This is the
principal town in the east side of the Cairngorm National Park.
Braemar sits on the river Clunie and is a major centre for
outdoor activities including fishing, walking, hill walking,
trekking, and skiing.
The Braemar Gathering whose patron is the Queen is a very popular event which draws visitors from many parts of the globe. Many of the athletes and contestants are also from the global village. As such accommodation should be booked well in advance to
avoid disappointment.The games are normaly held in the fist weekend of September.
The town
has probably become famous because of the proximity to the royal
residence of Balmoral Castle. However the beauty of the area is
unrivalled anywhere else in the eastern highlands of Scotland
and attracts visitors from all over the world. If you love the
great outdoors, you will love Braemar.
The whole area is not only
stunning but also brimming with wildlife from eagles to deer and
many much rarer species such as black grouse and ptarmigan.
There are
short walks as well as gruelling long distance mountain walks
including the famous Lairaig Ghru. This is a mountain pass which
runs from here to the west cairngorms in the vicinity of Loch
Morlich near Aviemore. Not for the faint hearted and should
never be attempted at any time of year without appropriate maps
and equipment. It reaches an elevation of around 865 metres and
it is not unusual for there to be snow showers in the early
summer months.
There
are many accommodation providers in the area catering for
visitors all year round, from hotels to guest houses, bed and
breakfast and self catering establishments. There are also
restaurants and shops.
Braemar is surrounded by
mountains and is therefore a good base to expore the many
Munroes and other mountains and paths. There is also the
fantastic Mar Lodge to be visited as well as many other sites to
see.
