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Banff is a small fishing port in Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland. It stands on the west bank of the mouth of the River Deveron, with the village of Macduff on the east bank; in 2022 each had a population of about 4000. The main reason to visit is the scenic coastline, dotted with little coves and harbours, and for Duff House which is nowadays a branch of the National Galleries of Scotland.
Sir George Steven (1829-1921), founder president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, was born in Dufftown in Aberdeenshire, and named Banff, Alberta and Banff National Park after this Scottish town. The name "Banff" means a stream, or a holy woman, or a piglet... they've no idea frankly.
Get in
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By road the usual approach from the south is via Aberdeen, reached by M90 / A90. The direct route is then A947 cross-country. A scenic coastal route is to stay on A90 to Fraserburgh then take A98 west to Banff. You can also approach via Inverness: follow A96 Aberdeen road to Fochabers roundabout then A98 east to Banff.
Stagecoach North Scotland Bus 35 / X35 runs from Aberdeen to Macduff and Banff, taking two hours via Dyce (for airport), Fyvie and Turiff. They're every 30 min M-F, hourly Sa and two-hourly on Sunday. Bus 35 continues west to Portsoy and Elgin.
Watermill Bus 273 runs every two hours M-Sa from Gardenstown to Macduff and Banff, taking 30 min. Bus 271 runs twice M-F from Fraserburgh.
Banff lost its railway in 1964. The nearest stations are Huntly and Keith but these lack onward public transport; Elgin is a better option. These stations are all on the line between Aberdeen and Inverness, with trains each way every two hours.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Buses 35 and 273 link Banff and Macduff.
Taxi firms are B&G (+44 7710 589626) and Glendeveron (+44 7388 868894).
See
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- Banff town centre has many attractive 18th- and 19th-century buildings.
- 1 St Mary's Church on High Shore was built in 1790. It's set in the graveyard of its predecessor of 1471, with elaborate monuments.
- 2 Museum of Banff, High St, Banff AB45 1AE. Th-Sa 10:30AM-1PM. Small museum founded in 1828, housed in the library which was built in 1902. Exhibits include the burgh cross dating from the 1400s and a claymore from the early 1300s. Free.
- 3 Duff House, Banff AB45 3SX, ☏ +44 1261 818181. Apr-Oct Th-Su 10AM-1PM, 2-4:30PM, Nov-Mar F-Su 10AM-noon, 1-3:30PM. Magnificent house designed by William Adam in 1735, and now housing artwork from the National Galleries of Scotland. Adult £11, child £6.50, conc £9.
- Temple of Venus is a rotunda monument on the hill west of the river bridge. It was built in the 1740s by Adam.
- 4 Macduff Marine Aquarium, 11 High Shore, Macduff AB44 1SL, ☏ +44 1261 455775. Closed until July 2026. Small but absorbing display of Scottish marine life.
- 5 Old Kirk of Boyndie or St Brandon’s remains only as a couple of walls, but is set within an atmospheric early modern graveyard.
- 6 Whitehills is another small fishing village 3 miles west of Banff. The old harbour and centre are attractive, pity about the modern sprawl around it.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Banff Castle, Castle St AB45 1DL. A mansion house designed by architect John Adam, built in 1750, now used as a community arts venue. Its 12th-century predecessor was demolished and only a few scraps remain.
- Beaches: the sandy beach is Inverboyndie a mile west of Banff. East from Macduff is a series of little rocky coves and groynes.
- Football: Deveronvale FC play soccer in Highland League, the fifth tier, at Princess Royal Park.
- Golf: Duff House Royal GC is in the grounds of Duff House, white tees 6043 yards, par 68.
- Royal Tarlair GC is east side of Macduff, white tees 5897 yards, par 71.
- Cornhill Highland Games are held on Cornhill playing fields 8 miles southwest of Banff. The next are Sa 6 June 2026.
Buy
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- 1 Co-op Food, Bridge Rd, Banff AB45 1HE. Daily 7AM-10PM. By the river bridge so it's also reasonably handy for Macduff.
- The Spotty Bag Shop, 13 Old Market Place, Banff AB45 1GE (between Co-op and Tesco), ☏ +44 1261 815623. Daily 9AM-6PM. Discount shop, plus café open to 3PM.
- Tesco Metro, Carmelite St, Banff AB45 1AF. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-8PM. Small supermarket.
- Scotmid is on Duff St (B9026) at the south edge of Macduff, open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-10PM.
- Farmers Market is held last Saturday of the month 10AM-1PM in Macduff Primary School.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- Macduff has a cluster of fish & chips takeaways, and Knowes Hotel restaurant.
- Banff has Bridgeview, Indian Garden and Banff Gourmet.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- In Banff are Market Arms, Castle Bar and Railway Inn.
- In Macduff is The Old Moray.
- Macduff Distillery produces malt whisky. No tours.
Sleep
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- 1 Banff Links Caravan Park, Inverboyndie, Banff AB45 2JJ, ☏ +44 1261 812228. Clean peaceful site on the beach, open Apr-Oct. Tent or tourer pitch £37.
- Carmelite House is at 30 Low St, B&B double £100.
- Trinity Manse is at 21 Castle St, B&B double £140.
- Castle View is at 27 Castle St.
- 2 Banff Springs Hotel, Golden Knowes Road, Banff AB45 2JE, ☏ +44 1261 812881. Slick comfy modern hotel with 36 rooms and restaurant. B&B double £140.
- 3 Fife Lodge Hotel, Sandyhill Rd, Banff AB45 1BE, ☏ +44 1261 812436. Comfy friendly place, good value for money. B&B double £120.
- 4 Knowes Hotel, 43 Market St, Macduff AB44 1LL, ☏ +44 1261 458000. Bright place with good restaurant in an 1870s schoolhouse, the rooms are in a new extension. B&B double £160.
Connect
[edit | edit source]As of May 2026 Banff, Macduff and their approach roads have 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.
Go next
[edit | edit source]- West to the attractive small port of Portsoy, the mix of airborne defence and hippiedom that is Lossiemouth, and Elgin which has no marbles but a much-battered cathedral.
- East is another attractive harbour at Gardenstown, and the busy fishing port of Fraserburgh.
- South to Methlick and Huntly for a collection of historic and prehistoric sights.
| Routes through Banff |
Cairngorms ← Keith (junction  ) ← | SW  NE | → ENDS AT  between Portsoy and Banff |