This former church has been tastefully converted, enabling retention of the original features. Auld Kirk Hotel is situated 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 whisky trail, is just over an hour’s drive away.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.7 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.7)

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 double bed
2 single beds
1 single bed
and
1 large double bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
9.8
Facilities
9.6
Cleanliness
9.7
Comfort
9.7
Value for money
9.1
Location
9.7
Free WiFi
9.9
High score for Ballater
Select topics to read reviews:

Guests who stayed here loved

  • Christopher
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    A lovely auld Kirk which makes for a relaxing stay while in Ballater! The owners, Kevin and Helen make you feel at home and provide top shelf service!
  • Jude
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Beautiful converted church tastefully done. Best breakfast ever.
  • Susan
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Room spacious, comfortable and clean. Cooked breakfast was amazing. Home baking was great and lovely touch. Owners helpful and friendly.
  • Brian
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Everything, what a lovely place to stay. We decided on an overnight stay a few months back, we have only stopped in the village in the passing so we decided to stay overnight. We were graciously welcomed to the premises by Helen who took the time...
  • Si3198
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Kev & Helen were exceptional hosts. We were met by Kev when we checked in and we had a great chat with him in the very comfy lounge. At breakfast Kev, Helen & Lisa couldn’t do enough to make sure we were well looked after, always on hand and...
  • Gordon
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Friendly owners, great breakfast, spotless good location.
  • Lesley
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Perfect hosts, couldn't be any more welcoming and friendly. The Auld Kirk is beautiful. The inside is immaculate, lovely bedrooms and amazing shower. Breakfast was over and above what you could ask for. Will definitely be back.
  • Lewis
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Fantastic . All home baking and great cooked plate
  • Richard
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Friendly hosts, great room, excellent breakfast. Great location if you're wanting to explore the south side of the cairngorms.
  • Laura
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Fantastic stay at the Auld Kirk. Great location , loved the quirkiness of it being an old church. Hosts Kevin & Helen were superb. Great touches like home baking to die for, a stained glass window and a wee dram in your room. Fab breakfast too....

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

Property surroundings

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

Most popular facilities
  • Free parking
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Tea/coffee maker in all rooms
  • Bar
Bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
  • Additional toilet
  • Bath or shower
  • Private bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Shower
Bedroom
  • Linen
  • Wardrobe or closet
View
  • City view
  • Landmark view
  • Mountain view
Outdoors
  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun terrace
  • Terrace
  • Garden
Kitchen
  • Coffee machine
  • Cleaning products
  • Electric kettle
Room Amenities
  • Socket near the bed
  • Clothes rack
Activities
  • Horse riding
    Additional charge
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
    Off-site
  • Fishing
    Additional charge
  • Golf course (within 3 km)
    Additional charge
Living Area
  • Seating Area
  • Desk
Media & Technology
  • Streaming service (like Netflix)
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Telephone
  • TV
Food & Drink
  • Wine/champagne
    Additional charge
  • Special diet menus (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 possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed).
  • Street parking
Services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Private check-in/check-out
  • Packed lunches
Reception services
  • Invoice provided
Entertainment and family services
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Board games/puzzles
Safety & security
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Smoke alarms
  • Key access
General
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Non-smoking throughout
  • 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 16:00 to 19:00
You'll need to let the property know in advance what time you'll arrive.
Check-out
From 07:30 to 10:30
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required option.
Children and beds

Child policies

Children of any age are welcome.

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

Cot and extra bed policies

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

Prices for cots and extra beds are not included in the total price, and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cots allowed is dependent on the option you choose. Please check your selected option for more information.

All cots and extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There is 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 must be quiet between 22:00 and 08:00.

The fine print
Need-to-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 in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

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

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

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

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

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

Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), please ensure that you are only booking this property following the local government guidelines of the destination, including but not limited to the purpose of travel, and maximum allowed group size.

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

License number: AB-S-P053

FAQs about The Auld Kirk

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

    • Cycling
    • Hiking
    • Fishing
    • Golf course (within 3 km)
    • Horse riding

  • The prices at The Auld Kirk may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates you select, hotel's policy etc.). See the prices by entering your dates.

  • Check-in at The Auld Kirk is from 16:00, and check-out is until 10:30.

  • Guests staying at The Auld Kirk can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 9.9).

    Breakfast option(s) include:

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

  • Room options at The Auld Kirk include:

    • Double
    • Twin
    • Family

  • The Auld Kirk is 250 yards from the centre of Ballater. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.