Email Woodend Chalet Holidays enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around
Banchory
We,
the George family, took over Woodend Chalet Holidays in November 2003.
We have spent many years holidaying around Scotland and Europe with our four children (Hannah, Sam, Micah and Joel) so we think we know what it takes to make a happy holiday - and you will find the key ingredients here at Woodend!
Our seven timber chalets and two new luxury lodges are situated amongst the trees in a quiet and beautiful area of woodland in Royal Deeside.
A large central grassed area with views to the hills beyond provides a safe play area for children, or a spot for relaxing with a book.
Woodend Chalet Holidays Accommodation
We have refurbished all the chalets during 2004 and they now provide comfortable and contemporary accommodation.
They have an open plan sitting room / dining room with TV, video and
CD player, and well equipped kitchen area with electric cooker, microwave
and cafetiere.
The floorplans in the accommodation booklet show the layout of each type
of chalet in detail.
We have added two superb three bedroomed luxury lodges to cater for larger
families and groups and these are already proving very popular.
They also have a dishwasher, widescreen TV and DVD player. Ben Macdui
has a wood burning stove.
Bedlinen and towels are provided to reduce your luggage requirements, and all beds are made up for your arrival.
In & around the area:
Woodend Chalets are situated close to the charming town of Banchory.
Here you will find everything needed for your holiday including a large
supermarket, two delicatessens selling local and Scottish produce and
a fish shop that receives daily supplies of fresh fish and seafood from
the east coast.
A Farmers Market selling local Aberdeen Angus Beef, bacon, vegetables
and herbs is held on the third Saturday of each month.
Banchory has a Tourist Information Centre and local Museum and a wide variety of events are held at Woodend Barn throughout the year. Woodend Barn (no relation) is situated 2 miles east of Banchory.
A visit to the Bridge of Feugh to watch the salmon leaping up the Falls is not to be missed.
Out & about:
Within a short drive there is an unrivalled selection of things
to see and do including:
- Crathes Castle, with it's world famous gardens
- Drum Castle with it's 13th century square tower
- The fairytale Craigievar Castle and Castle Fraser, one of the Castles
of Mar.
Follow in Queen Victoria's footsteps on The Victorian Heritage Trail and visit Balmoral Castle (open April 1 to July 31), Royal Lochnagar Distillery and The Old Royal Station, Ballater.
Grampian Transport Museum is a must for kids with it's 'climb aboard' exhibits and popular outdoor events. Whilst in Alford, take the mini train (summer only) to Haughton Country Park, for a picnic & play.
A short drive takes you to the spectacular Kincardineshire coast. Start at the beautiful harbour at Stonehaven and follow the Coastal Trail to cliff-top Dunnottar Castle, scene of Zeffirelli's 'Hamlet', the charming fishing villages of Gourdon and Johnshaven and the stunning beach at St Cyrus National Nature reserve.
Within half an hours drive the City of Aberdeen provides a vibrant centre for shopping, eating out, entertainment and culture.
The five-star Maritime Museum tells the story of Aberdeen's relationship with the sea from fishing to ship building and on to the oil industry.
The beachfront area is a family paradise and includes indoor and outdoor attractions for all ages including the new 'Miami Beach', interactive science museum Satrosphere, the Beach Leisure Centre and a multiplex cinema.
Driving west for less than half an hour will bring you to the new Cairngorms National Park, a huge area of lochs, forests and mountains offering some of the best opportunities for outdoor activities in Britain.
Walking, climbing, mountain biking, gorge walking, abseiling, riding, wildlife watching, fishing, golf, skiing and snow boarding are just a selection of what is available.
Wildlife:
The grounds at Woodend are visited by Roe Deer and Red Squirrels
and you might be lucky enough to see them from your chalet!
Birds you may see close by include Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, Heron, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and many more. The surrounding area offers great opportunities for those interested in wildlife.
Ospreys can be seen fishing on the rivers Dee, Don and Spey and at Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve.
Red Deer are common at Loch Muick and Lochnagar Wildlife Reserve and can often be seen near the main road through Glenshee.
A visit to the magnificent Caledonian Pine Forests of Glen Tanar can result in sightings of Scottish Crossbills, Capercaillie and Black Grouse.
The high moorlands support large numbers of Red Grouse and Mountain Hare with lucky visitors also seeing Hen Harriers, Merlins and Short-eared Owls.
Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Ravens and Ring Ouzels all occur in the Cairngorms National Park.
Over the coast, the cliffs at Fowlsheugh RSPB Reserve hold vast numbers of Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and a few Puffins.
The Sands of Forvie National Nature Reserve, north of Aberdeen, near Newburgh, holds Britain's largest breeding concentration of Eider Ducks.
The world famous Moray Firth Dolphins can be seen on a boat trip from the Moray Firth Wildlife Centre at Spey Bay.
Golf:
Those interested in golf could not be better positioned
Inchmarlo Golf Centre is only a five iron away and offers an 18 hole championship golf course, a nine hole golf course and a floodlit driving range.
Other courses within a short distance include:
Banchory, Torphins, Aboyne, Alford, Ballater, Tarland, Peterculter, Stonehaven,
and Britain's highest course at Braemar. The famous links course at Cruden
Bay, which consistently appears in the top fifty British Courses, is less
than an hour's drive away.
Fishing:
Keen fishermen will find the world famous salmon fishing offered
by the river Dee only a stones throw away.
Even nearer is Raemoir Trout Fishery with three fly-fishing lochs and
a children's bait pool.
Many other opportunities are close by including the rivers Don and Spey, trout fisheries at Glen Tanar, Midmar, Ballater and Strathdon and sea angling and mackerel fishing from many of the small fishing ports along the coast.
Other activities available include:
Mountain biking, Hang-Gliding, Pony trekking, Hill walking, Shooting,
Gliding, Quad biking, Paintball, Sailing, Skiing, Snowboarding (winter
only!!), Canoeing and many more.
Email Woodend Chalet Holidays enquiries & reservations:bookscotland@madbookings.com
