Society Recommendation. After our visit, enjoy the scenic drive along the coastal road back to our hotel.

Ballindalloch Castle & Gardens
Located in the beautiful Spey Valley, Ballindalloch Castle has been the family home of the Macpherson-Grants since 1546. It is one of the finest surviving examples of a Scottish baronial castle, and throughout the 23 generations, the working estate has upheld traditions while also seeking to improve it for future.
There are plenty of rooms to explore, including the dining room, once the Great Hall and the beating heart of the 16th-century fortress, the library, which houses a private collection of 18th and 19th-century European literature and the elegantly-decorated drawing room. Traces of the family and their rich history can be found throughout the house, from the original fireplaces and collections of fine china and military memorabilia, to the portraits of King George III painted by famous royal artist Allan Ramsay, presented to General James Grant in recognition of his military service in the American Wars of Independence.
The old servants' quarter is now a nursery, and the dungeon, which once housed family enemies, is now a wine cellar. Outside, there are three beautifully-manicured formal gardens, the rockery, the courtyard garden and the walled garden, as well as woodlands and riverside meadows.Waterside Hotel, Peterhead (JG2 rating) Waterside Hotel, Peterhead (JG2 rating)
Set in its own landscaped gardens on the banks of the estuary of the River Ugie, the Waterside Hotel is the perfect base for our adventure, offering breathtaking scenery, an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym, restaurant, bar and en-suite rooms with a TV. All meals are buffet style.