For the former M/S Braemar, see M/S Regina Baltica. For the cruise ship, see Braemar (ship) For the Braemar Community in Virginia, see Braemar Community Association.

Braemar is a village in Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Locality

Braemar is approached from the South on the A93 from Glen Clunie and the Cairnwell Pass - and from the East also on the A93 from Deeside. Braemar can be approached on foot from the West through Glen Tilt, Glen Feshie, Glen Dee by the Lairig Ghru, and Glen Derry by the Lairig an Laoigh.

The village is overlooked (from roughly NW) by Carn na Drochaide (818m), (from roughly NE) by Creag Choinnich (538m), (from roughly SE) by Carn na Sgliat (690m), and (from roughly SW) by Morrone (859m).

Braemar is within an easy one-and-a-half hour drive of Aberdeen, Dundee, and Perth.

History

Historically the village is situated in the upper end of the historical Earldom of Mar or literally the Braes o' Mar – Wyness (1968). In Scottish Gaelic, Bràigh Mhàrr (upland of Mar – Watson (1975)) referred to the general locality rather than the village itself. The use of Braemar to specifically refer to the village dates from around 1870 Wyness (1968). Before then two independent hamlets existed on the banks of the Clunie Water named – on the West bank – Auchendryne, and – on the East bank – Castleton the name referring to Kindrochit Castle rather than Braemar Castle Wyness (1968).

The ruin of Kindrochit Castle is on the East bank of the Clunie Water slightly upriver from the bridge in Braemar. The name Kindrochit (bridge end – Watson (1975)) is the source of the name Castleton being (Bail Chasteil – Watson (1975)).

The names Auchendryne and Castleton are still clearly marked on the current Ordnance Survey maps below the larger and bolder Braemar.

Into the 20^th century the village was more-or-less completely owned and divided by the adjoining estates of Mar – Auchendryne, and Invercauld – Castleton. To some extent the inter-estate rivalry lead to the building of the Fife Arms Hotel in Auchendryne, and the Invercauld Arms Hotel in Castleton. Interestingly – the Invercauld Arms was built over the mound where John "Bobin' Jock" Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar raised the Jacobite standard in 1715 Wyness (1968).

Auchindryne (to use the spelling from Wyness (1968)) from ach' an droighinn – field of the thorn belonged to a branch of the Farquharsons until it was forfeited in the aftermath of the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Later that century is was acquired by William Duff, 1st Earl Fife.

In 1795 a Roman Catholic chapel was built on the high-ground to the west of Auchendryne giving the name to Chapel Brae which, according to Wyness (1968), was being used as a school.

About 1870 Auchendryne and Castleton amagamated to become Braemar.

Language

Braemar (Scottish Gaelic, Bràigh Mhàrr/Baile a' Chaisteil Bhràigh Mhàrr) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around 58 miles west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee, and the unofficial capital of Royal Deeside.

The Gaelic Bràigh Mhàrr properly refers to the area of upper Marr (as it literally means), i.e. the area of Marr to the west of Aboyne, the village itself being Castleton of Braemar (Baile a' Chaisteal Bhràigh Mhàrr)

In the 1891 census, 59.2% of the population of Braemar spoke the Gaelic language "habitually", the percentage of those actually able to speak the language (despite not having must opportunity to) would have been somewhat higher. The small crofting township of Inverey (Inbhir Èidh) was 86.3% Gaelic-speaking, most non-speakers being originally from Lower Deeside. The Gaelic spoken in the Aberdeenshire Highlands shared most features in common with the Gaelic of Strathspey and East Perthshire. The last native-speaker of the local Gaelic dialect died in 1984, though there are still surviving native-speakers of the similar Strathspey dialect.

Catholicism has traditionally been strong in the Braemar area, and the bones of Saint Andrew rested in Braemar before being taken to the place now known as St Andrews. ^{[citation needed]} The Catholic church in Braemar is dedicated to Saint Andrew was built in 1839 - Wyness (1968).

