The village of Braemar lies on Royal Deeside, close to the confluence of the River Clunie, with its more famous neighbour the Dee. Fifty miles from Aberdeen, it is the main settlement serving the upper reaches of the Dee and also the ski centre at Glenshee, offering a range of tourist accommodation. It is also the last significant stopping place on several of the main walking routes northwards through the Cairngorm mountains.
Braemar has a long and often violent history, although nowadays it’s a place for getting in some peace and quiet between the many recreational activities on offer. There is plenty of sightseeing along nearby Royal Deeside, though the village itself is less a place for formal sightseeing than for accessing and enjoying the surrounding countryside – red squirrels and deer can be seen even in the woods close to the village centre.
Braemar Castle
Built in 1628 by the Earls of Mar, Braemar Castle was burned during the Jacobite rebellions and, later rebuilt with added defences, then passed into the hands of the Farquharson family. Standing in a commanding location on the river Dee less than half a mile east of the village, the castle has been leased by the Farquharsons to the local community, and is open to the public.