Dee n' Do Magazine - Issue 2

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May - September 2014

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ISSUE TWO

A magazine for

Royal Deeside Outdoor Activities Cultural Events + Art Food + Drink Local Business Spotlight Deeside Discoveries History + Tales

Exclu

Raemoir House Hotel Banchory, Aberdeenshire Scotland AB31 4ED +44 (0)1330 824884 hotel@raemoir.com www.raemoir.com

usively yours...

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Dee n’ Do Magazine Tel: +44 (0)7790 129212 or +44 (0)7975 727767 hello@deendo.com www.deendo.com Produced by Burdie Creative Ltd +44 (0)7975 727756 hello@burdiecreative.com www.burdiecreative.com Editor Kirsten Horne +44 (0)7790 129212 Creative Director Mairi MacLeod Gray +44 (0)7975 727756 Ads & Design Director Kelly Whyte +44 (0)7975 727767 Contributing Photographers Aboyne Photographics Amy Muir Mike Stephen Dod Peters Steven Whyte Printers J Thomson Colour Printers Publisher Dee n’ Do is published three times a year by Burdie Creative Ltd. ©Burdie Creative Ltd 2014. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, Burdie Creative Ltd and its editorial contributors accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including and loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication.

Copyright All images contained in Dee n’ Do are subject to copyright of the artist, illustrator or photographer as named, but not limited to. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

Disclaimer All rights reserved.

The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of the editor or publisher.

Advertise with us Contact us to get your business in the next issue of Dee n’ Do. Call +44 (0)7975 727 767 or email advertising@deendo. com and request a media pack.

WELCOME TO THE EARLIER THAN ANTICIPATED SECOND ISSUE OF DEE N’ DO. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THE DEBUT ISSUE IN JANUARY, COPIES HAVE BEEN FLYING OFF THE SHELVES. So we’ve been incredibly busy over the last couple of months squeezing in an extra issue this year. We were absolutely overwhelmed by the positive feedback we received on issue one and hope that we achieve the same for this issue.

Throughout the next few months, Deeside becomes a hive of activity as we enter the Highland Games and tourism season. For many, the summer months mean day trips, picnicking and camping and we have highlighted a few options for you to try. For those with a wilder streak, there’s a fantastic foraging feature by Mark Williams (p14). We also venture north to Donside and see what delights are on offer there. And if you still can’t decide on what to do or where to go, we have added an events section that lists many activities in Deeside that you can choose from.

Whatever your plans for the summer, we encourage you to explore Deeside for a day or two and soak up the highland hospitality!

See you again in September, Kirsten, Editor

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CONTENTS ISSUE 2 MAY-SEPT 2014

Outdoor Foraging expert Mark Williams leads the silent hunt for fungi in Deeside

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Travelogue: a weekend with giants

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Deeside Day Out Highland Games’ season

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Picnicking in Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms

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Top wild swimming spots

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History + Folklore Peter Grant – The Last Jacobite

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The Colonel’s Bed

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Food + Drink Celebrate Homecoming Scotland 2014’s whisky month

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BBQ cook school

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Regulars Ask the Vet

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Historic Castles

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Dee n’ Doodles

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Tales from the drink’s cupboard

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Founded in 2013 by Kelly Whyte, Mairi MacLeod Gray & Kirsten Horne

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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

PASSION PARK Est. Grantown-on-Spey

2003

Carrbridge

Tomintoul

Aviemore AREA COVERED BY CNP

1,748 sq mi (4,528 km2)

Kingussie

Braemar

Scottish Gaelic: Pàirc Nàiseanta a' Mhonaidh Ruaidh a

Blair Atholl

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Ballater

Newtonmore

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HOSTS

25% OF THE UK’s MOST THREATENED SPECIES

AN IMPRESSIVE 55 SUMMITS OVER 900 METRES

ACTION PLAN

80% of the Scottish population of

HELP SUPPORT BIRDS ~ Lapwing & Redshank ~

CAPERCAILLIE

THE LARGEST CALEDONIAN FOREST

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CAI RN G ORMS N ATURE Cairngorms Nature is a new partnership where people and organisations come together, regardless of sector or background, with one thing in common - a desire to safeguard and enhance the outstanding nature in the Cairngorms National Park. ~ By Charlotte Millburn ~

Upper Deeside sits within the Cairngorms National Park, one of the last wildernesses we have left in the UK. It is a place of sheer abundance having more high level mountain ground than anywhere else in Britain or Ireland, the largest Caledonian forest, some of the UK’s purest rivers and it also hosts 25 per cent of the UK’s threatened species.

Andy Ford is the Cairngorms Nature Manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority and he is a man on a mission.

“The words National Park are not dished out lightly – they signify a country’s best bits of the landscape and are recognised the world over. I have worked in conservation for over 20 years, in protected areas in the UK and Africa and in my opinion the Cairngorms National Park ranks amongst the biggest and best.

I’ve lived and worked here for almost 10 years and get to see first hand the unique nature in the Park, along with some of the challenges we face. Looking after the Park is not a job just for the rangers or land owners, every person who lives here or visits here has a part to play.

one thing in common - a desire to safeguard and enhance the outstanding nature in the Cairngorms National Park. Anyone can support Cairngorms Nature, they just need a passion for the Park.

“The nature and wildlife of the Park is outstanding, in a UK context it is unsurpassed in many areas. This means that the list of things we could do is as long as your arm. Cairngorms Nature is underpinned with an action plan which focuses on the areas of work the Park Authority and partners feel are most important in the next 5 years. We have a vision for how the National Park will look in 50 years time and the Action Plan is the first step towards that. Two of the areas we will be putting our efforts into are the expansion and enhancement of our woodlands

“The challenges to conservation and biodiversity that the Park faces are very real. In order to maintain this jewel of global significance we all need to come together to deliver biodiversity gain so that we can leave a rich legacy for future generations.