Braemar has twice recorded the lowest ever UK temperature of -27.2^oC, on February 11, 1895 and January 10, 1982 Met Office article.

Braemar Gathering

Known colloquially as The Games - Braemar holds an annual Highland Games Gathering on the first Saturday in September, traditionally attended by the British Royal Family.

In 1746 the Act of Proscription stopped all clan gatherings, but following its repeal in 1782 - the old enthusiasms for such events returned - Wyness (1968).

About 1826 the Braemar Highland Society was created. On the 14th September 1844 Queen Victoria attended the gathering at Invercauld. In 1866 Royal was added to Braemar Highland Society and in 1906 the Duke of Fife gifted 12 acres of Mar Estate to the Society and The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park - the current home of the Braemar Gathering - was created.

Since Queen Victoria's time - the reigning Monarch has been the patron of the Braemar Royal Highland Society.

Gallery - 2006 Gathering

This gallery shows general views of the 2006 Braemar Gathering

There are other photographs of the Braemar Gathering in the Commons.

Amenities

Braemar has a golf course, two large hotels (Fife Arms and Invercauld Arms) as well as many smaller hotels and private homes offering Bed & Breakfast style accommodation and a large SYHA Hostel. On the Southern edge of the village there is also a caravan site.

There is a Tourist Information centre located in the building opposite the Fife Arms Hotel.

Gallery

This gallery shows general views of Braemar.

Auchendryne Lodge (September 2006)

Braemar from the Linn of Dee road (September 2006)

The Gordon's Tearoom and Bakery (September 2006)

The Braemar Gallery, and Police Station (September 2006)

There are other photographs of Braemar in the Commons.

See Also

Other articles of local-interest include:

• Allanaquoich
• Braemar Castle
• Cairnwell Pass
• Glen Lui
• Inverey
• Linn of Dee
• Mar Lodge
• Mar Lodge Estate

Sources

• Wyness, Fenton (1968), Royal Valley – The Story Of The Aberdeenshire Dee, Alex P. Reid & Son, Aberdeen

• Watson, Adam (1975), The Cairngorms, The Scottish Mountaineering Trust, Edinburgh

External links

• Pictures of Braemar area
• Panorama of the Linn of Dee (QuickTime required)
• A YouTube profile with some videos from the 2006 Braemar Gathering

Places in Aberdeenshire

Places in Aberdeenshire

(see also: Aberdeen) Aberchirder · Aboyne · Affleck · Alford · Allardice · Arbuthnott · Auchterless · Badenyon · Bellabeg · Ballater · Balmedie · Banchory · Banchory-Devenick · Banff and Macduff · Blackdog · Blackhill · Blelack · Bonnyton · Braemar · Brideswell · Bridge of Muchalls · Buchanhaven · Cairness · Cairn O' Mounth · Cammachmore · Catterline · Collieston · Cornhill · Crathie · Crawton · Crimond · Crimonmogate · Cromar · Cruden Bay · Cuminestown · Daviot · Drumoak · Dunecht · Echt · Ellon · Elrick · Fetterangus · Fettercairn · Findon · Fordoun · Foveran · Fraserburgh · Fyvie · Gardenstown · Gowanhill · Huntly · Insch · Inverallochy · Inverbervie · Inverugie · Inverurie · Johnshaven · Kemnay · King Edward · Kinmuck · Kintore · Kirkton · Laurencekirk · Leys · Logie Coldstone · Longside · Lost · Maryculter · Maud · Methlick · Mintlaw · Muchalls · Netherley · Newmachar · Nethermuir · Newburgh · New Deer · New Leeds · New Pitsligo · Newtonhill · Old Deer · Oldmeldrum · Oyne · Pennan · Peterhead · Pitmedden · Portlethen · Portsoy · Rattray · Rora · Rosehearty · Ruthven · Skene · St. Combs · St. Fergus · Stonehaven · Strathdon · Strichen · Tarland · Tarves · Torphins · Tullich · Turriff · Westhill · Whinneyfold

Coordinates: 57°00′21″N, 3°23′53″W

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