Our Partners & Suppliers
Cairnton Aberdeen Angus
Producers of high quality Aberdeen Angus Beef and deliver very informative farm tours. Farmer Ken and team are dedicated to sustainable farm to fork beef production. Also providers of beautiful holiday cottages and bring us the North East's premium outdoor activity centre - The Deeside Activity Park.
Lost Loch Spirits
Not a traditional Scottish distillery but a craft distillery in an industrial unit powered by the creativeness of its owners. Producers of multi award winning gin, a traditional family recipe liqueur and Scotland's first Absinthe. These guys are creative, fun and highly entertaining which makes the perfect mix for a great distillery tour and tasting!
Cambus O'May Cheese Co
Unique award winning farmhouse cheeses from the heart of Royal Deeside. Hand crafted from unpasteurised milk using traditional methods which, along with the recipes, have not changed for 50 years! Family tradition passed on and turned into a commercial venture, you can always expect a warm welcome from Alex and his team and a chance to taste some of Scotland's finest farmhouse cheeses.
Strachans of Royal Deeside
Holder of 3 Royal warrants, my local shop is one which I love taking guests to. It stocks a range of things from newspapers to hardware, cookware to deli goods and also happens to have one of Scotland's most extensive range of spirits. From the rarest of whiskies to the newest of gins, its very well stocked and comes with great friendly local advice.
The Highlanders Bakehouse
A fantastic story of a young local lass trained to the highest standards in London and coming home to follow her passion! Shona and her partner Andy have worked harder and longer than anyone I have ever known to get this place up and running. From its humble beginnings of roadside honesty box and occasional farmers market to roadside cafe with onsite bakery and total farmers market domination! Shona's creativeness does not only show in her bakery products but also in every detail of the cafe.
The Royal Lochnagar Distillery
A very traditional, small whisky distillery which still applies traditional methods to produce whisky fit for royalty and locals alike! Unlike many big distilleries, although owned by one of the big players, you always get a very personal and welcoming tour at Lochnagar. Also if we visit on a nice day there are some lovely short walks around with exceptional views over Deeside.
Castleton Farmshop
Sitting on the border between Aberdeenshire and Angus Castleton is a fruit farm producing some of Scotland's finest soft fruits. Can be found at farmers markets and in local shops with fresh berries during the growing season and preserves all year round. A great wee farm shop to visit with a cafe serving amazing coffee and the best of locally sourced produce. Probably one of the best Scottish breakfasts around!
Ogilvy Vodka
Fourth generation potato farmers producing Scotland's first real potato vodka. A great example of a farmers entrepreneurship combined with his wife's eye for detail and interior design expertise! From the moment you get out the vehicle at Ogilvy you are warmly welcomed to the farm and the wonderful new visitor centre. It's incredible to see how this working farm has been adapted to house such a complex technical distillation process. But the thing we love most about Ogilvy is the smoothness and depth of flavour in their Vodka!
The Gin Bothy
An enterprise built from left over berry juice from a local lassies jam making. The Gin Bothy produce a large variety of Scottish inspired gins using the soft fruits which Angus is famous for and incorporating the flavours of the Glens. The gin tasting experience is an absolute must! I'm not sure how she has done it so well but Kim has managed to find a team of dedicated, passionate workers who share her excitement for producing the goods and sharing the stories in the tasting rooms.
Louise's Farm Kitchen
Where do I start....? Louise is a farmer, a chef, a butcher, a driver, an outside caterer, a mother and a total "grafter"!!! From her wee farm she produces some of the finest outdoor bred pork and grass fed lamb the country has to offer. She has a range of award winning fresh produce and also provides a hog roast & BBQ service. Bothies & Bannocks work very closely with LFK. Louise is always happy to drop everything to take our guests on a farm walk to learn all about sustainable, high welfare farming and let us sample some of her produce.
CFINE
Community Food Initiative North East is an Aberdeen based food charity who do exceptional work in the community, far too much for me to list here but please check out their website below and support them anyway you can. Even if that is coming on one of our Market Day Cookery Classes, we use their training kitchen for our class which was set up for community based cooking classes, but is also available to hire privately to raise funds for the charity. Bothies & Bannocks are proud supporters of CFINE. Great team behind an amazing charity.
