The Banchory Fly: Community Magazine

21/02/2025

The grounds of Balmoral Castle are open to the public from 10:00 to 16:00 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until 23rd March. Admission is free during this period, and there is no need to pre-book tickets.

Enjoy a peaceful walk through the stunning grounds and gardens, where you can admire the castle’s exterior, framed by majestic conifer trees, and immerse yourself in the estate’s natural beauty and timeless charm.

Please note that access to the Castle itself is not available at this time, and the audio tour and mobility scooters will not be in operation. However, the Mews Gift Shop and the on-site restaurant are open for visitors, offering a range of curated collections and delicious food options to enjoy during your visit.

21/02/2025

Finzean Tea Room named as home to one of five 'best tearooms' in Scotland for 2025.

A new list of "five of the best tearooms in Scotland" has been published by The Times, with the newspaper rounding up the cosiest and most luxurious venues for afternoon tea in the country.

17/02/2025

🌿✨ Poetry has the power to heal, inspire, and bring people together. Whether it is about resilience, nature, or life’s simple moments, every voice has a story to tell.

In The Banchory Fly, we celebrate the creativity of our community by sharing poetry that reflects hope, strength, and the beauty of words.

If you have a poem waiting to be shared, we would love to read it. Send your submissions to [email protected] with the subject Poetry Corner Submission.

06/02/2025

From Tuesday, 1st April through to Sunday, 10th August, we invite you to explore the stunning grounds and gardens of Balmoral Castle. Open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, visitors can enjoy the beautiful transformations HM The King has brought to the estate, including the new Thistle maze, Celtic maze garden, and a range of carefully selected trees, shrubs, and topiary.

The 2025 exhibition in the Ballroom will also celebrate our gardens’ rich history, reflecting on over 170 years of Balmoral’s horticultural legacy. You’ll also get a special insight into HM King Charles III’s vision for the future of these magnificent grounds.

Whether you're wandering through the gardens, admiring the grandeur of the castle, or simply taking in the breathtaking natural beauty, Balmoral offers an unforgettable experience.

Ticket options include general admission, afternoon tea, and guided expedition tours.

🎟️ Visit www.balmoralcastle.com now to book your 2025 tickets.

06/02/2025

🌿✨Meet Banchory Community Trust! ✨🌿

You may have spotted our name recently and wondered - who are we? Well, we’re not new! For over 20 years, local volunteers have been working to improve Banchory for residents and visitors alike.

Previously known as Banchory and District Initiative, we’ve now refreshed our name and look to encourage even more people to get involved and bring forward ideas that can make a real difference.

🚀 Our ongoing projects include:
🏡 Studio 1 - a community hub
🥕 Banchory Farmers Market
🚑 Banchory First Responders
🌍 Deeside Climate Action Network & Zero Waste Deeside
🎶 River Dee Radio
🌹 Bellfield Rose Garden
💡 Christmas Lights & Switch-On
🥁 North of Scotland Pipe Band Championships
… and so many more!

Every one of these started as just an idea from someone in the community. Could your idea be next?

Let’s work together to make Banchory happier, healthier, greener, and more vibrant!

If you have a project in mind or want to get involved, pop into Studio One at Scott Skinner Square or drop us an email at [email protected].

💡 We featured Banchory Community Trust in the Winter Issue of The Banchory Fly!

To read the full article, follow this link:
https://www.paperturn-view.com/?pid=ODg8849304

05/02/2025

Aberdeenshire town centre health checks published


https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/news/2025/feb/aberdeenshire-town-centre-health-checks-published

05/02/2025

🤩 We’re in the News! 🤩

At i-Protech, we’ve just earned our ISO 9001 certification – and it’s all about YOU!

✅ Consistent quality – Every time, every product
✅ Better service – Because your satisfaction is our priority
✅ Continuous improvement – We're always getting better to serve you

Quality. Reliability. Trust.
That's what you can expect from us, every step of the way.

See some of the news articles here:
https://www.agcc.co.uk/news-article/i-protech-celebrates-iso-9001-accreditation

https://aberdeenbusiness.news/kintore-green-energy-firm-celebrates-iso-9001-accreditation/

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
Aberdeen Business News
i-Protech Green Energy

31/01/2025

Exciting News! 🌿✨

We’re thrilled to announce that our shop will be reopening on March 17th! 🎉 Even better, we’ll be open 7 days a week going forward, so you can visit us anytime that suits you.

