Braemar

Braemar sits at the heart of Royal Deeside, a picture-perfect Highland village where the River Dee tumbles down from the Cairngorm plateau and the mountains rise in every direction. At 339 metres above sea level, it's one of the highest villages in Scotland and regularly records the coldest temperatures in Britain. Yet this remote location has drawn visitors for centuries, including the Royal Family, who have attended the Braemar Gathering since Queen Victoria's time.

The Braemar Gathering, held on the first Saturday of September, is the most famous Highland Games in the world. Pipers, dancers, and athletes compete in traditional events while thousands of spectators line the arena—among them, typically, members of the Royal Family watching from the royal pavilion. The atmosphere is electric, a celebration of Highland culture that has continued unbroken since the days of King Malcolm Canmore in the 11th century.

Beyond the Games, Braemar offers a quieter appeal. The village centre retains its traditional character, with local shops, cosy pubs, and the kind of warm Highland hospitality that makes visitors want to linger. Braemar Castle stands just outside the village, while Balmoral is a short drive down the Dee valley. For walkers, the surrounding hills offer routes from gentle riverside strolls to challenging mountain days on peaks like Lochnagar. Braemar is a place to slow down, breathe the clear mountain air, and experience the best of the Scottish Highlands.