Cottages in Banff

Come away to the clean sea air of this atmospheric and picturesque seaside townscape packed with historical charm. The town of Banff in Aberdeenshire faces the lovely adjacent town of Macduff on the shimmering River Deveron estuary. This beautiful Georgian town has long been a popular destination for visitors and holidaymakers! There is a lovely old harbour with a recent marina development and the area boasts stunning golden sand beaches and marvellous coastal walks and scenic drives.

These delightful holiday cottages are dotted in and around Banff, Whitehills, Boyndie and Macduff with splendid access to local amenities such as supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, historical sites, golf courses and local beaches. Choose from a selection of upmarket, refurbished cottages with lovely, fully equipped, stylish, contemporary interiors and comfortable furnishings perfect for 4, 5 or 6 guests. Most of these charming cottages feature a lovely garden and several are under 500m from the beach!

If you are a golf enthusiast you will find a dizzying choice of golf courses in Banff! There are no less than 40 golf courses within a 60 km radius from Banff that vary in number of holes and design with a common factor of breathtaking views of either Moray Firth or the lush rolling hills and farmland of Aberdeenshire! You have plenty of choices between championship links and rolling parkland! The Trump International Golf Links course nestled amidst stunning sand dunes in Balmedie offers world class facilities and a memorable golfing experience alongside the beautiful, challenging inland heathland course at Elgin, widely considered the fairest inland course in all of Northern Scotland!

Nature lovers are in for a very special treat in and around Banff as you are ideally situated for exploring the stunning natural beauty of the Cairngorms National Park located just under 1.5 hours south of Banff as well as the local heritage coastline where you will see seals and gorgeous seabirds. There are several stunning routes for your Cairngorms bucket list! Why not try the 16 km Badenoch way along a series of moorland tracks adjacent to shimmering lochs and riverbanks that features ancient forests and emerges at the mysterious, evocative ruins of the Ruthven Barracks! Climb the Morrone Hill high above the village of Braemar on a splendid 10 km circular walk for incredible views or hike up the spectacular 1310 m Ben Macdui!

This stunning Georgian mansion is a must see Banff attraction and contains an absolutely magnificent collection of paintings. There are beautiful landscaped grounds replete with carriage drives and ornamental follies perfect for strolling about and the interior of the house is wonderfully elegant. There is a lovely 3km walk on the grounds that takes you to the Bridge of Alvah and an impressive Neo Gothic mausoleum.

If you fancy a few hours immersed in an otherworldly marine wonderland, Macduff Aquarium is the place for you! Here you will learn all about the underwater habitats of Moray Firth Bay. Discover fascinatingly diverse undersea worlds ranging from leafy kelp reefs to the deep sea! There are hundreds of fish to admire and the building is located in a very scenic spot on the coast at McDuff.

Head east just 18 minutes along the coast and you will find yourself at the tiny coastal village of Crovie perched dramatically along a narrow ledge in front of the cliffs. Wander about the gorgeous traditional stone cottages and admire the absolutely stunning views out to sea and to the headlands. Gorgeous Pennan is located just before Covie off the coast road down a steep hill. Further along you will find Gardenstown with its lovely beach, 11th century chapel and a perfect harbour pub for fish and chips!

If you are in the mood for a scenic drive and a really lovely day out, head to the romantic, evocative ruins of Dunnottar Castle just over an hour south of Banff nestled on top of a colossal 50 metre rock. This imposing medieval fortress has been featured in Game of Thrones, Outlander and Outlaw King and is a stunning location for strolling about and admiring the views from the headland and for taking perfect Instagram photos!

Spend a fascinating couple of hours admiring the artefacts found in Scotland's oldest museum! Here you can admire a remarkable collection of Banff silverware as well as a range of incredible objects from the Celtic period all the way to contemporary times. See vintage scientific instruments and natural history collections alongside a 2000 year old Celtic war trumpet! The museum offers a very interesting glimpse into what life was like in the past in Banffshire!

If you fancy spending time on a beautiful pristine golden sand beach with wonderful waves, head to magnificent Sandend Beach backed by the gorgeous 17th century heritage fishing village of Sandend. This lovely sandy bay is a haven for surfers and families who enjoy building sandcastles! This is also a perfect place to relax and sunbathe with a good book!

Head to Macduff where you can stroll about and see the remains of the once magnificent Tarlair Pool that was a bustling resort lido in its heyday packed with sunbathers and swimmers. Featuring two giant seawater pools, one for swimming and one for boating and a fabulous art deco pavilion, the site offers a glimpse into the demise of Britain's outdoor lidos. Plans have recently been unveiled for a full restoration of the site which is used by the local model boat club. The site is really beautiful with stunning sea views and worth an anticipatory visit as plans go ahead for it to be restored to its former glory!