Launched in 2017 the North East 250 (NE250) route is likely to become as famous and as popular as it's larger brothers, the NC500 and SWC300. It delivers equal amounts of great landscapes, stunning coastal views and great roads as it's siblings along with historic sites and the whisky trail!
The beauty of the North East 250 being a circular route, is that you can start it from anywhere and travel in any direction. This route happens to start from just north of Aberdeen and travels in an anti-clockwise direction and with an early start it can be completed in one day. I would suggest at least two days with an overnight stop at the start of the whisky trail in the Speyside town of Rothes. There are no less than 4 distilleries in this town making it the ideal stop off for any whisky lover. I have included a link to an hotel in Rothes below this review. Taking two days to enjoy this route allows you to visit some if not all of the many attractions that I have highlighted.

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Day 1.

Starting from just north of Aberdeen the route soon passes the Forvie National Nature Reserve. With some of the largest sand dunes in Britain, Forvie is one of Scotland's most dramatic stretches of coast. The mud flats of the Ythan Estuary provide a fast food refueling stop for many passing birds and the mouth of the estuary is a year-round haul out for seals. The wind and the tide are in charge here, and it's a great place to blow the cobwebs away with the chance of seeing some spectacular wildlife.
New Slains Castle and the Bullers of Buchan RPs 4 & 5 are the next places to stop for a photo. The ruins of the clifftop castle that was constructed in 1597 by the Earl of Erroll may soon be converted to luxury apartments, so any photo taken now will become history itself! The Bullers of Buchan by contrast is a natural feature. The Bullers of Buchan is a collapsed sea cave forming an almost circular chasm (the “pot”) some 30 metres (100 feet) deep, where the ocean rushes in through a natural archway. The cliff scenery here is spectacular and seabirds of many species such as Puffins, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills proliferate during the spring and summer, when wild flowers including campion, heather and orchids colour the cliff tops.
The remains of Boddam Castle can be seen on the right as you approach Buchan Ness Lighthouse at RP 6. The lighthouse had a lucky escape during the Second World War, a drifting mine washed ashore and exploded 50 yards south of the station. No one was injured and the material damage consisted of 3 lantern panes cracked and 12 other glass panes broken in the tower.
You can learn more about this and other lighthouses by visiting the Scottish Lighthouse Museum at RP 10.
Next, you will have the opportunity to visit perhaps the most famous Scottish phone box, situated in the tiny fishing village of Pennan RP 13. Visitors come to this wee village for one thing – the cult Scottish film about an oil company trying to buy an Aberdeenshire Village. Lined with washing poles, a traditional hotel, and a harbour, you can see why Pennan was chosen to represent the a-typical Scottish seaside village in the film Local Hero. The red phone box was actually a prop for the movie and was removed after filming. An outcry led to the phone box being returned – although it is in a slightly different location.
The road along the Moray firth is lined on one side with fields of barley for the whisky industry and the glistening sea on the other. If you are lucky you may spot dolphins or porpoise or even a whale. If you like nature, you may want to visit the Marine Aquarium at MacDuff. The Moray Firth is a haven for wildlife and at Macduff Marine Aquarium you will come face to face with all kinds of sea creatures that live beneath the steely blue Moray Firth waters.
At Portknockie RP 16, you may want to grab a photo of Bow Fiddle Rock. The rock takes the form of a long, sloping stack (the 'Fiddle') joined to a second small stack by an arch (the 'Bow'); it also looks quite like a sinking ship!
RP 20 is at the Spey Bay Dolphin Centre, here you can have a coffee stop and as well as spotting dolphins at the mouth of the river Spey, you can tour the Tugnet Icehouse. See and touch the fantastic collection of huge whale bones from the local area. Discover the history of salmon fishing and the importance of the UK’s largest surviving icehouse.
The route heads inland now following the river Spey (whiskey river) to the town of Rothes where those that choose an overnight stop will enjoy the hospitality of the Seafield Arms Hotel.

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Day 2.

Just a few minutes further on from the hotel is the Speyside Cooperage at RP 24. Learn about the art of making whisky casks in the only working cooperage in the UK where you can experience the ancient art of coopering, you can have a coffee here too.
There are many castles to see on this route and none more so splendid as Ballindalloch Castle at RP 25. The castle has been in single ownership of the Macpherson-Grant family since it was finished in 1546. They have their own distillery too!
A little further on and you can visit the Glenlivet Distillery. The Glenlivet Distillery sits in a wild and remote glen, its history laced with drama and intrigue.
You will pass the Tamnavulin Distillery and end the whisky trail section of this route at Tomintoul. The desire to control illegal distilling may have been part of the motive for building Tomintoul, but legal distilling has certainly played a central part in its economy ever since. In 1982 a third of the area's male workforce was employed in distilleries, of which there were 25 in production within 20 miles of Tomintoul. There are probably at least as many in production today, and this remains an enormously important industry to the area.
The route now heads deeper into the Cairngorms National Park and passing the Lecht Ski Centre indicates that you have been climbing. You will pass over the River Don at RP 32 and because of its snaking course you will cross it again two more times within the next 2.5 miles. You will encounter it again at the end of this route as you cross it just before it reaches the sea at Aberdeen after a course of 82 miles (132 km).
I have never ridden over a steeper bridge than at RP 34. the Gairnsheil Bridge across the River Gairn. Long vehicles are advised to avoid it because of bottoming out, the top is scarred with the marks of those who did not heed the warning!
The hillsides are scared too, they have a patchwork of marks indicating where the moorland heather is burned off to encourage new green shoots for the famous red grouse to feed on. The red grouse is mainly found in Scotland and Northern England. Fast-flying, it can move at up to 70 mph, highly valued as a very testing target and young birds in particular being considered a table delicacy.
You will join the magnificent valley of the River Dee at RP 35. Rising high in the Cairngorm Mountains and running east to its mouth at Aberdeen the river flows through some of Scotland's finest scenery. The route turns right here towards Braemar but you will be returning to pass Balmoral after a 35 mile (56 km) excursion into the heart of the Cairngorms.
Just before reaching the village of Braemar at RP 36, you can glimpse a view of Braemar Castle along it's drive. The village itself acts as the eastern gateway to the Cairngorm Mountains. Braemar is surrounded by spectacular highland scenery and has welcomed travellers and visitors, from cattle drovers to Kings and Queens, throughout its long and colourful history.
Braemar is home to the world famous Braemar Gathering held annually on the first Saturday in September and is now also host to a Junior Highland Games in July. Braemar Castle, Kindrochit Castle and Mar Lodge are open to the public and there are a variety of shops and restaurants in the village, including a Visitor Information Centre.
From here the route follows Clunie Water through the spectacular Clunie Glen (Glen. Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands). Vast heather hillsides with their patchwork jackets on and a real feeling of remoteness as you travel one of Scotland's best roads.
The Glenshee Ski Centre acts as a terminus for this section of the route. There is a good cafe here and this makes an ideal lunch spot for those on a 2 day tour. The best part about this being the terminus is; you get to ride back along the same road in the opposite direction, always a good thing to do on great roads as the vistas are always different.
Back to Royal Deeside and you have a chance to visit Balmoral Castle at RP 40. In the shadow of Lochnagar mountain, lies royal Balmoral Castle, summer home of the Royal Family, hence the name Royal Deeside. Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848. In the autumn of 1842, two and a half years after her marriage to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria paid her first visit to Scotland. They were so struck with the Highlands that they resolved to return. A further visit to Perthshire and then Ardverikie encouraged them to seize the opportunity to purchase Balmoral.
The route now heads east following the River Dee all the way back to Aberdeen. Through forests and countryside on the delightful A93.