WHO WE ARE
Howe: A hill; the hollow of a hill
Howe of Torbeg is a family business, owned & run by Iain & Nicole Gildea. Come and share our corner of the National Park!
Our ethos is simplicity, time to unplug and unwind & time in the great outdoors - and our site reflects this. Spend time in nature with the comforts of a cosy Glamping pod.
Our small site allows our visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms and access all it has to offer, without being crowded. A great base for exploring the local area or further afield.....or just a pleasant place to sit and while away a few days.
You'll find more detailed information about the Pods & Hut on our Accommodation page. Just call or email us if you're not sure which accommodation will work best for you.
PARKING
There is car parking on site, and you will be allocated a space on booking. Please note that we operate a small site. If there is more than 1 vehicle per pod please let us know when booking – alternative parking arrangements are available for extra cars just a short walk from the site.
USEFUL LINKS
ON-SITE FACILITIES
The Wash House is our fully heated shower block, with 2 self contained shower rooms, each with low flush loo and sink. Our showers are gas powered, providing lots of lovely hot water on demand. Two covered outside sinks are available for washing up, also with free hot water.
Use one of our Kadai fire bowls or your own trusty camping stove for your cooking. Logs & charcoal are available to purchase onsite.
We also have an indoor wood burning oven in our shared log cabin, The Snug, as well as dining table & chairs, for cooler days and Winter Glamping. This can be a good option for group breakfasts as well. If you want to save on luggage, we have camping cookware and dining sets you can borrow. Please note that we do not have any fridge facilities on site, so in warm weather bring a cool box!
For topping up your provisions Ballater is less than a 5 minute drive away and has an excellent butcher, a bakery, and a good sized
Co-Op. Ballater Farmer's Market takes place in the village on the last Saturday of every month April - November.
If you fancy eating out, Ballater also has a great choice of local cafes & restaurants – too many to list here! You can find a full list of all of the options in the Snug.
We also have a small office & shop onsite, which drinks, midge repellent, firewood & sundries. The Snug has a stash of games to borrow and a bookshelf for days when you just want to chill in your pod or the weather isn’t cooperating with your BBQ plans.
THINGS TO DO
Walking, biking, bird watching, castle spotting, highland games, tea drinking, cake eating, shopping, whisky drinking, wild swimming...there is so much to do in the local area if you want to get out & about.
Royal Deeside is a walker’s paradise, for both leisurely strolls and all out hikes. The area around Howe of Torbeg is criss crossed with networks of paths and Landrover tracks so there is plenty of the beautiful National Park to explore on foot by simply walking out from your pod.
Around Howe of Torbeg, Glenlivet, Muir of Dinnet and Invercauld Estates all have well maintained hikes and trails. We’re also perfectly positioned for those looking to tackle Munros such as the stunning Lochnagar, and nearby Corbetts Morven and Brown Cow Hill.
Loch Muick, Loch Kinord, Linn O’Dee & the Deeside Way are some of our easy-to-access fave walks and way-marked trails.
And of course the rest of the National Park is within easy reach!
Royal Deeside offers castles and distilleries aplenty with many in easy reach of Howe of Torbeg, including Craigievar Castle, Braemar Castle, and of course Balmoral - which is open to the public from April - July each year. Royal Lochnagar Distillery is close by. Fettercairn Distillery (one of Scotland's oldest), Tomintoul and Glenlivet are all short scenic drives away.
Great family days out include Deeside Activity Park, Strathdon Ranch, Grampian Transport Musuem and Belwade Horse Sanctuary. Or why not book a visit with a Shetland Pony? There are so many options; we're also happy to advise when you're here.
There is a wealth of road and mountain biking in easy reach of Howe of Torbeg. A massive network of tracks and paths provide endless opportunities to the mountain biker seeking self-guided routes on natural trails.
There is plenty of family friendly biking too. The Deeside Way in particular, starting in Ballater, provides an enjoyable off-road cycle track along an old railway line, with tearooms and views of the River Dee enroute. There are two bike shops in Ballater who hire bikes and kit, organise family bike tours, service bikes and can advise on trails.
Ballater Highland Games takes place on the second Thursday in August each year. Ballater Victoria Week takes place throughout the second week in August with all kinds of events, including a duck race and a soapbox derby, taking place in the village. Ballater Winter Festival takes place the last weekend in November.