Posts for September, 2021

Y Play is a safe space for babies to preschool children and their parents/careers to meet, play, have snack, coffee and chat in our informal setting. Look out for organised activities such as singing, baby massage and first aid.

Join us for Christmas Day Lunch at Macdonald Aviemore Resort. Experience a great atmosphere, five-course festive feast and let us look after you. Non-residents are welcome.

Arrive on Christmas Day where you can book your table between 12:30pm – 4pm.

Ballater Business Association (BBA) & Ballater (Royal Deeside) Limited SC026254 (BRD), in conjunction
with Ballater Films and the V&A Halls, are delighted to announce our 1st Mountain Bike Festival. We intend that this will become an annual event.

We are especially delighted to be the chosen Scottish venue for the premiere of ‘The Big Bike Film Night’ at 7 pm on Saturday 11th September at the Halls.

Our action-packed programme kicks off on Friday 10th September with ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’ Film Night at the V&A Halls.

Continuing over the weekend of the 11th and 12th September, there are various activities provided by

‘Ride In Peace’, ‘E-Guides’ and ‘Live Life Aberdeenshire’.

There is also the added attraction of the ‘Tour of Britain’ coming through the Village on Sunday 12th September between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.

And after all that exercise, we have plenty of options for being ‘fed and watered. There are a wide
range of cafés, restaurants, pubs, and hotels in the village and we will also have several takeaways
stalls on the Church Green throughout the day, along with some of our artisan local food producers.

When you’ve had your fill, take the time to explore our unique shops.

Further afield, to the east of Ballater, we have a baker, cheesemaker and café at Cambus O’May & a
hotel at Dinnet. To the West, there is the well known Bakehouse and Ptarmigan café in Crathie.
Look out for posts of our ‘Trails’ of Food & Drink Offers, Retail outlets, and Mountain Bike Trails.
To find all the current information go to www.visitballater.com/event/mountain-bike-festival/.
Thank you to North East Adventure Tourism (NEAT) and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland for their support.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils have agreed a two-year deal to host the Tour of Britain, now beginning with the final stage of the 2021 race on Sunday 12 September. The Aberdeenshire coastal town of Stonehaven will play host to the stage start, with the route also featuring a much-anticipated ascent of the famed Cairn o’Mount climb in the opening kilometres. Full details of the route will be unveiled in due course, although it can be revealed that the successor to Dutch sensation Mathieu van der Poel will be crowned in Aberdeen city centre following a day of racing largely set in the stunning Aberdeenshire countryside. Not only will the 2021 stage mark the first time the Tour of Britain has visited the region, it will also be the furthest point north the modern edition of the race has ever reached.

To kick things off, we are showing ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’ at 7pm on Friday 10th September 2021.
6.30PM Entry and Mix & Mingle Safely
6.45PM Take your Seats
7.00PM Let the Show Commence
9.00PM The Show Closes

Supported by Deviate Cycles (www.deviatecycles.com), the showcase of the UK premiere of The Big Bike Film Night, a collection of short and documentary films that has everything a cycle-centric audience could want – action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration; the evening is unashamedly designed and devised the two-wheel devotee!

eguide Scotland (www.eguidescotland.com) offers ebike rental and guiding in the heart of Royal Deeside and the Cairngorm. They will be with us on Saturday 11th at their Gazebo on the Green offering general information,
demonstrating some of their skills, and running two specific sessions.

Morning session introducing to e-biking:
An easy ebike guided ride around Ballater and its surrounding countryside.
Suitable for ebike novices.
Ratio 1:6 £25 per person (ebikes available to hire for the session – £30 extra).

Afternoon Session of big ebike fun:
An intermediate to advanced guided ebike ride around Ballater taking in some
of the best trails the village has to offer. Suitable for for ebike/ mountain biking
regulars.
Ratio 1:6 £25 per person (ebikes available to hire for the session – £30 extra).

Ride In Peace Adventures (www.rideinpeaceadventures.co.uk) offer
mountain bike coaching, guiding & riding across Aberdeenshire. Visit their Gazebo to check out their guided ride-outs, skills area and sender ramps.

RIPA Guided Rides – LADIES ONLY INTORODUCTION TO INTERMEDIATE
You will be with our RIPA Guide, Kirsten. An introduction to an intermediate ride from Ballater, along the Deeside Way, with options of single track sections toward Cambus O May. This is a great opportunity to find trails from Ballater,
be in safe hands with a guide to help, and to meet like minded ladies.
Meet at RIPA gazebo 9.30am, leave by 10am finished by 12-1pm.
Beginner to intermediates – 1:6 ratio for adults only. £20 per person.

RIPA Guided Rides- BIG MOUNTAIN RIDE INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED
You will be with RIPA Guide, Chris. This is an intermediate to advanced ride from Ballater out the Deeside Way, over Morven and back to Cambus O May.
Meet at RIPA Gazebo 1pm, leave by 1.30pm and finish by 4.30-5.30pm.
Intermediate – Advanced – 1:6 ratio for adults only. £20 per person.

Please note: RIPA will not be hiring or renting bikes – so bring your own to join in the fun.

Aberdeenshire Trail Association (www.aberdeenshiretrail.org), who worked
with local landowners and gencies to enhance the iconic Heartbreak Ridge
trail will be attending with a stall selling merchandise and doing some
fundraising to support future trail work in Ballater and throughout the
region.

Meet our famous Braemar Mountain Rescue Team
(www.braemarmountainrescue.org.uk) – and perhaps make a donation – you never know when they’ll be needed