This former church has been tastefully converted, enabling retention of the original features. Auld Kirk Hotel is located in the heart of picturesque Royal Deeside. It features free Wi-Fi and free off-site parking. Breakfast is freshly cooked to order and made from local ingredients wherever possible, and Auld Kirk's chef has won numerous awards and accolades. Bedrooms are stylish and contemporary. The range of guest amenities in each room include a refreshment tray, an iron and an ironing boards, a hairdryer, a television and free Wi-Fi. The Royal residence of Balmoral castle is less than 8 miles away and Dufftown, part of the famous whiskey trail, is just over an hour’s drive away.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.8 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.8)

Breakfast Info

Full English/Irish, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free

FREE parking!


Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 full bed
2 twin beds
1 twin bed
and
1 queen bed
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Something went wrong – please try again later.
Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
9.8
Facilities
9.6
Cleanliness
9.8
Comfort
9.8
Value for money
9.3
Location
9.8
Free Wifi
10.0
High score for Ballater

Select topics to read reviews:

Guests who stayed here loved

  • Barbara
    Canada Canada
    Loved the wee town! Location was perfect. Gardens are beautiful.
  • Candi
    the United States the United States
    Hospitality and breakfast. Hosts had great suggestions about places to visit.
  • P
    Canada Canada
    Facilities great, owner very friendly and informative. However we thought it overpriced. Our friends & relations are quite familiar with Ballater concurred when we shared our thoughts.
  • Laureen
    the United States the United States
    There was so much to like here. The room was a nice size and comfortable. The breakfast was fantastic and they had excellent gluten free options. The location in Ballater was walking distance to everything. Ballater itself was lovely and so close...
  • Roger
    the United States the United States
    Spacious clean room. Unique accommodations. Great location, near town center. Easy free on street parking.
  • Elizabeth
    the United States the United States
    Location was excellent. Hosts were wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyable.
  • Judith
    the United States the United States
    Kevin and Helen run a very welcoming place. Great food comfortable rooms. Amazing shortbread and whiskey treat
  • Marco
    the United States the United States
    Lovely hosts, comfortable room, wonderful breakfast
  • Darcie
    the United States the United States
    This was just a lovely place to stay in such a beautiful little town. It was easy to find, the check in was easy and the owners were tremendous. Our rooms were fabulous. The breakfast was amazing and the owners were so helpful and gracious. They...
  • Leslie
    the United States the United States
    The very welcoming and helpful host and hostess. Helen’s blueberry scones! Little touches, such as a “wee dram” waiting in our room. The location. It was fun to see how the church has been adapted into a comfortable B&B.

Hosted by Kevin & Helen

9.8
9.8
Host Review Score
Host Review Score
Kevin & Helen
AA Bed & Breakfast of the Year for Scotland 2024, The Auld Kirk is a fine example of an early Victorian Scottish Free Church building that is set in the heart of Royal Deeside, within the Cairngorms National Park. Constructed from local granite, the Auld Kirk sits on the western edge of the historic village of Ballater, looking onto Craig en Darroch (the hill of Oaks), on the road towards Braemar. The Auld Kirk houses a comfortable and stylish coffee lounge that is popular with the local population and visitors alike. A great place to stop for a morning coffee, meet friends for a light lunch or linger over an indulgent afternoon tea. Fully licensed, our recently opened, fully stocked bar is a great place to relax with a beer or one of our fine selection of whiskies. The whole place was completely redecorated in early 2020 to give the place a bright and airy feel.
Owners Kevin & Helen bought The Auld Kirk in late 2018 and have undergone a programme of transformation to brighten place up and add a few stylish touches for guests to enjoy. A new bar with a wide selection of drinks is the latest addition to The Auld Kirk. Kevin & Helen look forward to welcoming guests both old and new to The Auld Kirk
Language spoken: English

Area info

Amenities of The Auld Kirk
Great facilities! Review score, 9.6

Most popular amenities

  • Free parking
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
  • Bar

Bathroom

  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
  • Guest bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Private bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Shower

Bedroom

  • Linens
  • Wardrobe or closet

View

  • City view
  • Landmark view
  • Mountain view

Outdoors

  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun deck
  • Terrace
  • Garden

Kitchen

  • Coffee machine
  • Cleaning products
  • Electric kettle

Room Amenities

  • Socket near the bed
  • Clothes rack

Activities

  • Horseback riding
    Additional charge
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
    Off-site
  • Fishing
    Additional charge
  • Golf course (within 2 miles)
    Additional charge

Living Area

  • Sitting area
  • Desk

Media & Technology

  • Streaming service (like Netflix)
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Telephone
  • TV

Food & Drink

  • Wine/Champagne
    Additional charge
  • Special diet meals (on request)
  • Bar
  • Tea/Coffee maker

Internet
Good free Wifi 22 Mbps. Suitable for streaming HD content and making video calls. Speed test carried out by the host.

Parking
Free public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed).

  • Street parking

Services

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Private check-in/out
  • Packed lunches

Front Desk Services

  • Invoice provided

Entertainment & Family Services

  • Board games/Puzzles
  • Board games/puzzles

Safety & security

  • Fire extinguishers
  • Smoke alarms
  • Key access

General

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Smoke-free property
  • Heating
  • Carpeted
  • Fan
  • Family rooms
  • Ironing facilities
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Iron

Accessibility

  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

Languages Spoken

  • English

House rules
The Auld Kirk takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in
From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0+ years
Extra bed upon request
£15 per person, per night

Prices for cribs and extra beds aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There's no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Accepted payment methods
VisaMastercardMaestroUnionPay credit cardCash
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Quiet hours
Guests need be quiet between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM.

The fine print
Must-know information for guests at this property

Payment Information:

Please note that the Auld Kirk Hotel does not accept American Express or Diners Club Cards.

An additional cot can be provided in the Family Room for GBP 10 per stay.

Please inform The Auld Kirk of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Quiet hours are between 22:00:00 and 08:00:00.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property currently isn't accepting guests from certain countries on dates where such guidelines exist.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property may request additional documentation from guests to validate identity, travel itinerary, and other relevant info on dates where such guidelines exist.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), this property adheres to strict physical distancing measures.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), make sure you're booking this property in accordance with the destination's local government guidelines, including (but not limited to) the purpose of travel and maximum group size.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), wearing a face mask is mandatory in all indoor common areas.

License number: AB-S-P053

FAQs about The Auld Kirk

  • Room options at The Auld Kirk include:

    • Double
    • Twin
    • Family
  • The Auld Kirk is 800 feet from the center of Ballater. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

  • The Auld Kirk offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Cycling
    • Hiking
    • Fishing
    • Golf course (within 2 miles)
    • Horseback riding
  • Guests staying at The Auld Kirk can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 9.8).

    Breakfast option(s) include:

    • Full English/Irish
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-free
  • The prices at The Auld Kirk may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • Check-in at The Auld Kirk is from 4:00 PM, and check-out is until 10:30 AM.