Mountain View Lodges

Nestled in a beautiful setting, just outside the busy little village of Banchory, these contemporary lodges have spectacular views and are surrounded by wildlife. A trip to Balmoral Castle is a must and there are loads of beautiful walks in the area, as well as fishing and golf. There's so much to see and do in Aberdeenshire - the Castle Trail takes you past 13 castles and gives you a fascinating insight into Scottish history.

If you love natural beauty, there are gardens galore near Mountain View Lodges, such as the beautiful walled garden at Edzell. Created by Sir David Lindsay in 1604, it has sculptured stone panelled walls, flower boxes and nesting birds. Animal lovers will adore the Mountains Animal Sanctuary at Glenogil - it operates an adoption scheme for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys and runs guided tours for visitors.

We love Mount Battock Lodge which sleeps up to eight people and is spacious and contemporary. The living area is open plan and patio doors lead out onto private decking with an outdoor hot tub and beautiful views across the mountains. It is fully double glazed and centrally heated and the verandah is complete with garden furniture and a barbecue for fine evenings.

You could take a trip on the Caledonian Railway, a genuine steam railway that runs from Brechin to the Bridge of Dun, once a stopping place for royal trains. There are some lovely walks from the station to the bird sanctuary when the train pulls in. If you fancy a delicious home made snack, drop into the B-Lo Café Restaurant in Montrose for a warm Scottish welcome.