“Cairngorms Nature is a new partnership where people and organisations come together, with

Upland stream flowing into Loch Avon, Glen Avon. © Mark Hamblin/2020VISION/CNPA

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and our wetlands and wet grasslands. There are of course many other habitats and species that we will commit ourselves to and these are all in the Plan, not least our resolve to make sure everybody has the opportunity to get involved and reap the rewards from our wildlife.

“The large wetland and wet grassland areas in the Park are the most important mainland area for breeding farmland waders in the UK and havens for wintering wildfowl. However, there are still threats to the environment from a variety of pressures, some of which have resulted in a drastic reduction of numbers of wader species in recent years.

“The way in which farmers and crofters manage the land is a key factor in supporting the rich nature value of the area. They are leading the way in an effort to create feeding sites for wader birds such as lapwing and redshanks and we’re keen to support them.

“Our forests are by far the largest and best connected native woodlands in Britain and comprise a massive 25% of Scotland’s native woods. They contain some of the best ancient Caledonian pine woods and are a refuge for many of Scotland’s iconic species like the wildcat, red squirrel and capercaillie. In fact, it’s fair to say that if wildcat don’t survive in the Cairngorms they’re very likely to go extinct, and the same can definitely be said of capercaillie where 80% of the entire Scottish population is in one area of the Park."

For more information on how to get involved with Cairngorms Nature, please visit www.cairngorms. co.uk or www.cairngormsnature.co.uk.

A cock capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) displays up close, Highlands, Scotland. © Luke Massey/ 2020VISION/CNPA

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The Park is a place of

tremendous biodiversity, but sadly even here biodiversity loss is taking place and

immediate action is needed to halt the decline, and we can all help!

Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) at woodland pool in autumn, Highland, Scotland, November. Š Mark Hamblin/2020VISION/CNPA

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D N A H G L I

Highland Games take place around Scotland during the summer months, providing a unique combination of culture, sport and social entertainment.

They usually comprise a programme of field and track events, piping and Highland dancing competitions and ‘heavy events’ like the tug-o-war, the hammer throw and tossing the caber.

There have been many theories, legends and speculative accounts surrounding the origin of the Highland Games, but solid facts and written reports of early formal games are few and far between. The games, traditions, places and statistics are all very interesting but a vital element to its endurance and development is the human factor – the people who made these games happen. The good humour, camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed amongst the competitors inspired new followers and influenced future games.

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Photograph courtesy of Amy Muir

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For a more comprehensive look into the past and to appreciate the phenomenon known as the Highland Games try and hunt down a copy of David Webster’s The World History of Highland Games.

1822 REVIVAL Over time, the games grew in number and popularity but suffered a mortal blow with the Act of Proscription in 1746 following the crushing of the Jacobite Rebellion. The act outlawed Scottish dress, customs and gatherings and was in force for almost 40 years. After its repeal, the games started to revive and the fortunes of the national customs were given a tremendous boost with a visit from George IV to Scotland in 1822. The King appeared in Edinburgh in full Highland dress and received an ecstatic welcome and is commemorated to this day in two famous Edinburgh landmarks – George Street and George IV Bridge.

PIPING AND HIGHLAND DANCING The games, of course, are as much about music and dancing as they are about sports. Dancing, piping, fiddling and playing the clarsach (Gaelic harp). There was a competitive element here too.

The clan chieftains pitted their pipers against those of other clans and the prestige that came from success was considerable. The competitive element is a major attraction in its own right but when combined with the spectacle of Highland dancers and pipers and the colour and grandeur of the Scottish scenery, which forms their backdrop, Highland Games become a must on any visitor’s Scotland itinerary.

CALENDAR OF GAMES From May to September a full programme of Highland Games takes place in small towns and villages across the country as well as those within the grounds of famed castles. For a full list of the Highland Games in Scotland this year, please visit www.shga.co.uk/visitor-events.

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Braemar Junior Highland Games

www.braemarjuniorgames.com The Junior Braemar Highland Games will be celebrating ten years of the event this year. It has been organised to allow children between the ages of 5 and 18 the opportunity to participate in games’ events normally reserved for adults and hopefully create interest for future generations.

The emphasis is on fun and is intended to provide educational experiences in an informal and participative way. The event will be held in the Braemar Games Field and has the backing of the Braemar Royal Highland Society. Saturday competitive events include Highland dancing, Solo piping, drumming, tug-o-war, tossing the caber, and fun races. On Sunday a family fun day will take place with a Jacobite Camp, birds of prey display, Heart of the Park Challenge, dog show, inflatable slide and castle and a wide variety of arts, crafts and produce stalls.

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Aboyne Highland Games

www.aboynegames.com The Aboyne Highland Games have been running for more than 140 years and always take place on the first Saturday in August.

As part of VisitScotland’s Year of Homecoming 2014, this year’s games will be extra special. In addition to the usual attractions of 96 arena events, heavy and light, dancing and piping, massed pipe bands, a unique fiddle competition, over 70 trade stands and a traditional fun fair for kids of all ages, they will host two Scottish Championship Events (the Scottish 56lb weight for distance and the Scottish 800m Open Race).

There will also be a re-enactment of Donald Dinnie’s stone carrying feat at Potarch Bridge in 1860. (Dinnie being one of the founder members of Aboyne Highland Games back in 1867). Staff and pupils at Aboyne Academy will help build a replica of the bridge parapets and a ‘strongman’ will attempt to carry the ‘stanes’ weighing 775lbs a distance equal to or greater than Dinnie achieved.

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All photographs courtesy of Amy Muir

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Ballater Highland Games

www.ballaterhighlandgames.com The Ballater Highland Games are held annually on the second Thursday in August in Monaltrie Park, Ballater and feature Pipe Bands, piping and dancing competitions, track and field, both heavy and light events, as well as tug o’ war and a hill race.

There have been Games held in Ballater since 1864 and, apart from the war years, the Games have continued uninterrupted until the present day. Looking back to that time, the Minutes of the inaugural public meeting on 16 July 1864 show that it was agreed to hold annual Athletic Games, for parish residents only; the first Games to be held on 27 July on the Church Green and Lieutenant Colonel Farquharson of Invercauld to be the President. The categories were putting the stone, throwing the hammer, tossing the caber, dancing, running, vaulting, jumping, sack and barrow races (competitors to supply their own sacks and barrows). The Games made a profit of £1.2/-!

