The Balmoral Cairns from Crathie - Thursday 3 May 2018
Route
Crathie - Easter Balmoral - Rhebreck - Craig Gowan - John Brown statue - Creag a' Ghobhainn - Creag an Lurachain - Rhebreck - Easter Balmoral - Crathie
Parking
We caught the bus from Braemar to Balmoral then back to Braemar. There is plenty of parking at Balmoral Castle but avoid the area when the Royal Family is in residence (usually late Summer to early Autumn). You are advised to check the Balmoral Castle website for access - the link is here
Mileage
7.6 miles
Terrain
Easy paths both stone and grass through woodland
Weather
Overcast and mild all day
Time Taken
4hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
2732ft (833m)
Map
OL53 - Lochnagar, Glen Muick & Glen Cova (Ballater & Balmoral)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Crathie - Easter Balmoral - Rhebreck - Craig Gowan - John Brown statue - Creag a' Ghobhainn - Creag an Lurachain - Rhebreck - Easter Balmoral - Crathie
Parking
We caught the bus from Braemar to Balmoral then back to Braemar. There is plenty of parking at Balmoral Castle but avoid the area when the Royal Family is in residence (usually late Summer to early Autumn). You are advised to check the Balmoral Castle website for access - the link is here
Mileage
7.6 miles
Terrain
Easy paths both stone and grass through woodland
Weather
Overcast and mild all day
Time Taken
4hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
2732ft (833m)
Map
OL53 - Lochnagar, Glen Muick & Glen Cova (Ballater & Balmoral)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
GPX File
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Route Map
The walk starts from the Bus Stop in Crathie which is adjacent to the Main Balmoral Estate Car Park
Fudge is keeping himself entertained as unofficial 'Royal Guard' in case anybody tries to get up to any mischief.
Fudge is keeping himself entertained as unofficial 'Royal Guard' in case anybody tries to get up to any mischief.
Balmoral Bridge which leads from Crathie over the River Dee on to the Balmoral Estate
The bridge was built & erected in 1836-37 and was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The plaque to the right was unveiled by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2006 - the bicentenary year of Brunel's birth (1806)
The bridge was built & erected in 1836-37 and was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The plaque to the right was unveiled by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2006 - the bicentenary year of Brunel's birth (1806)
Myself & Fudge heading over Balmoral Bridge
Near the entrance to Balmoral Castle is the War Memorial. The memorial was unveiled in 1922 by King George V and is dedicated to the men from the estates who gave their lives in the Great War. The names of the men of the Crathie Parish who were killed in the Second World War were added to the base later. The memorial is built of the same granite as Balmoral Castle.
The entrance gates to Balmoral Castle. The inlay details the initials GR (George Rex) & MR (Mary Regina) - King George V and Queen Mary who were the grandparents of Queen Elizabeth II
The suspension bridge over the River Dee at Easter Balmoral
This drinking fountain constructed from white stone was originally set into a low stone wall. The fountain is distinguished by a stone bowl covered by a pointed arch that is engraved with a dedication to the memory of Sir Thomas Biddulph who died in 1878. Biddulph was a member of the British Army who was promoted to the position of Master of the Household to Queen Victoria in 1851. In 1854, he was made an Extra Equerry to the Queen. He died at the Mains of Abergeldie having been visited by the Queen during the days leading up to his death.
The Princess Helena Cairn. Helena was Queen Victoria's fifth child.
All but one of The Balmoral Cairns were built by Queen Victoria. Eight of the cairns were built to to commemorate the marriages of her children and are spread over the Balmoral Estate. Queen Victoria had 9 children and all but one of them are commemorated by a cairn. For some reason the fourth child, Prince Alfred did not have a cairn built in his name. The cairns we did not visit today were those of her first two children, Victoria the Princess Royal and Albert, later to become King Edward VII. The 10th cairn was built to commemorate her much loved husband Albert who died in 1861. The final cairn was built in 2012 and celebrated the present Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
All but one of The Balmoral Cairns were built by Queen Victoria. Eight of the cairns were built to to commemorate the marriages of her children and are spread over the Balmoral Estate. Queen Victoria had 9 children and all but one of them are commemorated by a cairn. For some reason the fourth child, Prince Alfred did not have a cairn built in his name. The cairns we did not visit today were those of her first two children, Victoria the Princess Royal and Albert, later to become King Edward VII. The 10th cairn was built to commemorate her much loved husband Albert who died in 1861. The final cairn was built in 2012 and celebrated the present Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
With Craig Gowan to the left we headed to the next cairn which can be seen through the trees ahead
The Princess Louise Cairn - Queen Victoria's sixth child
The inset stone which can be found on each cairn. The stone embedded in Princess Louise's cairn was still fairly easy to read as most of the others were illegible. Princess Louise married the Marquis of Lorne in 1871.
