Ballater is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains. Located at an altitude of 213 m (700 feet), Ballater is a centre for walkers as well as known for its sparkling water, once claimed to cure scrofula. It is residence to greater than 1500 occupants. The medieval pattern of development along this reach of the River Dee was affected by the ancient trackways across the Grampian Mounth, which established strategic areas of castles and also various other Deeside settlements of the Middle Ages. In the early 14th century, the area was part of the estates of the Knights of St John, however the negotiation did not create up until around 1770; first as a day spa turn to fit site visitors to the Pananich Mineral Well, then later on upon the arrival of the train in 1866 it was seen by numerous visitors making use of the much easier accessibility thus managed. Ballater train station was enclosed 1966 however remains in operation as a site visitor centre with an exhibit tape-recording the village's royal connection. Several buildings date from the Victorian era and also the centre of the town is a conservation area. The old site visitor centre was substantially harmed by fire in May 2015 but has consequently been brought back and resumed.
