Located in the Cairngorm National Park,
Crathie is one of the towns at the heart of the Royal Deeside. You will find it about 50 miles west of
Aberdeen and it is right on A93 between the villages of
Ballater and
Braemar. It is the favourite vacation retreat of the Royal Family at
Balmoral Castle and the church in this town is where they attend the services when they are in residence.
The present church in Crathie is only about ¼mile from the castle. It was built in 1895 and overlooks the ruins of the original church that was built in the 14
th century. In the graveyard here, you can see the gravestone of Queen Victoria's personal servant, John Brown. From here you are also treated to stunning views across the River Dee.
Take a tour of the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, the only distillery that produces the Deeside single malt. The water source comes from the springs in the hills. Here you can see the workers making the ale and taste the fine results. You can also tour
Balmoral Castle, which is open to the public from March to August of each year. The scenery, wildlife and architecture of this estate is carefully preserved by the Royal Family so that generations of locals and visitors can enjoy it for many years to come. In the nearby hills, you can visit the memorial cairns where Prince Albert and some of his children are buried.
The village itself has a long history dating back to the time of the early saints. It is also one of the destination on the Castle Trail, not only because of
Balmoral Castle but because of its close proximity to Abergeldie Castle. This castle dates back to the 16
th century and the interior is in excellent condition.
The Cairngorm National Park contains some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and contains many opportunities for leisure activities and walks. There are all kinds of trails that will take you through parts of an ancient Caledonian pine forest and the abundance of wildlife here makes it a true paradise for naturalists. The Braemar Golf Club is the highest 18–hole golf course in
Scotland and it is split in two by the River Clunie making it a sight to see even if you don't want to tee off.
From hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and self–catering cottages, you won't have any difficulty finding accommodations to suit every taste and budget. There is a fine selection of restaurants and the shops have all kinds of souvenirs to help you refresh you memories of your visit to Crathie.
