Banchory

Banchory is the largest town in the area and has a busy High Street with a number of hotels and restaurants including the Stag Hotel, Scott Skinners Bar and Restaurant, the Burnett Arms, and the Douglas Arms in the town centre. The shops include newsagents, sports shops and chemists. Since the 1970s, the town has grown steadily with a more rapid expansion since 2001. A large forested area 'the Hill of Banchory', owned by the Burnett family (owners of Crathes Castle), to the north east of the town has been replaced by a large housing estate and an influx of new residents. The Hill of Banchory primary school was opened in 2006 to cater for the increased population. Banchory is a tourist destination as the gateway to Royal Deeside.

The town lies on the A93, which follows the River Dee east to Aberdeen. Towards the centre of the town, the B974 heads south across the river to cross the Cairn o'Mount in Angus, whilst a little to the east, the A980 heads north to Alford in Strathdon. The next closest bridge across the Dee is a mile or two further downstream at Crathes, whilst it is several miles upstream to Potarch Bridge. Despite the town being a busy tourist destination, with lots of through traffic particularly in the summer, there is no easy option for bypassing it and so the traffic still has to pass through the main shopping area.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A93	Braemar	Deeside Tourist Route
A93	Aberdeen	Deeside Tourist Route
A957	Stonehaven	was B978
A980	Torphins	was B976
B974	Fettercairn
B976	Aboyne (B968)
B977	Echt, Airport
B9077	Aberdeen, Stonehaven (B979) avoiding low bridge	was A943