Heritage

One person who knows the ever-changing landscape of the hills, how the river bed lies through the months and where the wildlife is, better than most, is the ghillie. Roughly translating from Gaelic as an attendant, someone who looked after their employer and/or guests, today’s ghillie manages the wilderness and guides guests through it responsibly.

Ghillies Bar is a nod to the tradition of this role and the important part they play today in wildlife management, countryside maintenance and eco-tourism.

Menu

Local connections give our Head Chef access to game from HM The Queen’s estate at Balmoral. Fresh Scottish salmon also makes a seasonal appearance on our menus while our Scottish meats are farm-assured, while our steaks are traditionally matured for a minimum of 28 days to ensure maximum flavour, tenderness and quality.

Drinks

The Ghillies Bar has a really great selection of local bottled ales combined with guest ales on draft which change regularly with favourites from Inveralmond in Perth and the closer-to-home Royal Deeside Brewery.

With the Malt Whisky Trail nearby, The Ghillies Bar prides itself on its extensive malt whisky collection, with over 40 to choose from. Ask a member of the bar team for their recommendations.

Local Produce

Our dishes showcase the true taste of the Cairngorms. Alongside award-winning Gilmour Butchers, we showcase beef and game from the local butcher in Ballater – Sheridan who are located just around the corner from the Balmoral Arms. Seafood comes fresh from the North Sea and into the fishing ports of Aberdeen. While extra flavours are added with Pinewood Conservation Gin, distilled in the Cairngorms and whiskies aged in the area.