Auld Cummerton in the Cairngorm National Park is a Scottish Tourist Board 5 Star Bed and Breakfast.

Auld Cummerton is off the beaten track and nestles in the upper reaches of Royal Donside within its own woodland and enjoys magnificent views towards the mountains of Royal Deeside.

Originally built in 1760, we have recently restored the ruin to a very high standard with plenty of private parking and wildlife walks from the doorstep.

Less than 45 miles from Aberdeen, we offer a refuge of comfort and tranquillity from where you can explore some of the historic sites and stunning scenery that is this unique corner of Scotland.

Our home features many antiques and country furnishings whilst enjoying all the modern comforts that a newly restored house can offer.

On arrival, you may enjoy tea and some of Carole's homemade cakes or shortbread in the drawing room. We have a huge range of books on Scotland and the local area, with lots of marked ordnance survey maps.

Rooms:

We have two beautiful rooms available. The double room has a magnificent Stuart period 4 poster bed and dressed in authentic period furnishings.

The twin bedded room, which can operate as a 6 foot wide double bed, is equally delightful and is stylishly furnished with a beautiful French toile depicting Diana, the Roman goddess of chastity.

Breakfast:

Breakfasts are leisurely and taken in the drawing room where you can enjoy all manner of wonderful things such as Scottish bacon, kippers, free range eggs, fresh fruits, homemade bread and our own spring water from Cummerton Hill.

The Location:

Approximate distances from Auld Cummerton:

• Aberdeen 44 miles
• Ballater 17 miles
• Balmoral 15 miles
• Braemar 22 miles
• Grantown-on-Spey 32 miles
• Aviemore 44 miles
• Inverness 66 miles
• Perth 70 miles
• Edinburgh 128 miles

We are always delighted to help with your plans for the day ahead as we have a lot of expert knowledge to provide a personal itinerary.

Auld Cummerton has a wonderful location and is close to two stunning salmon rivers. The Dee is famous for its Royal connections and Balmoral, the Don is less well known but has a wild and beautiful landscape with a mysterious and historic past.

Even in the midst of summer, you will feel that you have entered the forgotten Scotland. Beginning at Braemar, we have an abundance of the highest mountains to be found anywhere in Scotland - and it seems sad that so many people miss out as they rush around the country.

This area of the Cairngorm National Park is rich with ancient rights of way and forgotten glens where folk lived out their lives and now all that is left to show that they ever existed, are the ruins of their cottages and clachan peeping through the heather. So, when next you come across some of these stones.... remember the land of the lost.

Discover the Lost Gallery on our doorstep, the Lawson Johnson galleries and the Knock Gallery overlooking Balmoral Castle - the artists among you will be in heaven.

Highland Games:

Throughout the Summer, Highland Games are held all over this area, but none are more famous than the Braemar Games so loved by the Queen during her long Summer holiday at Balmoral and the Lonach Games in Donside that are held in a most wonderful natural arena.

Everyone is welcome to watch the feats of strength and the traditional highland dancing and bagpipe music.

The Castle Trail:

If mediaeval castles catch your imagination, then the extensive atmospheric ruins of Kildrummy and Glenbuchat are just up the road. You can take a guided tour around the fairytale splendour of the pink Craigievar Castle that inspired Walt Disney or the old Redcoat garrison of Corgarff Castle. All are very close by in Donside. These and many more can be found on the well signed Castle Trail.

The whole area is also steeped in pre-history with more standing stones than the rest of Scotland and stones circles that are unique to this North East area. Nearby is the Tomnaverie stone circle at Tarland which has been unearthed and investigated by the University archaeological team and the award winning Pre-History Archaeolink Centre is only a few miles away. Our house looks out over the Doune of Invernochty, which is a moated motte dating from 800 AD.

For the garden lovers among you, the splendid gardens at Crathes Castle, the magical one created in a natural cleft below the ruins of Kildrummy Castle or the immaculate garden at Pitmedden in Lower Donside.

The Whisky Trail:

All this and we have not even mentioned the famous "amber nectar" produced in this part of Scotland!

There are so many famous whisky distilleries from which to take a sup, that your palate will be indulged choosing your favourite, and in so doing, you may hear of the numerous illicit stills that existed beneath the bracken and beside tumbling burns. The distilleries are well marked by the Whisky Trail.

Golf:

If golf is your "bag", then you will have to leave the romantic places for another day, and choose from the 54 courses that this area offers to all levels of player.

A particular gem is the oft-featured Tarland course which is just 2.5 miles away and where Bruce is a member. He will be delighted to have an excuse to offer you the inside information on the course!

Wildlife:

We are very privileged to be one of the last areas of habitat for the red squirrel and to be surrounded by soaring buzzards and fairly frequent sightings of the elusive capercaillie and the rare fish-eating osprey.

The onset of spring is announced by the arrival of the curlew and numerous oyster catchers who come in from the coast to lay their eggs in the fields around Migvie. The haunting cry of the curlew and the insistent pipping of the oyster catchers both disturb and enhance the peace. While watching a young roe deer graze, on your evening stroll from Migvie, you may forget the stresses and strains of modern living and linger awhile longer.

Evening Meals:

There is an excellent pub in Tarland - 2.5 miles (5 km) away - which has an extensive menu that covers all tastes and budgets. Several more good eating places can be discovered a little further afield.

Directions:

Coming from Aberdeen:

• Take the B9119 to Tarland (excellent road).
• Take the Logie Coldstone road from Tarland.
• After 1 mile, take road to Migvie on right.
• At junction of A97 turn right to Strathdon. Go to T junction and turn left on A944 to Strathdon.
• After 2 miles, see shop on right in Bellabeg, turn right just before shop (signposted to the Lost Gallery) and after half a mile, we are high on hill on right.

Coming from South through Braemar:

• Go towards Ballater on A93.
• After about 8 miles just before Crathie and Balmoral, turn left to Tomintoul ( B976).
• Drive 5 miles to Gairnsheil Lodge.
• Turn left on A939 for 6 miles.
• At T junction, turn right on A944 to Strathdon/Bellabeg. Past shop in Bellabeg and immediately turn left.

Coming from North, Inverness:

• After Grantown on Spey, take A95, and turn right after 1-2 miles to Tomintoul on A939.
• In Tomintoul, turn left to Braemar and then right to Braemar, still on A939.
• Follow that road over the Lecht and down to just past Corgarff.
• Stay on main road but it changes to A944 to Strathdon / Bellabeg.
• Turn left immediately after the shop (signposted to the Lost Gallery) and after half a mile, we are high on hill on right.