We can’t wait to welcome you back with fresh produce, plants, and everything you love. See you soon! 🌱🍏

30/01/2025

✨ Deeside Wellbeing Collective! ✨

Founded by three passionate practitioners—Laura Ross of Banchory Yoga, Vikki Cleal of X-Hail Yoga & Sound, and Lynsey Birnie of Lyns Meditation, Reiki & Holistic Therapies - this inspiring space is designed to bring people together to support their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. 🌿💜

📍 Located in Scott Skinner Square, the studio offers:
🧘‍♀️ Yoga, pilates & meditation
💆 Reiki & holistic therapies
🌱 Free donation-based wellbeing sessions
👧 Special programmes for children & teens

Through a mix of weekly classes and one-off events, everyone is welcome, regardless of experience or background.

📅 Check out their timetable and learn more at www.deesidewellbeingcollective.co.uk

💬 Have you visited yet? Let us know what you think in the comments! 👇

30/01/2025

30/01/2025

‼️ Banchory Primary School Crossing - Good News ‼️

At the Marr Area Committee yesterday, Cllr Eileen Durno and I raised a Member Promoted Issue to highlight the need for a new crossing for Banchory Primary on Arbeadie Road.

Since the demise of the crossing patrollers, both Cllr Eileen Durno and myself were contacted by parents of pupils from the School & Nursery and Banchory Primary Parent Council asking for help in securing the implementation of a crossing expressing the urgency for doing so. We then worked with Banchory Primary Parent Council and Officers to bring this forward, expressing the need for the works for a new crossing to be carried out this year.

Unfortunately the need for this came about when the Council's Administration cut funding for crossing patrollers from their budget 2024/25 which left pupils & parents having to cross a busy road which is on a major bus route, just outside the school gate. The narrow pavement also compounds the situation. It should be noted that the programme for delivering crossings for 2024/25 had been set at this point and there were no formal infrastructure measures planned at any sites in Aberdeenshire following the withdrawal of school crossing patrollers. The Council only had resources to deliver six new crossings in the 2024/25 programme whilst working to the agreed budget.

Banchory Primary School is an enhanced provision school. The school and nursery have 502 pupils attending. The crossing is also used by pupils from Banchory Academy. The Banchory Vaccination Centre and the Forget-me-not support centre are also situated in close proximity. Children living in the area walk to school. Pupils also travel to school by car, and parents can park their cars at the British Legion, Ramsay Road and then walk their children to school, but they still must cross the busy Arbeadie Road.

An estimated date for completion was mentioned in the meeting as the autumn of this year, subject to any unknowns, delays and budget approvals. The Transport Safety Education Officer will visit the school to deliver a road safety assembly with a particular focus on using pedestrian crossings safely (dependent upon the schools agreement).

Whilst acknowledging that parents are responsible for their children’s safety, the Councillors listened and worked together collaboratively to address the matter to ensure that the children could travel safely to school.

We would like to thank the former crossing patroller, Mr. Carnegie for all his hard work in all weathers and care, ensuring that the pupils could walk, scoot and cycle to Banchory Primary School safely. We would also like to thank Banchory Primary School Parent Council, the parents and Officers who have helped us being this MPI forward.

A recording of and papers for the meeting can be found here: https://aberdeenshire.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=157&MId=7803&Ver=4 The MPI is Item 6.

27/01/2025

🌟 Discover the Spirit of Royal Deeside with Lost Loch Spirits! 🌟

Nestled in the heart of Royal Deeside, our distillery crafts unique, award-winning spirits inspired by the rich history and natural beauty that surrounds us. From our signature eeNoo Gin to the intriguing Murmichan absinthe, each bottle tells a story of tradition and innovation.

🥃 Join Us for an Unforgettable Experience!

Ever wondered about the art of distilling? Come and see what we do, meet the team, taste the spirits, and even try the magic of distilling for yourself. We offer micro-tours and tastings, as well as an award-winning Spirits School on-site. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or new to the world of spirits, there's something for everyone.

📅 Upcoming Events:

Tours & Tastings:
Explore our distillery, learn about our process, and enjoy guided tastings of our exceptional spirits.

Spirits School:
Dive deeper into the world of distilling with our hands-on classes. Perfect for a memorable day out, team event, or holiday experience. Lunch is included, as well as tastings of all our products. Learn more and sign up.

For more information, visit our website: https://lostlochspirits.com/

📍 Visit Us:
Lost Loch Spirits Ltd. Unit 7, Deeside Activity Park, Dess, Aboyne AB34 5BD

Cheers to new adventures and exceptional spirits! 🥂

25/01/2025

🌟 A Huge Thank You to Our Advertisers! 🌟

As we prepare for the Spring Issue of The Banchory Fly, I would like to say a big, heartfelt thank you to all our advertisers. Your support, creativity, and involvement are what make the magazine such a lively and treasured part of our community. 💙

Thank you for choosing The Fly to highlight your businesses, services, and stories.

