Tarland (3 miles) is quite a small village but it is very well catered for with a grocery shop, a small supermarket, a hotel with bar and restaurant meals and a café. It is also home to a scenic 9 hole parkland golf course that welcomes visitors and offers trolley and buggy hire.

Just outside Tarland in the Drummy Woods are the Tarland Trails, 3 kilometres of mountain biking trails set out around the forest with something to suit all ages and abilities. At the Deeside Activity Park (8 miles) there are a range of outdoor pursuits to try out including fishing, quad biking, karting, 4x4 off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting and archery.

History enthusiasts will enjoy a guided tour of Craigievar Castle (5.5 miles), the pink castle that is said to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle. Also of nearby historical interest is Kildrummy Castle (13 miles) that dates all the way back to the 12th century. The model in the visitor centre shows it in its former glory and it is captivating to wander round picturing it as the magnificent stronghold it once was.

The Lecht (26 miles) and Glenshee (39 miles) ski resorts are both in easy reach if a day on the slopes beckons and the Cairngorms National Park (6 miles) is only a short drive away where a wealth of different activities can be taken part in.

For a day in the city Aberdeen (30 miles), the ‘Granite City’ is just under an hour’s drive away. As well as all the shops, pubs and eateries one might expect, Aberdeen has a delightful stretch of sandy beach. It is a popular spot for watersports with surfing, canoeing and paddle boarding all being available.