The Auld Kirk

–Excellent location - show map
+50 photos
Scored 9.6
Rated exceptional

Free WiFi

10

About this property

This former church has been tastefully converted, enabling retention of the original features. Auld Kirk B&B 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 Nespresso coffee machine, homemade biscuits, an iron and an ironing boards, a hairdryer, a television and free Wi-Fi. There is also a dram of Royal Lochnagar whisky. 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 9.8 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Most popular facilities

  • Free parking
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Tea/coffee maker in all rooms
  • Bar

Property highlights

Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.8)

Breakfast info

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

  • FREE parking!

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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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
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free WiFi

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Guests who stayed here loved

Johanna
Switzerland Switzerland
“Very cozy bed and breakfast in a church.. Helen most wonderful host, gave us lots of information and delicious breakfast. We had a great time. Can highly reconmend.”
Lorna
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Excellent welcome and hotel like toiletries coffee maker etc”
Nissim
Israel Israel
“It's the first time i'm sleeping in a church... different experience. The place is lovely, unique, and very inviting. The hosts are very friendly, very good breakfast with fluffiest Scones I've had. Also, loved the touch of a whisky glass...”
Gordon
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Great welcome from the host who has a real passion and very keen to make your stay as good as it can be. Helped to find nice local restaurant as no restaurant in the property.”
Greg
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Breakfast was good. Good selection of food. Varied selection of food.Personal service appreciated and good. Able to take out food if not taken at breakfast which was good.”
Cordy
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Our hosts were welcoming , generous, and thoughtful,. Nothing was too much trouble A lovely room and a comfortable bed..Also a splendid .breakfast . A first class experience Could not recommend it highly enough”
Jane
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“Great location Unique Very comfortable Loved the personal touch and friendliness of staff And fab breakfast”
Lyn
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“The welcome we received on arrival was fantastic. Kev made us feel very welcome and gave us a lot of useful information about the area to make the most of our time in Ballater.”
Pierre
France France
“Very friendly and attentive staff. Freshly baked scones at breakfast were excellent!. Very comfortable accomodations.”
Caroline
United Kingdom United Kingdom
“The friendliness and welcome of the owners was really exceptional. The extra pastries provided at breakfast were so tasty. The location of the property is great, so close to the village centre and easy to find. Parking is on the street but there...”

Hosted by Kevin & Helen

9.9
Host review score
Kevin & Helen
Awarded Scotland's Best B&B of the Year 2025 by Prestige Hotel Awards and 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

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 - 2 years
Cot upon request
Free
5+ years
Extra bed upon request
£25 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