The site where Banchory Lodge Hotel now stands has an ancient history. Around 1400 years ago St Ternan set up his monastry close to the site of the Hotel. The early Celtic Church was famous for the emphasis which it laid on hospitality – a tradition which continues today in the Banchory Lodge Hotel. Before the bridge over the River Dee was built in 1798 drovers, pedlars and chance travellers used the ford close to the Coble Heugh Inn. The ford was operated by the ferryman, the keeper of the coble, a large shallow boat.

In the early 1800s the Coble Heugh Inn was incorporated into a new mansion house and renamed Banchory Lodge. It was the home of General William Burnett brother of the Robert Burnett of Leys, 7th Baronet of Crathes. The General died unmarried in 1839 and the Scolty Tower was erected to his memory by his friends and tenants in 1842.


Thomas Bentinck was the last occupant of Banchory Lodge. In 1936 he converted the mansion house into a confortable hotel which for a short time during the Second World War served as an Officers`Mess for the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders stationed in Banchory. In 1951 the Hotel was sold to a company, Banchory Lodge Hotel Limited.


The present owner, Margaret Jaffray with her late husband Dugald, bought the hotel in 1966 and have skilfully preserved, improved and enlarged the original home into a traditional, comfortable country house hotel, continuously retaining the welcoming atmosphere for guests.