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North East 250 — Bow Fiddle Rock

Photo: Lucas Kendall (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Planning the North East 250

🛣️ 250 miles 🗓️ 3–5 days 📍 9 stages ♥ Save to my trip
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The North East 250 is the NC500's quieter, easier sibling: a 250-mile loop from Aberdeen through Royal Deeside, over the Snow Roads — the highest public road pass in Britain — into malt whisky country and along the Moray coast's fishing villages. Fewer campervans, more distilleries.

Three days covers it; five lets the whisky and the beaches breathe. Stays are listed against each stage below — Speyside beds book out during whisky festivals, so plan those weeks ahead.

The route

North East 250

🚦 Before you set off

Single-track roads and holiday traffic change fast — check conditions on the day.

Live incidents: Traffic Scotland ↗ Live traffic map ↗

⛽ Cheapest diesel along the route today: 192.7p — Asda, AB10 7QA (CMA open fuel price data)

Stage by stage

  1. 1

    Aberdeen

    The granite city — start with the beach esplanade and Footdee's fishing cottages.

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    0.1 mi away Premier Inn (Aberdeen City Centre) Hotels 0.2 mi away Rox Hotel Hotels 0.2 mi away Ibis Hotels
  2. 2

    Ballater

    Royal Deeside's prettiest village, with Balmoral just up the road.

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    0.1 mi away The Green Inn Hotels 0.1 mi away Glenaden Hotel Hotels 0.1 mi away Darroch View Cottages
  3. 3

    Braemar

    Highland games country; from here the Snow Roads climb properly.

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    0.1 mi away Callater Lodge Hotels 0.1 mi away Invercauld Arms Hotel Hotels 0.2 mi away Fife Arms Hotel Hotels
  4. 4

    Tomintoul

    The highest village in the Highlands, at the top of the Lecht pass.

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    0.3 mi away Drumurnie Cottages 0.3 mi away Richmond Arms Hotel Hotels 0.4 mi away Mountain View Cottages
  5. 5

    Dufftown

    The malt whisky capital — more distilleries per mile than anywhere on earth.

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    0.5 mi away Whisky Capital Inn Hotels 0.5 mi away Tannochbrae Hotels 0.5 mi away Fife Arms Hotel Hotels
  6. 6

    Elgin

    Ruined cathedral known as the Lantern of the North.

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    0.2 mi away Elgin Central Torr House Hotel Hotels 0.3 mi away The Sunninghill Hotels 0.3 mi away Mansefield Salon Hotels
  7. 7

    Cullen

    Home of Cullen skink — eat it here, under the viaduct arches.

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    0.1 mi away Dolphin Bay House Cottages 0.1 mi away Grant Arms Hotel Hotels 0.1 mi away Viaduct View Cottages
  8. 8

    Fraserburgh

    Lighthouse museum on the very corner of the coast.

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    0.1 mi away The Saltoun Inn Hotels 0.4 mi away Broadsea Cottage Cottages 1.3 mi away Findlay's Hotels
  9. 9

    Cruden Bay

    Slains Castle's clifftop ruin — Bram Stoker's inspiration for Dracula — then back to Aberdeen.

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    0.2 mi away Kilmarnock Arms Hotels 0.9 mi away Craighead Caravan Site Caravanning 4.4 mi away Buchan Braes Hotel Hotels

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Good to know

How long does the North East 250 take?
Around 3–5 days to do it justice — the stages on this page break the 250 miles into real days rather than a dash.
Should I book accommodation in advance?
Yes, especially May to September — beds along popular routes go early. Each stage lists places to stay nearby so you can book the whole trip before you set off.
Do I book through this site?
No — every listing links straight to the holiday operator and you book with them at their live price. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

More road trips

Directions ↗