The Laurels

About the location

GARDENSTOWN

Banff 8 miles; Fraserburgh 17 miles; Aberdeen 32 miles; Elgin 43 miles.

The port village of Gardenstown is often linked with neighbouring Gamrie and Crovie as one community, and was founded in 1720 by Alexander Garden as a fishing village. Gardenstown borders a small sandy bay with stunning scenery flanking both sides. The village has a pub serving food all year and a restaurant, galleries and several tea rooms in season. A steep road leads you through the ancient, narrow and winding streets to the harbour where many small boats are moored. The neighbouring town of Banff boasts a relaxing sandy beach and a variety of fascinating architecture in contrasting styles, exemplified by Duff House, an impressive Georgian mansion open to visitors and home to paintings and artefacts from the National Galleries of Scotland. Banff and the surrounding area also have a good selection of shops, restaurants and hotels, which serve a fine selection of local sea foods, whilst nearby Pennan, a beautiful old smugglers village, was the location for the movie 'Local Hero'. The whole area is an ideal tourist destination, being on the North East Tourist Trail, with easy access to coastal paths and the Whisky and Castle Trails, as well as numerous golf courses, fishing, sailing, dolphin watching, surfing, climbing, great walking and of course, stunning sunsets and fabulous scenery. The Grampian and Cairngorm mountains are easily accessible for day excursions, and the North East of Scotland is protected from prevailing winds and has the driest Scottish climate with virtually no midges.