This year therefore marks the 150th Anniversary of the organisation of the Ballater Games, and this will be recognised in various ways on Games Day. Many famous athletes and champions have competed at Ballater. Today the Games form part of the circuits comprising the Glenfiddich Heavy Events Championship and the Grampian Games Qualifying Championship, which encourages the younger athletes to participate in the events.

Ballater Highland Games prides itself in having something for everyone, young and old alike.

On Games Day there are various trade stands, together with a funfair for the children, and after the Games, the Pipe Bands hold a Beat Retreat ceremony on the Church Green. (The Beat Retreat is a traditional military ceremony signifying the end of activities, now used also on Pipe Band occasions at the end of the day. The Bands march and play in a massed formation and finish by obtaining permission from the officer in charge.)

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Lonach Highland Gathering & Games

www.lonach.org The Lonach Highland Gathering has the reputation of being Scotland’s friendliest Highland Games, and takes place on the fourth Saturday in August at Bellabeg Park, Strathdon. This year marks the 173rd annual gathering and games.

The Lonach March starts early in the morning before The Highland Games, and features the men of Lonach in full highland dress and with banners flying. Clansmen carry pikes, and call in for a dram of whisky at various patrons during the march. The procession is followed by a horse and cart.

The fine tradition of The Lonach Gathering and March has been passed on from generation to generation. The Lonach Gathering is hard to beat for sheer spectacle and is always well attended.

The Lonach Gathering patron is Sir James Forbes whose ancestors founded the Lonach Highland & Friendly Society.

References: www.braemarjuniorgames.com, www.aboynegames.com www.ballaterhighlandgames.com, www.braemargathering.org www.lonach.org, www.scotland.org/features/highland-games www.shga.co.uk/events.php, www.dsider.co.uk All photographs courtesy of Amy Muir

Membership is drawn from the inhabitants of Strathdon, who continue to fulfil the society’s original mission of preserving Highland dress, the Gaelic tongue, and “supporting loyal, peaceful, and manly conduct; and the promotion of social and benevolent feelings among the inhabitants of the district.”

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Braemar Gathering www.braemargathering.org

The Braemar Gathering always takes place on the first Saturday in September in front of Her Majesty The Queen who is Chieftain of the Gathering.

There have been Highland Games at Braemar for 900 years since the reign of King Malcolm Canmore. The hill race organised by Malcolm Canmore in the 11th century is thought to be Braemar’s first ever event.

The world famous Braemar Gathering is the final event in the Grampian Highland Games qualifying event series which include The Aboyne Highland Games and the Lonach Highland Gathering and Games.

Large crowds gather to see the unforgettable spectacle of the massed pipe bands. Queen Victoria first attended the event in 1848 and Royal patronage remains to the present day. Braemar Gathering events include strong men known as The Heavies who toss cabers and throw stones, weights and hammers, as well as highland dancing, piping, athletics, tug of war and a children’s sack race.

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t n e l Si

Hunt

Ask experienced foragers where their love of gathering wild ingredients started and many will say “in the woods – looking for wild mushrooms”. There is something very exciting about searching for mysterious, enigmatic fungi – developing a feel for how, when and where they grow, and, most importantly, learning to distinguish the delicious from the deadly. ~ By Mark Williams, Galloway Wild Foods ~

Mark Williams is a full-time foraging tutor who teaches about sustainable harvesting of wild plants, seaweeds, shellfish and – best of all – fungi. Here he shares his thoughts on this hugely rewarding – yet potentially hazardous – pursuit and gives some tips on fungi foraging on Royal Deeside.

in’ to the preferred habitats is the best way to go home with a basket of treasure. The time of year, macro/micro climatic conditions, geology, ground cover, drainage and tree cover are just some of the myriad signs an experienced fungi forager will be subconsciously monitoring as they move through the landscape in search of their quarry.

Exotic shapes that seem to appear overnight, and disappear almost as quickly, with enchanting names like ‘amethyst deceiver’, ‘scarlet elf cup’ and ‘chicken of the woods’ cannot fail to capture the imagination. The umami-rich flavour and deep aromatics of many edible wild mushrooms simply can’t be emulated in cultivated products, so little wonder gourmets get excited!

It is like following a hidden trail, a secret scent. Little wonder that this vegetarian stalking is known to Russians as ‘The Silent Hunt’. Even a fruitless foray can be a lovely, almost meditative, experience.

While it is perfectly possible to just stumble upon good edible wild mushrooms by chance, ‘tuning

With its vast, deep forests, Royal Deeside is one of the best places in the UK to hunt for edible wild mushrooms. Large expanses of fungi-friendly scots pine, larch and birch, interspersed with other tree varieties make it a hotbed of fungal growth come September.

Mark will be guiding several fungi forays in the area during autumn. Check out his website for dates, to book private tuition or to learn from his free online foraging guide. www.gallowaywildfoods.com

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One of the most sought after edible mushrooms is the chanterelle (cantharellus cibarius), top left, beautiful golden trumpets with a firm texture and subtle fruity scent. Their liking for damp birch and scots pine forest make them abundant on Royal Deeside and there are areas where they are as common as blackberries.

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Being relatively slow growing, maggot-resistant, easy to identify and tasty, chanterelles are a good beginners mushroom, though they do suffer somewhat for this, often being over-cropped by people with a limited repertoire of other species.

Their value to chefs means they also tend to get hammered by commercial pickers. My advice is to gather only what you need and leave at least 50% of what you find to continue their important work in the forest ecosystem – and for others to enjoy. It isn’t always easy to resist picking everything when the ‘golden mist’ descends, but you’ll feel better about your harvest if you follow the guidelines in the boxes.

If you can expand your range of fungi knowledge, you will find forays more rewarding. Here are three good beginners mushrooms that are fairly easy to identify and common on Royal Deeside.

