STIRRED from sleep by the gentle russling of trees, I ponder what my neighbours might have planned for the day.

That's the Queen by the way.

I'm staying at the Hilton Craigendarroch Hotel on Royal Deeside, which has been undergoing some major refurbishments.

It's not far from Balmoral Castle, where the Royals are busy unpacking their suitcases for their summer stacation.

And while there's still some work to be done, I'd say it's almost fit for a King.

Originally built by the Keiller family in 1891, the hotel offers 32 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments.

There are also self-catering lodges, set in the leafy surroundings of the estate, where you might find yourself sharing your breakfast with a red squirrel.

The hotel boasts a 55-foot swimming pool, fitness suits, a squash court, beauty spa and snooker room.

For the less energetic, there are plenty of lovely walks to escape the tourists, from relaxed rambles to lung-busting hill climbes, they are all easily accessible from nearby Ballater.

After all that exercise, you'll have worked up an appetite, so why not settle down in the Keiller Lounge, which serves a wide variety of bar meals.

I have my eye on the local catch, with chips, but am disappointed that they have run out of haddock at 8pm on a Friday night. And my chosen Chardonnay is also unavailable.

Instead I opt for a goats' cheese flatbread and a prawn Caeser salad, which is perfectly lovely and very reasonably priced. It does take a wee bit too long to arrive but I'll put that down to teething problems, while the refurbishment is still going on.

There's an added bonus when we are entertained by Dundee-born singer and guitarist Kevin Fraser, who has us singing along between mouthfuls.

Breakfast is in the new and beautifully decorated Keiller Brasserie. I opt for pancakes with maple syrup and a side order or scrambled eggs.

The pancakes may be the best I've ever tasted (sorry mum). Light, fluffy and just sweet enough. So good, we order the same for breakfast on the second morning.

On the second night we dine in the new, and tastefully furnished, Brasserie, where I opt for wild salmon with a cucumber relish and a lemon scone for starters, that tatses deliciously light and fresh, and halloumi and pear salad. My only criticism is that the cheese wasn't griddled quite as well as I would have liked but everything is delicous.

Pudding is a lemon brulee with rasberry sorbet and homemade shortbread, which rounds off a lovely weekend's stay.