Hotels in Banff

Banff: Aberdeenshire's Georgian Harbour Town

Banff sits at the mouth of the River Deveron on Scotland's northeast coast, 47 miles north of Aberdeen. Founded as a royal burgh in 1163, the town preserves one of Scotland's most intact Georgian streetscapes, centred on Low Street and High Shore. Duff House, a William Adam baroque mansion completed in 1740 and now an outpost of the National Galleries of Scotland, anchors the southern edge of town and draws visitors year-round. The adjacent Banff Bridge, an 1799 seven-arch span over the Deveron, connects Banff to the twin town of Macduff across the water.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in Banff skews toward small guesthouses and independent hotels clustered near Boyndie Street and the harbour front. Golfers target the area for the Royal Tarlair course in Macduff and several Moray Firth links within a 20-mile radius. Anglers book well ahead for Deveron salmon season, which runs from February through October.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Stagecoach Buchan buses link Banff to Aberdeen in roughly 1 hour 45 minutes; no direct rail service exists.
• Best season: May–September for coastal walking along the Moray Coastal Trail, which passes through town.
• Duff House entry: Free admission for National Galleries members; standard ticket required for others.
• Currency: British pound sterling (GBP).