The Tor Na Coille Hotel and Restaurant
A family favourite of ours for many years and now Bothies & Bannocks have a close relationship with the Tor Na Coille. David and Sophie are wonderful hosts and have really made this hotel stand into what it should be. Whether you are staying the night, in for a bar meal or dining in the 2 Rosette restaurant you can expect the very best of local food and drink served to the highest standards in this beautiful Victorian country house hotel. The ideal base for exploring Royal Deeside and the North East.
Farmers Markets
Aboyne, Ballater & Banchory Farmers Markets are held monthly hosting a wide range of stalls and producers. Come and join us on one of our Market Day Cookery Classes to get special access to one of these markets and meet the producers.
https://www.facebook.com/aboynefarmersmarket/
https://www.facebook.com/banchoryfarmersmarket/
https://www.facebook.com/ballaterfarmersmarket/
Producers
Wark Farm – Organic farm, producing beef, lamb, geese, chicken and artisan pies. Experience days and holiday cottage. – warkfarm.co.uk
Esker Spirits – Our favourite gin in the country! (don’t tell the Lost Loch!) Lovely team making a range of top award winning gins – https://eskerspirits.com/esker/
Granite City Fish – Aberdeen fishmongers, regulars at local markets, high quality produce – https://www.facebook.com/GraniteCityFish/
Devenick Dairy – Cheese maker and rare breed farm, kids soft play area and cafe – https://www.devenickdairy.co.uk/
Kincardine Kitchen – Delicious fancy pieces and preserves from the heart of Royal Deeside – https://www.kincardinekitchen.co.uk/
H M Sheridan – Local creative butchers, Ballater/Banchory, available in shops throughout the North East – https://hmsheridan.co.uk/
Mains of Leask – Vegetable grower in the heart of Aberdeenshire – https://www.mainsofleaskveg.co.uk/
Vegcø – Sustainably grown homemade jams and sauces – https://www.vegco.uk/
Katy’s Eggs – Free range hen, duck and quail eggs – https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Local-Business/Katys-Eggs-280886865350637/
The Bee Cabin – Bee keeping supplies, honey producers and beeswax products for sale – https://www.facebook.com/beecabin/
Lunan Bay Farm – Free range goat meat and the most amazing seasonal asparagus – https://www.facebook.com/lunanbayfarm/
Hotels, Restaurants & Shops
Banchory Lodge Hotel, Banchory – https://banchorylodge.com/
Dounside House Hotel, Tarland – https://www.dounesidehouse.co.uk/
Maryculter House Hotel, Maryculter – https://www.maryculterhouse.com/
The Boat Inn, Aboyne – https://www.theboatinnaboyne.co.uk/
The Deeside Inn, Ballater – https://www.crerarhotels.com/deeside-inn
The Darroch Learg Hotel, Ballater – https://darrochlearg.co.uk/
The Saplinbrae Hotel, Mintlaw – https://saplinbrae.co.uk/
Potarch Cafe and Restaurant, Ballogie – https://www.ballogie-estate.co.uk/potarch-cafe-restaurant
The Cow Shed Restaurant, Banchory – https://www.cowshedrestaurantbanchory.co.uk/
Finzean Farm Shop, Finzean – http://www.finzean.com/FarmShop.html
Park Shop, Drumoak – https://www.facebook.com/parkshopdrum/
Deeside Deli, Ballater – https://www.facebook.com/DeesideDeli/
Activity Providers and Guides
The Deeside Activity Park, Dess – Outdoor activity centre with farm shop & cafe – https://www.deesideactivitypark.com/
Hillgoers – Guided hill walks for all abilities, skills courses and navigation qualifications – https://www.hillgoers.com/
Cyclehighlands – The North East’s top bike shop, hire bikes, guided rides and workshop classes – https://www.cyclehighlands.com/
Ride in Peace Adventures – Mountain bike guide and skills coaching for all levels, adults and children – https://www.rideinpeaceadventures.co.uk/
Granite Adventures – Kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking guide – https://www.facebook.com/graniteadventures/
Macdui Bike Adventures – Guided tours complete with hire bikes, perfect for travelling visitors – https://www.macdui-bike-adventures.com/