📢 Calling New Advertisers!

If you’ve ever thought about promoting your business in The Banchory Fly, now is the perfect time!
The Spring Issue will be published at the end of February, and the cut-off date for advertising and advertorial content is 1st February.

This is your opportunity to connect with a dedicated and engaged local audience, while also being part of something that celebrates our amazing Deeside community.

📩 For more information or to secure your spot, please send me a message - I would be delighted to help!
📧 Or email me on [email protected] !

Advertisers featured in the current winter issue:




Archway Charity Shop - Banchory
Balmoral Castle
Banchory Health & Therapies Practice
Banchory Spinal Health
Barry Grant Property Services
Bon Accord Hypnotherapy
Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd
Deeside Wellbeing Collective
EllingtonMennie Kitchens & Cookware
Fiddes Architects
Frocksetc Dress Designer/Dressmaker/Dress Fabrics
Fountain Dental Group
Hammond Heating Solutions
Hillview Windows and Doors
i-Protech
Inchmarlo Golf Centre
JRK Motorhomes
Julian Barclay
Kippie
Kirkwood Homes
Lava Jewellery Design
Lost Loch Spirits
Mackinnons Solicitors
Milton Of Crathes
Northwood North East
Protect Mortgage Solutions
Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace LLP
Robert Gordon's College
Rotary Club of Banchory-Ternan
Speedwell Framing
Sunshine Nursery Torphins Ltd.
TaxAssist Accountants
TheImages.co.uk
The Seed Box Ltd
Woodend Sustainable Homes
Followers

23/01/2025

Storm Éowyn Warning for Scotland

Storm Éowyn has been described as one of the most intense storms to approach the UK in recent years, with severe weather warnings issued across the country.
Two yellow weather warnings are set to come into effect in the north-east later this week.

The storm is expected to bring conditions that could cause significant disruption, so it is crucial to stay informed and monitor updates.

Be prepared, take necessary precautions, and stay safe during this potentially severe weather event.












Photo by The Met Office

23/01/2025

We are delighted to announce that the grounds of Balmoral Castle will be re-opening to the public this Friday, 24th January.

From 24th January until 23rd March, the grounds will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (weather permitting). Admission is free of charge during this period, and there is no need to pre-book tickets.

Please note, however, that there will be no access to the Castle itself, and the audio tour and mobility scooters will not be available.

During your visit, you can enjoy a peaceful walk through the beautiful grounds and gardens, admire the exterior of the Castle, and take the opportunity to visit the Mews Gift Shop and Restaurant (open from 10:00 until 16:00).

We look forward to welcoming you back to Balmoral Castle!

22/01/2025

MuscleRemedy

💪 Ready to Feel Your Best? 🌟

Whether you're tackling aches and pains, aiming to boost your strength, or simply want to give your body the care it deserves, Muscle Remedy 2025 has got you covered! 👐

✨ We are specialises in:
✔️ Relieving muscle tension
✔️ Improving mobility
✔️ Helping you feel energised and at ease

🗓️ Book your session today and discover the remedy your muscles have been waiting for!

🌐 Visit our page for more information, tips, and updates!

Tag a friend who could use some muscle magic! 🫶💆‍♀️💆‍♂️

20/01/2025

📣 Join Us for the Next Banchory Lunch Link Networking Event!

📅 When: Wednesday, 5th February
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Where: Scott Skinners

Looking to connect with local professionals, share ideas, and grow your network? This is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded individuals in a friendly and relaxed setting.

👉 All details and tickets available here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1140875883479?aff=oddtdtcreator

Let’s make this a fantastic event - spread the word and bring along someone new!

20/01/2025

📜✨ Banchory Heritage Society Presents:

"Eisenhower in Scotland & His Visits to Deeside"

Join us for an insightful evening with W Stewart Wilson as we explore the fascinating connection between Eisenhower and our local history.

📍 Location: West Church, Banchory (entry via front door)
📅 Date: Monday, 27th January
⏰ Time: 7:15 PM for a 7:30 PM start
🎟️ Admission:
Members: Free
Non-members: £5 per meeting
Annual Membership: £10

Please note: No refreshments will be provided.

Don’t miss this chance to delve into an incredible chapter of history - mark your calendars and spread the word!