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Orange Birch Bolete (leccinum verispelle)

Fairly common under birch trees, with an orange cap, black scales on the stem and pores rather than gills on the underside of the cap. This is a delicious, meaty mushroom, prized just as highly as porcini in Eastern Europe.

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Saffron Milk Cap (lactarius deliciosus)

Common in scots pine forests, this spectacular mushroom is quite easily distinguished by its bright orange gills, a tendency to bruise green when handled, and its oozing of saffron orange ‘milk’ when broken. Sound daunting? Don’t be scared – this is a highly esteemed edible species, though unfortunately prone maggots!

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Amethyst deceiver (laccaria amethystina)

Truly gorgeous little amethyst coloured mushrooms, found under a variety of trees, but favouring beech.

They get the second part of their name from their variable form, but broadly spaced gills, fibrously textured stem and startling colour should make identification reasonably easy. Not the best flavoured mushroom...but that colour more than makes up for it!

Please note: this is just general guidance – you will need proper fungi guide books to safely identify these species!

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g n i t s e h a rv Safe Harvesting Advice Keep in mind that there are species out there that can kill you if ingested.

Never, ever, eat a mushroom unless you are 100% certain what species it is, and that the species is safe to eat.

If eating a known edible species for the first time, try only a small amount, well cooked then wait a day to make sure it ‘agrees’ with you.

Always use a minimum of two identification guide books. Base your identification on multiple features of the mushroom.

Identification ‘by committee’ is a recipe for disaster. Everyone intending to eat a wild mushroom should take individual responsibility for what they eat.

Wild mushrooms should be thoroughly cooked before eating.

Mushrooms rot fast - pick only fresh, firm specimens.

a dvice Sustainable Harvesting Advice Bear in mind that fungi are an important part of the forest ecosystem, not just something for humans to eat!

Fungi are the “fruiting” structures of complex organisms – if you continually over-pick, they may not be there one year!

Pick only what you need for personal consumption.

Pick a maximum of 50% of what you find.

Pick only fully grown specimens with opened caps.

Where mushrooms are growing in pairs, pick only one of the pair.

Be light on your feet avoid trampling delicate mycelium (fungi “roots”) that pervade the topsoil around mushrooms.

Avoid picking rare fungi where possible, try to identify mushrooms before picking, and only take one or two specimens for identification at home.

Don’t pick by busy roads or polluted sites - fungi absorb heavy metals.

Go out with an experienced forager nothing helps build your confidence more than somebody confirming your tentative identification.

www.gallowaywildfoods.com

Legal / Reasonable Harvesting Advice You have the “Right To Roam” in Scotland, and while doing so, you are legally permitted to gather berries, leaves and fungi for personal consumption. It’s good manners to seek the landowner's permission if you intend to gather fungi on their land and essential if you intend to sell them. Wild mushrooms growing on Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Nature Reserves should not be picked without careful research beforehand.

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DEE�IDE �ALKS:

Glen Ey Linn o’ Dee

River

Area: Inverey Distance Return: 16km (10 miles) Terrain: Good track all the way to Altanour. Boots recommended. Care is needed if you visit the Colonel’s Bed. It is not suitable for young children.

Start & Finish: Inverey, 6km west of Braemar on the Linn of Dee road.

Mar Lodge

Dee

Inverey START/FINISH

Little Inverey

Victoria Bridge

Memorial

Ey Bu

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At Glen Ey, between the two peaks of Beinn Iutharn Mor (1,044m) and Beinn Iutharn Bheag (951m), is the source of the Ey Burn, which runs down the glen for 12km until it reaches Inverey and the River Dee.

TO BRAEMAR

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The Colonel’s Bed Ruins

The track into the glen starts near a memorial to John Lamont, a native of Inverey, who became the astronomer Royal of Bavaria. It goes up past a modern house, through a gate and into the glen. Further on it crosses a wooden bridge over the Ey Burn; note that the bridge shown on some maps heading across to the track on the west side of the Ey no longer exists.

Beyond the bridge, the track climbs fairly steeply. Shortly after it bends to the right you can short cut the zigzag by following a path up on the left, and then re-join the track a short distance uphill.

There was a wood on the hill at one time, but it has virtually disappeared, leaving only a handful of shattered trunks and stumps.

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GLEN EY

Auchelie Ruins

Ruins

Ruins Coire an Fheidh

Creag an Lochin (883m)

Creag an Fhuathais

To Beinn Iutharn (1044m) Altanour Lodge

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Miles Kilometres

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Photograph courtesy of Mike Stephen

This bare hill adds a sense of desolation to a glen that still carries the scars of the Clearances, when crofting families were evicted to make way for deer.

About 2km from Inverey, a small wooden sign close to the ground at the left edge of the track points to a path that will take you to the Colonel’s Bed (reads ‘Col Bed’). It was here, in a narrow ravine on the Ey Burn, that John Farquharson of Inverey, better known as the Black Colonel, hid from government troops in 1715. His tale can be read on page 36.

Turn left here along the narrow path, which in wet weather can be muddy. This is the line of the original stalkers' path which was the main route up the glen before the current track was bulldozed.

Where it drops down to the mouth of the Colonel’s hiding place it is often slippery and dangerous. It is inadvisable to take children down there. The ‘bed’ is a long ledge of slaty rock. The river here flows through a vertically-sided rocky gorge, and great care is needed if approaching close to the edge; the ground is slippery and some of the rocks are loose - any slip could be fatal. Today part of the wall of the Bed has collapsed; do not attempt to descend the path into the gorge as it is very dangerous and does not lead anywhere.

Beyond the Colonel’s Bed, the glen becomes green and fertile, with dyked fields spreading out on either side of the track. Two large ruins can be seen above the track at Auchelie, looking down over

the Ey Burn. Two tall lurch trees stand outside the houses, untouched by the storms that have stripped so many other trees in the glen. Climb up the hill behind them and you will get a striking view of the Ey Burn as it curves away to the hills at Altanour. The name Auchelie comes from Ach a’Cheiridh, which means ‘the field of duskiness’.

