Ballater (/ˈbælətər/, Scottish Gaelic: Bealadair) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains.

Situated at an elevation of 213 metres (699 feet), Ballater is a centre for hikers and known for its spring water, once said to cure scrofula.

The medieval pattern of development along this reach of the River Dee was influenced by the ancient trackways across the Grampian Mounth, which determined strategic locations of castles and other Deeside settlements of the Middle Ages.

[2] In the early 14th century, the area was part of the estates of the Knights of St John, but the settlement did not develop until around 1770; first as a spa resort to accommodate visitors to the Pannanich Mineral Well, then later upon the arrival of the railway in 1866 it was visited by many tourists taking advantage of the easier access thus afforded.

[8] In September 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the cortège bearing her coffin passed through the village, on its way to Edinburgh.

Like most of Scotland and the British Isles, Ballater experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters.

Its upland position means temperatures throughout the year are cooler than lower-lying areas, and snowfall more plentiful during winter months.

The old Ballater station, containing Queen Victoria's waiting room, was for many years a visitor centre with a replica royal carriage.

There are many well-mapped cycle routes from Ballater into the surrounding areas, including the Deeside Way and a number of popular mountain biking trails.