The Royal Deeside

This area is beautiful, partly because we go from the mountains and rivers out to the sea! We start out from Aberlour and head to Tomintoul and Cockbridge along parts of the old military road on our way to Royal Deeside – which, not surprisingly, is along the River Dee.

The River Dee...quite pastoral, here.

The area is called the Royal Deeside, not surprisingly, because since Queen Victoria's time, the Royal Family have spent time here.  We took in the Bell Stane (a cool, half-buried rock with a strange history that you would not look at twice if you were to walk past it - yet it rings like a bell when you strike it with another rock). Later we saw the picturesque Corgarff Castle with its star shaped wall. 

Corgarff Castle with its star shaped wall

We visited the Crathie Kirk (which is the place of worship for the Royal Family when they’re in the neighborhood). From there we headed to the coast, from Portsoy and westward along the Moray Coastal Trail and visited another of Scotland's ancient stately homes.

Sunset and a perfect sky - a very welcome evening on the Moray Coast

Another day so full of wonder that I kept forgetting to take pictures.  I hope you remember better when you get there!

We ended up the day at David's and his lovely wife Heather’s home for a dinner that can only be described as an event! Heather is a fantastic hostess and I am thrilled that she’s invited us to share traditional Scottish hospitality. This will be a meal that you’ll savor for a long time!