Fudge giving us the "is it time to stop for something to eat" look
The Purchase Cairn
The cairn commands a superb view over to Crathie and the Dee Valley and stands on a precipice at the northern end of Craig Gowan. The cairn was built to celebrate the purchase of the Balmoral Estate by Prince Albert in 1852. The first stone was laid by Queen Victoria, the second by Prince Albert and subsequent stones by the couples children and estate workers. .
The cairn commands a superb view over to Crathie and the Dee Valley and stands on a precipice at the northern end of Craig Gowan. The cairn was built to celebrate the purchase of the Balmoral Estate by Prince Albert in 1852. The first stone was laid by Queen Victoria, the second by Prince Albert and subsequent stones by the couples children and estate workers. .
The view to Crathie and the Dee Valley from The Purchase Cairn - it is a shame the weather does not do the view justice
Balmoral Castle from near the site of Prince Leopold's Cairn
Contrary to popular belief, this is not the original castle. The new castle was completed in 1856 and the old castle demolished shortly thereafter. When purchased in 1852, the original castle and estate cost the 'princely' sum of £32,000
Contrary to popular belief, this is not the original castle. The new castle was completed in 1856 and the old castle demolished shortly thereafter. When purchased in 1852, the original castle and estate cost the 'princely' sum of £32,000
Prince Leopold's Cairn - Leopold was Queen Victoria's eighth child
The statue to John Brown, Queen Victoria's faithful servant for many years until his death in 1883.
Queen Victoria commissioned a life-sized statue of Brown by Edgar Boehm shortly after his death. The inscription reads: Friend more than Servant. Loyal. Truthful. Brave. Self less than Duty, even to the Grave. When Victoria's son succeeded her to the throne he had the statue moved to a less conspicuous site where it stands today. We had to do an out & back to visit the statue - it is certainly "out of the way".
Queen Victoria commissioned a life-sized statue of Brown by Edgar Boehm shortly after his death. The inscription reads: Friend more than Servant. Loyal. Truthful. Brave. Self less than Duty, even to the Grave. When Victoria's son succeeded her to the throne he had the statue moved to a less conspicuous site where it stands today. We had to do an out & back to visit the statue - it is certainly "out of the way".
Heading to the next cairn around the northern tip of Craig Gowan.
We saw a handful of people today, two of which were Police Officers at one of the outbuildings on the estate.
We saw a handful of people today, two of which were Police Officers at one of the outbuildings on the estate.
The cairn commemorating the marriage of Prince Arthur, the Queen's seventh child
More lovely grassy track walking as we near Princess Alice's Cairn
Princess Alice's Cairn - she was the third child born to Queen Victoria
Hello, hello - a pyramid in the middle of Scotland?
This pyramid is in fact the largest and most prominent of the cairns on the estate and was built to commemorate the life of Queen Victoria's much loved husband Prince Albert. The Queen was understandably devastated when he died and from there on in wore black until she herself died in 1901.
This pyramid is in fact the largest and most prominent of the cairns on the estate and was built to commemorate the life of Queen Victoria's much loved husband Prince Albert. The Queen was understandably devastated when he died and from there on in wore black until she herself died in 1901.
The inscription tablet on Prince Albert's Pyramid
The last cairn visited today, that of Princess Beatrice who was Queen Victoria's ninth & final child
Back at Easter Balmoral
Having finished the walk there was time before we caught the bus to have a quick wander over the road to Crathie Kirk
As seen on TV - the approach to Crathie Kirk
Crathie Kirk, the Royal Family's place of worship when they are in residence at Balmoral.
The church was the venue for the Princess Royal's marriage to Tim Laurence - the couple married in Scotland as at that time the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce (it does now)
The church was the venue for the Princess Royal's marriage to Tim Laurence - the couple married in Scotland as at that time the Church of England did not permit remarriage after divorce (it does now)
Back in Braemar it was time for a nice sit down and a drink in the Moorfield House Hotel.
Whilst Angie got the drinks in, Fudge took the time to try and levitate his food down from the table by the power of "stare & drool".
Whilst Angie got the drinks in, Fudge took the time to try and levitate his food down from the table by the power of "stare & drool".
And very nice it was too