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The Tours look great...Your site was the best all round site I found during my search.
"- Marisa Herring, New Braunfels, Texas, USA
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The sheer amount of information that I got from Secret Scotland was incredible! They gave us everything from directions to photo ops to the best ice cream places, and they even found the closest grocery store to our timeshare.
"- Keri Salyards, Review on Facebook
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I am delighted with my purchase of your Scenic Scotland 7 days tour, wish that I had found your website sooner. I would have saved many hours of uneducated web surfing and comparisons.
"- Dr. Jacinta Meharchand, Toronto, Canada.
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Would not have managed without Mike and Aurelia. Not a bad b&b or pub or restaurant and the directions spot on!
"- Spike Kennedy, Review on Facebook
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Over 100 pages with hundreds of links. It's an entire guide book! I truly am without words. I was expecting maybe 5-6 pages for each week. I have to say that I feel very, very guilty at the small amount we paid for the wealth of information you provided.
"- Deborah, St Louis, Missouri. Read Deborah's Blog
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Truly exceeded our expectations. Their guidance through the 'roundabouts' and exact directions let us enjoy the landscape instead of being glued to a map.
"- Cathy Francis, Review on Facebook
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Would recommend this website to anyone who is travelling to Scotland
"- Vyvette Crompton on www.ExtraMileScotland.co.uk
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We went to many of your suggested pubs and heard some absolutely incredible musicians. The B&Bs were all really nice, and your dining recommendations were just superb. Thank you again!
"- Lisa Emenheiser Sarratt, Review on Facebook
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Your packet of information was so complete it was amazing. The information you gave not only included things to see and directions but you included the postal codes for our Garmin. How do you think of everything?
"- Connie Brooks-Werner, Review on Facebook
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| Address: | Balmoral, Ballater, AB35 5TB |
| Operated by: | Royal Residences |
| Opening Hours: | 1st April until 31st July, 10 am to 5 pm (last admission 4pm) |
| Admission: | £ 9 adult, £ 8 senior, £ 5 children, Family £ 25 |
| Parking: | Yes |
| Languages: | Audioguides in English, French, German, Italian (£5 refundable deposit) |
| Accessibility: | Yes |
| Toilets: | Yes, also disabled toilets |
| Shop: | Yes |
| Cafe/Restaurant: | Yes |
Balmoral Estate has a very appealing location amongst the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside, and it is easy to understand why it is a favourite place of the Royals. Purchased by Prince Albert in 1852 for Queen Victoria, the Estate has been the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family ever since.
The Castle itself has an interesting story, as it is not the original building that Prince Albert bought. It was decided that the old building was not adequate for the Royal Family’s needs so another one was built in the grounds nearby. The process took 4 years and the new Castle was completed in 1856. The old building was demolished and a commemorative stone marks the location of its front door.
Balmoral is a key attraction in Scotland, however we find it disappointing as the Castle itself is not accessible to the public apart from the Ballroom, which has been converted into a constant exhibition displaying pictures of the other rooms in the Castle. The grounds are extensive and beautiful, and the stables have a collection of Royal carriages and cars. There is an excellent tearoom and shop, but the lack of access to the Castle, which you came to visit, is a frustration.
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