Local Area Information

EATING OUT & IN

Within walking distance of lodge you'll find top quality food at Cragganmore House, great pub meals at the Delnashaugh Hotel, or try the Lagmore Café during the day for tasty homemade food at the local Ballindalloch Castle Golf Course.

A short car drive away guests can enjoy a good range of restaurants, pubs and cafes in Aberlour or Grantown-on-Spey.

If you'd prefer to cater in-house, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco will deliver online groceries to the lodge. There are small supermarkets and independent food stores in Aberlour and Grantown and large supermarkets in Elgin and Nairn, as follows,

Aberlour Coop	AB38 9QB	14 minutes
Grantown-on-Spey Coop	PH26 3HG	22 minutes
Elgin Asda	IV30 6YQ	32 minutes
Elgin Tesco	IV30 1TY	35 minutes
Nairn Sainsbury's	IV12 5QF	53 minutes

Here are a few links to whet your appetite,

Ballindalloch Shop & Post Office - the nearest stop for basics, fuel and wood-burner supplies

Delnashaugh Hotel - quality meals in a lovely local country pub

The Mash Tun Whisky Bar & Restaurant - great food and a huge selection of malt whiskies in Aberlour

KJ's Bothy Bakery - Grantown welcomes Aviemore's famous Mountain Café bakery

The Spey Larder - local produce in Aberlour

High St Merchants - café/bar/gallery in Grantown with great food and friendly staff

Cragganmore House - wander up the hill for classic fine dining in a traditional setting (pre-booking essential)

Andersons Restaurant in Boat of Garten - great food in a relaxed atmosphere

Andersons' sister food outlet - amazing takeaway wood-fired pizza

Lagmore Café at Ballindalloch Castle Golf Course - tasty homemade food (closed over winter)

Grantown East Highland Heritage Centre - very tasty food served in a railway carriage!

Wee Puffin - relaxed family restaurant in Grantown

Sylhet Brasserie - great curry house in Grantown

THINGS TO DO

The immediate area is great for walking, running, cycling, canoeing and fishing. Venturing slightly further afield you're within easy reach of The Lecht and Aviemore for winter sports, the Glenlivet Estate for mountain bike trails, or Loch Insh for water sports and much more. If you fancy a trip to the seaside, you'll find miles of beautiful sandy beaches at Nairn and Lossiemouth.

There are quality golf courses dotted throughout Speyside and all along the Moray coast, including classic championship links courses such as Castle Stuart, The Nairn and Moray golf course (Lossiemouth).

For wildlife enthusiasts there is also plenty to see, from the reindeer on Cairngorm Mountain, the Highland Wildlife Park, or the birds, red squirrels and unique habitat of Abernethy forest. The wildlife photographs displayed here and in Ballin Dhu were taken by your host at some of the locations listed below.

If whisky is your thing, then you're at the heart of the Speyside malt whisky trail, with many distilleries and visitor centres. Ballin Dhu is also on the doorstep of the North East 250 route, described as 'The ultimate road trip to the heart of Scotland'.

Check out the following links to see what you might fancy!

EXPLORING

The Speyside Way walking route - note that Ballin Dhu sits at the end point of Route Section 4

North East 250 - A road trip to the heart Scotland

Visit Moray Speyside - A great overview of what the area has to offer

Guests will also find many books and maps in the lodge detailing walking and cycling routes throughout the Cairngorms, Moray and Speyside.

WHISKY

Speyside Distilleries - an overview with a map to get your bearings in whisky country!

Speyside Malt Whisky Trail

Speyside Cooperage - home of the ancient art of coopering

Cragganmore Distillery - the most local distillery to Ballin Dhu

Ballindalloch Distillery - another distillery very local to the lodge