Waking up to heavy skies and rain, I worry what it will
be like traveling in the car today and what we will be able to see.
We leave around 10am and drive up the A93 through the Cairngorms National Park from the inhabited green valley of Glenshee onto
the bleak desolate moors of Glenbeg where the snow gates at Spittal of Glenshee are regularly closed in winter. At the Cairnwell Pass, the road reaches its maximum altitude of 2199 feet above sea level, the highest public road in the UK.
After the ski resort, the road descends sharply and runs along Glen Clunie alongside the Clunie Water for
8 miles to Braemar, a pretty village 1112 feet above sea level, where the Braemar Gathering ('The Games') are
held on the first Saturday of September each year and traditionally attended by the Royal Family. What a stunning village,
with shops selling all types of clan tartans.
The mountains are awesome, and of course
covered in fast moving clouds and mist.
As we reach Braemar, as if welcome us, the sun comes out and we manage
to walk around. The air is so crisp and
clean, it is almost intoxicating.
We have coffee and a scone at this ancient hotel called
the Fife Arms, really ancient and rather
dull and old inside as well. Newly
renovated, but dull, yet full of character.
We then leave to try and drive past Balmoral Castle, (the
official holiday residence of the Queen and the Royal Family) although it is closed to the
tourists at this time of year, I just wanted to catch a glimpse. Unfortunately
the road bridge is closed for renovations as well.
We stop and walk up to Crathie Kirk,
which is the church that the Royal family go to on Christmas Day. So we have walked where The Queen has walked!
We then stop in a beautiful village called Ballater. This
is the closest town to Balmoral and there is evidence all over of the Royal
seal of approval, at the butcher and 'countrywear' shop, with big plaques
stating "By Royal Appointment" hanging outside the shops.
Beautiful place and I can just imagine one of the royals,
sneaking into the village for an incognito shopping experience. We manage to drive through 8 miles of back roads and get to the gates of Balmoral Castle, but alas!.. still no view of the castle.
We then travel through miles and miles of hills covered
in heather, fast running rivers and streams running alongside the road, and of
course the thousands of sheep, munching on the green, green grass.
Back home now and it has been a long, long day. I almost feel travelled-out !
Paul was an amazing driver, winding his way, Jensen
Button-like, for hours on end along the narrowest of country roads, bringing us back home safely.
Going to have a nice plate of soup and some toast. Paul finishing off the leftovers from last night of his
Scottish Haggis, washed down with a couple of drams of Scotch whisky. (I
don't even want to know what the ingredients of haggis are!)
So thanks for following our
holiday blog. Another weekend is over
and we are moving into the home stretch, almost.
12 more sleeps!
Xxx
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