Things to do in and around Braemar over Easter holiday?

[earscratchesaremyfavourite]

Does anyone know Braemar? Very excited to be visiting over Easter, taking lots of jumpers as we've been warned its cold! Love the outdoors, looking for any suggestions for things to do whilst we're in the area please?

If you're outdoory already, just get the OS map out and follow some paths...
Favourite walks for me include

• out to Honka Hut on Balmoral estate (great for a sheltered lunch stop) and include the Garbh Allt Sheil waterfalls and bridge to nowhere.
• up Glen Lui waterfalls from Linn of Dee carpark, and walk or cycle out to Bob Scott's bothy at Derry Lodge.
• Linn of Quioch waterfalls.
• big day out is the lap of Loch Muick.

Visit Balmoral if you can.

thank you very much , good idea about the OS map 😊

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/

^ register for free.
Download app for free.
Access to full OS maps and routes you can download, including dozens on the site that are not Munro's.

Loads of great walks around there. Loch Muick is a famous one - parking gets busy and it's quite exposed so don't go on a cold windy day.

I stayed in Ballater for a week a few years back. It's a nice little town worth a visit, and one or two walks around there, too.

In addition to seeing Balmoral up close, try the walk up to Prince Albert's cairn.

Blair Atholl whiskey distillery is fabulous

thank you very much these suggestions are all excellent, we're going to be busy I didn't realise there was so much to do!

If you’re planning on visiting Balmoral, avoid Saturday as the Run Balmoral event is on.

Can recommend The Bothy cafe for food, is attached to lovely outdoor shop with fab and expensive clothing to buy. Farquharsons does posher food and is very nice. Walk to Braemar pond on edge village, good view and should be toads migrating to pond about now. Drive to Glenshee, has good cafe, lots of walking access along this road, could drive all the way down to Blairgowrie and back.
Tomintoul distillery is an hour away.

thank you good advice here 😀

Loch muick is lovely! I went last year.
one thing to note, there’s a yellow warning for wind on Saturday and Sunday.

Make sure to visit The Fife Arms and see the Picasso paintings, laugh at the ludicrous prices in the gift shop and possibly have a drink or a meal in the pub which isn’t too pricey. There is a lovely wee chocolate shop as well that sells amazing drinking chocolate and an excellent butchers if you are self catering.

As an alternative to Balmoral and prince Alberts pyramid, just to the east of Braemar (couple of miles outside the village) is the Invercauld estate. Once over the traffic light controlled bridge turn left by the 'bus stop' and park in the car park. Nice walks from there with great views of the Cairngorms or go back on foot, cross the A93 road, walk over the (pedestrian only bridge) into Ballochuie forest and head to the Falls of Garbh Allt.

Would second @lemonraspberry as Ballochbuie forest and the Falls of Garbh Allt are lovely. Just beware that while it is sunny and t-shirt weather in Aberdeen it is Baltic up there - we went in May and needed our flasks of tea!

Alternatively, head to the coast - Stonehaven has nice cafes and Dunotter Castle, the beach at Balmedie is still quiet. If wet and horrible the Barn at Banchory has a nice eating place and a wee cinema/theatre

The bridge at loch Muick (pronounced loch Mick) is currently being replaced so you need to jump stones across the river which might be tricky of we get the forecast rain.
Also Balmoral races are this weekend so the A93 will be very busy past crathie

Go to Ballater, have lunch in the Balmoral Bar. Lochnagar distillery do lovely tours. Walk along the River Dee. Head up to Loch Muick, the views of Lochnagar are spectacular.

Wear a big coat.

Balmedie / Stonehaven are 3 hour round trip. Not exactly near Braemar!

And not really that near Braemar, particularly when Royal Lochnagar distillery is at Balmoral.

I'm amazed how many people come to Scotland and spend 4 hours a day in a car instead of 4 hours walking the countryside around where they stay.

thank you for all of the suggestions especially WalkHighlands App which had us out each day! We had the most amazing holiday, all four seasons of weather, amazing nature and breathtaking views and walks. Have come home with tired feet and paws. We will definitely return.

It's one of my favourite parts of Scotland. Glad you had such a good time.

Have a coffee in the Fife Arms

Sorry am too late. Glad you had a lovely time.