The main settlements lay on the opposite side of the river between Auchelie and Creag an Fhuathais, a high, pyramid-shaped hill where the river turns south-west of Altanour. Near the foot of Creag an Fhuathais, a wooden bridge which spans the Ey Burn leads to ruined settlements. To continue the walk go back to the bridge, where the main track now goes up the east side of the Ey Burn. The river, curling through the moorland, is on your right and across the water is Coire an Fheidh – ‘the corrie of the deer’. It is well named as you can often see herds of deer grazing here.

The hills close in as you walk towards Altanour.

Eventually another bridge takes you back to the west side of the river for the final stretch up to Altanour. The old shooting lodge takes its name from Alltan Odhar (the dun burn), a tributary of the Ey Burn. The lodge is a sad sight now, so ruinous that there is little left. Beyond Altanour are more ruins, and deeper still into the glen are the mountains of Beinn Iutharn Mor and Beinn Iutharn Bheag. Your way, however, is back down the glen following the route that got you to this point.

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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS

PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHY, RESTORATION, SCANNING, RETOUCHING

Tell us about yourself…

I’m Amy, I’m 26 and I’m a photographer.

Where do you work?

I work out of my shop ‘Amy Muir Photography’ in the Station Square, Ballater.

What do you specialise in?

I specialise in a personal digital image restoration and slide scanning service. I digitally fix irreplaceable damaged photographs on a daily basis. I am absolutely fascinated with old cameras and old photographs. I love all the stories behind them and learning about people through the images that I work on. Aside from photo restoration, I love taking photos, especially portraits.

Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?

I knew I wanted to be a photographer when I was 14.

I had a part time job washing dishes at the Station Restaurant and saved up to buy my first camera, a film Canon 300 SLR (which I still have and use to this day.) I taught myself the basics; used my family and friends as my subjects and spent many hours walking in and around Ballater photographing the beautiful scenery.

What was your first experience as a professional photographer?

When I was 16, I saved up and bought my first digital SLR, a Canon 350d and from there I started travelling to Aberdeen to photograph live bands.

This continued for years as I travelled to Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, even America and Canada to photograph bigger bands and publishing my work in British and International music magazines.

Photographing live bands is something I’m very passionate about. The results from low lighting and black and white grainy photographs went hand in hand with the band’s music I was capturing. I don’t photograph as many bands now as I feel I had shot everyone that I wanted to, but there are still a good few on my bucket list to do!

How would you describe your style?

I’d say I have a natural style. I really enjoying working with daylight and capturing people off-guard like a fly on the wall. I feel that’s when you can really capture the real you. There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable when having your photograph taken.

What types of camera do you shoot with?

Nowadays, I have my trusty digital Canon EOS 5D

Mark II with a variety of lenses. (My 50mm f2.8 being my most used.) I have a number of film cameras but my favourite to use is my Rolleiflex TLR which I especially love to use for portraits. The sound of the shutter blade and winding on the film with the arm at the side is just something you can’t appreciate the same when shooting with digital.

What is your biggest source of ideas and inspiration?

My inspiration comes mostly from my large selection of photography books of the many photographers who I look up to. Artists such as Brigitte la Combe, Sally Mann, Autumn de Wilde, Vivian Maier, Patrick Dermarchelier and Richard Avedon, to name a few. I can spend hours flicking through their books wishing I had captured those photographs.

Is there anybody or anything you would love to photograph?

I’ve been fortunate to be one of the official photographers for the Edinburgh International Film Festival for the past two years, which has really given me such a great opportunity to meet a lot of people and photograph actors on the red carpet.

There are still a lot of well-known faces that I’d love to photograph but I’ll be patient for the time being.

What advice would you give to new photographers starting up their own business?

My advice to any new photographers starting up their own business is that it’s a lot of work! A lot of work.

Where you'll find me most days…

So here I am, in Ballater. I’ve lived in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Toronto, Canada but I was always homesick for Ballater and it’s always been my dream to open a photography shop here in the village, and it just so happens that it came true at the start of the year.

Amy Muir Photography Station Square, Ballater, AB35 5RB T 07738 115 387 E amy@amymuir.com W www.amymuir.com

If you have a business that you want to feature in the next issue of Dee n’ Do, please quote ‘Business Q & A’ when you drop us a line at hello@deendo.com or find us at www. facebook.com/deendomagazine and send us a message.

We’d love to hear from you!

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It is well-known that bumblebees are great pollinators, and therefore have a key role in producing much of the food that we eat. Through the pollination of many commercial crops such as tomatoes, peas, apples and strawberries, insects are estimated to contribute over ÂŁ400 million per annum to the UK economy and â‚Ź14.2 billion per annum to the EU economy.

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If the decline in bumblebees and other insect pollinators continue, the extremely high cost of pollinating these plants by other means could significantly increase the cost of fruit and vegetables.

Bumblebees also help pollinate many wildflowers, allowing them to reproduce.

Without this pollination many of these plants would not produce seeds, resulting in declines in wildflowers. As these plants are often the basis of complex food chains, it is easy to imagine how other wildlife such as other insects, birds and mammals would all suffer if bees disappeared.

Why bees need our help

Bumblebees are mainly under threat because of changes to the countryside in the UK. Changes in agricultural techniques have meant that there are far fewer wildflowers in the landscape than there used to be, meaning that many of our bumblebee species are struggling to survive. The dramatic decline in populations of most species, and the extinction of two species in the UK, show that something needs to be done.

Causes of bumblebee declines 


A combination of factors is believed to be responsible, including a loss of wildflower habitats and of the diversity of plants within them. Other suspected causes are the use of pesticides and disease - and poor summers also cause enormous damage to honeybees.

What can be done?

Fortunately, there is much that can be done to benefit bumblebees. Through education, awareness and discussion, some farmers have made a few simple changes to their techniques, which have meant more flowers blooming, and bumblebee populations recovering in some areas.

It is also possible for individuals and other groups to help bumblebees in their own communities.

Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to plant some bee-friendly plants in your garden; this presents a great opportunity to provide food for bumblebees.

By bee-friendly we mean flowers that are rich in pollen and nectar. Many ornamental plants that are commonly found in British gardens, such as pansies and begonias, are of no value to wildlife. Years of cultivation for showy blooms mean that these colourful flowers often produce little pollen or nectar. There are hundreds of beautiful flowers that do offer these rewards though, including foxgloves, lavender, geraniums, herbs and wild roses that you can add to your collection.

People can also get involved in survey work.

By doing this, organisations that are devoted to the plight of the bumblebee can see which bumblebees are present around the country, and how their distributions change over time. By monitoring the species like this, they can detect warning signs and take action to help.

For more information, please take the time to visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website at www.bumblebeeconservation.org

What’s happening in Scotland?

The Scottish Government (SG) is responsible for bee health policy in Scotland along with the legislative control for the health of managed honey bees. In Scotland there are currently around 1,400 hobby beekeepers who are members of the Scottish Beekeepers Association (SBA), with an estimated further 1,000 hobbyists who are not. In addition, there are around 25 commercial bee farmers who are members of the Bee Farmers Association (BFA) and whose businesses depend on the management of healthy honey bees.

All beekeepers have a significant role to play in ensuring disease management and control within their own apiaries are in order and have a legal obligation to report any suspicion of a notifiable disease or pest to the Bee Inspector at their local Scottish Government Rural Payments Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) Area Office.

www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/farmingrural/agriculture/animal-welfare/bee

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The Facts

About 70 crops are dependent on, or benefit from, visits from bees.

Foraging bees have to fly about 55,000 miles to produce a pound of honey, visiting around 2 million flowers.

Honey bees fly up to 15 mph and beat their wings 200 times per second or 12,000 beats per minute!

A typical honey bee colony may have around 50,000 workers.

The varroa mite and its associated diseases have been a major factor in the decline of honeybee populations worldwide.

Drones (male honey bees) die after mating.

Honey bees are part of the Hymenoptera order which includes Bumble bees, Solitary bees, Wasps, Sawflies and Ants.

The tools which have evolved on the limbs and mouthparts of bees are neat examples of adaptation and engineering.

The harvest from honey bees of honey, pollen, wax and propolis has nutritional, craft, manufacturing, and medical applications.

Bees are pollinators vital to our food chain.

One third of the food we eat would not be available but for bees.

Pollination by bees is important for genetic sustainability.

Only female honey bees sting, males do not.

Each honey bee makes about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

Drones live for four to six months and worker honey bees raised in the spring may only live six or seven weeks.

Honey bees communicate through pheromones passed on through feeding.

This is called ‘trophallaxis’.

Once honey bee eggs hatch into worker larvae, they’ll be fed around 1,300 times per day.

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The queen honey bee is about twice the length of a worker.

If the queen honey bee is removed from the hive, within 15 minutes, the rest of the colony know about it.

A queen honey bee may lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day as she establishes her colony.

The queen honey bee should certainly live for two years, but may even live for three or four.

There is only one queen honey bee to thousands and thousands of workers.

When the crowd is so great, not all of the workers have access to the queen or receive her pheromone signals and therefore she is non-existent to them.

Workers therefore need to create a new queen honey bee, however, there is no space in the colony for more than one queen. Before the new queen emerges, the old queen takes off with part of the colony to establish a new nest, but before leaving their original colony, all of the bees will fill themselves up on nectar. Once the swarm has left its old nest or hive, this is when you may see a whirling mass of swarming bees in the air, or a bee swarm settled on the branch of a tree (or possibly somewhere not so convenient!).

A bee swarm forms when the workers are gathered around the queen, hence forming a clump. Interestingly, the queen is not the strongest of flyers, and so inevitably will need to rest at some point – perhaps on a branch, post or fence.

Meanwhile, Scout bees will be sent out to look for a suitable new place for the colony to live.

They are focused on finding a new nest, not on attacking. That said, it is important to keep your distance from swarming bees, because if the bees feel threatened, then it is possible they will sting.

A swarm may stay around for a few days, depending on how quickly the scout bees find a suitable new home. This could happen very quickly, even within a day.

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c

istori

H

Kildrummy (Ruin)

c

astle

Glenbuchat (Ruin)

The Castle Trail For centuries, the inhabitants of Scotland have been building fortifications and strongholds, and it has been estimated that there were once about 3,000 castles in Scotland.

We go in search of the more notable castles that can be seen in Aberdeenshire and Deeside and explore their history, condition and purpose.

Corgarff

A97

Strathdon

Tarland A97 A939

Loch Kinord

Braemar

Balmoral Kindrochit (Ruin)

BRAEMAR

BALLATER Knock (Ruin)

A93

Drum Castle "The castles of Aberdeenshire and Grampian are surrounded by an ambience of awe, a feeling of strength and timelessness"

A97

s

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Drum Castle is near Drumoak and for centuries was the seat of the Chief of Clan Irvine. The castle and its grounds were granted to William de Irwyn in 1325 by Robert the Bruce, and remained in the possession of Clan Irvine until 1975.

Crathes Castle Crathes Castle is a 16th-century castle near Banchory. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for almost 400 years. The castle and grounds are presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Castle Fraser Castle Fraser is located near Kemnay and is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland, and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'.

There is evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400/1500 within the current construction.

Dinnet

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N W

Inverurie

A944

S

Alford

River Don

A947

Fraser

A944

A96

Sauchen Dunecht

Craigievar

Loch of Skene

ABERDEEN

Westhill

B9119

Lumphanan

E

A980

Torphins

Kincardine O ’ Neil

A93

Drum Drumoak

Crathes

ee

D er

Riv

Crathes

ABOYNE BANCHORY

Craigievar Castle

Balmoral Castle

Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford. It was the seat of Clan Sempill and the Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.

Balmoral Castle is located near the village of Crathie and has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased for Queen Victoria

by Prince Albert. It remains the private property of the monarch, and is not part of the Crown Estate.

