Ballater

Ballater nestles in Royal Deeside within the Cairngorms National Park, a Victorian spa town that grew around natural springs. The A93 runs straight through, connecting Aberdeen (40 miles east) with Braemar and the Lecht Pass westward. It's perfectly placed for exploring Balmoral Castle, just 8 miles up the road, and makes an ideal base for Cairngorms touring. The old railway station houses a museum with Queen Victoria's original royal waiting room.