New discoveries closer to home.

(From Aberdeen Press & Journal)

Byline: sonja.cox

DESPITE living in the north-east for more than two years now, I am ashamed to say I have seen woefully little of the surrounding area, preferring instead to go further afield for my holidays.

This year, my dire financial situation led me to consider a weekend away somewhere closer to home and with that in mind, my partner and I opted for a trip to Royal Deeside -- right on our doorstep yet also a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Aberdeen.

Our base for the weekend was to be the Glen-Lui Hotel at Ballater. Set in glorious surroundings overlooking the local golf course, and the Cairngorms, we were delighted to find that our room boasted a four-poster bed. We dined in the hotel for our first evening, and were shown into the hotel's restaurant, overlooking the golf course and floodlit pine trees.

It was a wonderful view and we were delighted to see a red squirrel darting about in the surrounding forest area.

The …