Corgarff Castle Corgarff Castle is a four-storey tower house built circa 1550

by John Forbes, and in 1748 was converted into a fort. In the early 20th century, after years of neglect the castle fell into ruin, but in recent years has been wonderfully restored by Historic Scotland.

CASTLE RUINS:

Kildrummy Castle

Braemar Castle Braemar Castle is a five storey L-plan castle situated near the village of Braemar. It is owned by the Chief of Clan Farquharson and leased to a local charitable foundation but is also open to the public.

Glenbuchat Castle

Kindrochit Castle

Knock Castle

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Photographs courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

Grounds, gardens and exhibitions: 1st Apr - 31st Jul Opening times: 10am - 5pm (Last admission to castle at 4.30pm) We recommend that you set aside at least one and a half hours for your visit, this will give you time to visit the grounds, gardens, exhibitions, gift shop and the coffee shop.

balmoral Castle The history of the Scottish holiday home to the Royal Family.

Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852.

In the autumn of 1842, two and a half years after her marriage to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria paid her first visit to Scotland. They were so struck with the Highlands that they resolved to return.

A further visit to Perthshire and then Ardverikie encouraged them to seize the opportunity to purchase Balmoral.

After making enquiries they bought the estate on the 17th February 1848 and on 8th September 1848 they arrived to take possession of a property they had never seen, but to which they had committed

themselves for many years to come. They were not disappointed and when they returned South they opened negotiations for the purchase of the land on which Balmoral stood. These protracted negotiations were completed on 22nd June 1852, when the fee simple of Balmoral was purchased by Prince Albert. Once the land was purchased they decided to rebuild as the building was no longer adequate for their needs. The architect selected was William Smith, City Architect of Aberdeen.

Prince Albert decided to build a new Castle as the current one was not considered large enough for the Royal Family. A new site was chosen, 100 yards to the North West of the building, so that they could continue to occupy the old house while the new Castle was under construction.

Balmoral Estates Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB T +44 (0)13397 42534 E info@balmoralcastle.com W www.balmoralcastle.com

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The foundation stone for Balmoral Castle was laid by Queen Victoria on 28th September 1853 and can be found at the foot of the wall adjacent to the west face of the entrance porch. Before the foundation stone was placed in position, Queen Victoria signed a parchment recording the date. This parchment, together with an example of each of the current coins of the realm, was then placed in a bottle, inserted into a cavity below the site prepared for the stone.

The Castle was completed in 1856 and the old building was then demolished. This building is commemorated by a stone which is located on the front lawn, which marks the position of the front door to the demolished castle.

When Queen Victoria died in 1901 Balmoral Estates passed, under the terms of her will, to King Edward VII, and from him to each of his successors. Balmoral Estates has been more than just a favourite home to successive generations of the Royal Family.

Size of Balmoral Estate

49,000 ac.

(20,000 ha.)

Munros in the estate Lochnagar is the highest at 3,789 feet

x7

Full-time staff x 10 50-100 part-time staff

The age Lord Byron penned the poem Dark Lochnagar

Prince Albert bought the estate for Queen Victoria on the 17th February 1848.

85,000

people visit Balmoral Castle and gardens each year

2,500 acre Ballochbuie Forest The largest remnants of native Caledonian Pine forest left in the country

Prince Charles has been reviving horse logging on the estate. Image courtesy of the BBC.

Although it remains largely the same as it was in Queen Victoria's reign, successive Royal owners have followed the initiative of Prince Albert in making improvements to the estate. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales take a close personal interest in running and improving the Estates.

Did you know?

More than 20 Highland, Fell & Haflinger ponies are kept for trekking and deer retrieval during the stalking season

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Exhibitions The highlight for every visit to Balmoral is the Castle Ballroom, the largest room in the Castle.

On display you will find works of art by Landseer and Carl Haag, silver statues by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm together with Minton China and artefacts from within the Castle. There is also a beautifully restored Victorian cot, which was discovered in the Castle and was perhaps used by some of Queen Victoria's children.

The Ballroom is still much used by the Royal Family today and is the venue for two big dances during Her Majesty’s stay at Balmoral. These dances are known as the Ghillies Ball and have taken place every year since Queen Victoria’s reign.

The exhibition ‘Faithful Friends’ (opposite) is on show at Balmoral from 1st April to 31st July inclusive.

Activities Balmoral is a wonderful venue for a day out and during the open season you will find lots of activities to participate in. The Ranger Service offers a number of guided walks and luxury Land Rover safaris. Some of these will allow you to view examples of Scottish wildlife in their natural surroundings. Guided tours are also tailored to suit your requirements; participate in a guided tour around the grounds, gardens and exhibitions or for the more energetic groups a tour around the monuments and cairns situated within the grounds.

Balmoral is also the setting for cycling and running races, as well as Running The Highlands training weekends (this includes fitness training, running, flexibility, sports massage, nutrition, Pilates, running form and technique.)

For keen anglers there is also salmon fishing on the River Dee, which is available on the open market.

Car enthusiasts often use Balmoral as a meeting place for their car rallies and this also provides a wonderful interest for guests.

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Faithful Friends The Royal Dogs ~ By Garry Marsden, Visitor Enterprise Manager, Balmoral Estate ~

My personal favourite image from the exhibition is this photograph of Noble, Queen Victoria’s Collie dog who lived for 15 years.

The quest for a new exhibition crosses my desk each year and it was when walking the dogs one morning that the idea came to me.

Looking around Balmoral, I realised there was evidence of the Royal Families’ love of dogs stretching back as far as the history books go. In fact, dogs of all shapes and sizes appear everywhere; from the largest beside the statue of Prince Albert on the golf course to the smallest (Dash) painted by Sir Edmund Landseer and exhibited in the Ballroom.

Dash was the favourite Cavalier King Charles spaniel of Queen

Victoria and when he died in 1840 she said ‘(It) grieved me so much. I was so fond of the poor little fellow and he was so attached to me.’ This expressive portrait was Landseer’s first royal commission, and it paved his way to a long, fruitful relationship with the royal family.

Today the world knows of the current Queen’s affection for Corgis and three of them became international stars when they appeared in the famous James Bond scene for the start of the Olympics. Sadly, one of the Corgis, Monty passed away aged 13 in September 2012. The two other Corgis, Holly and Willow, are still with Her Majesty today.

When Queen Victoria’s beloved Noble died at Balmoral in 1887, he was buried in the grounds of the castle and given his own gravestone, which reads:

'Noble by name by nature noble too.

Faithful companion sympathetic true.

His remains are interred here'

The exhibition is on show at Balmoral from 1st April to 31st July inclusive and normal admission prices apply.

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d a i y r F S a d fari o o G

For a while now I have been intrigued by what a Deeside Safari would entail…as far as I’m aware there are no elephants or tigers roaming the hills and glens, so I was curious to find out just what I would see (if anything) and how my four hour safari adventure would be spent. ~ By Claire Black ~

After a recent encounter with Neil Bain, the guide and owner of Braemar Safaris, I decided to find out what it was all about. So I booked myself and my 11 year old son on a trip to do just that on Good Friday.

We meet Neil outside the main hotel in Braemar at 1pm and are joined by two Swedish tourists who are also keen to explore the area. After our introductions we hop into the 4x4 people carrier and are each handed a pair of binoculars.

As we make our way along the Linn o’ Dee road, chasing the shiny silver ribbon round the bends, Neil begins his commentary. He is entertaining in his storytelling about the estates surrounding Braemar, the wildlife that grace the hills and of some truly wonderful folklore.

We stop at the Linn o’ Dee bridge for a look at the gorge beneath us then head back through Braemar to our next tour up Glen Callater (Invercauld Estate).

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En route, we stop at various spots to check the hills for Red Deer but it seems that they are all hiding from us. Neil continues with his chronicles about these native deer; information about their antlers, explaining the rutting season and describing how the deer are managed on each estate. We reach Loch Callater, which has to be one of the most beautiful lochs I have ever seen. As we drive round the loch and start to slowly climb Carn an Tuirc (hill o’ the boar), we come across some black grouse who seem rather annoyed we are on their patch!

We stop and jump out to take in the spectacular 360 degree panoramic views over the Cairngorms.

It’s breathtaking. Trying to take it all in, I can only just stand there and feel blessed – all this within 90 minutes drive from my home! Reluctantly, we get back into the vehicle and continue upwards until we are abruptly halted. There is a large area of deep snow on the track which stops us from reaching the summit and seeing the Ptarmigan and Coire Loch Kander.

side of Morrone. Again we edge our way up the hill where finally Neil spots a herd on the side of the hill!

What a euphoric moment to our Braemar safari! We all hop out with our binoculars and simply watch them watching us!

As we nudge down the hill once again, I’m like an excited child wondering “where to next?” but as I glance down at my watch, I’m surprised to see that it is 5 o’clock already! Back to Braemar it is then.

This has been a truly marvelous expedition for each and every one of us. If you too are interested in experiencing more of the wildlife and scenery of Scotland, I would highly recommend booking yourself on one of these unique tours.

Unperturbed, we head back down and continue round the loch, fording the river at the other side a few times – much to my son’s delight! Soon after, we take a break in true Deeside style; with a wee dram, some cheese and oatcakes, and delightful storytelling from Neil about his childhood living in Deeside, including a story about the King and Queen popping into his family home for a cuppa!

Suitably refreshed, we head down Glen Callater back onto the main road when Neil suggests we have a look for our Monarch of the Glen on the

Looking from Carn an Tuirc towards Ben Avon.

For more information please visit www. braemarhighlandsafaris.co.uk or contact Neil Bain on +44 (0) 1339 741420 or email neil@braemarhighlandsafaris.co.uk

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E L S ' N B O E L D O C About a mile below the Linn of Dee is the little hamlet of Inverey. It stands at the junction of the Ey with the River Dee, and is one of the most picturesque villages in the county. ~ Source: Legends of Northeast Scotland by Fenton Wyness ~

At the west end of the hamlet is the castle of Inverey, now a mere heap of rubble, but in the 17th Century the stronghold of the Farquharsons of Inverey. The most outstanding member of the family was John, 3rd of Inverey. He was a tall, dark man and a fearless fighter, known to all as ‘The Black Colonel’.

He spent most of his time at the castle, where he lived with a small band of supporters, led by Alisdair McDougal. Much of the time passed at Inverey preparing for war and when Viscount Dundee sent a letter to the Colonel asking him to raise an army he rose to the challenge immediately.

The Colonel and his men took part in the battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. The Farquharsons lost many men, but the Black Colonel and a number of his soldiers escaped, returning to Inverey Castle, where they remained in hiding. One evening, an old woman who had come from Braemar, warned the Colonel that the ‘red-coats’ – the name given to Royalist Soldiers – were coming up the valley in search of the Killiecrankie fugitives.

The Colonel, with McDougal, took the little path up Glen Ey. Nor were they any too soon, for by the time they had reached the cottage of Loinavoick the ‘red-coats’ were at the castle gates and had set the building on fire. As the fire spread to the upper floors, a heavily cloaked figure was seen to dash from the building up the glen. Giving chase, the ‘red-coats’ discovered it not to be the Colonel but Annie Beg his housekeeper and so let her go.

On the summit of Creag a’ Chait, the hill above the castle, the Colonel and his henchman watched his homestead burning in the valley below. The Colonel broke into laughter, explaining that he had put all the gun-powder into the Charter room. A violent explosion was witnessed and how many ‘red-coats’ were killed nobody will ever know, but a small band of survivors continued to search for the Colonel.

He was never found, for he hid in a cave cut out of the rocks in the Ey valley, and Annie Ban carried food to him and his faithful McDougal every day. This became affectionately known as the Colonel’s Bed.

You can reach the Colonel’s Bed via a short walk (5km/3 miles) into the lower reaches of Glen Ey. Take the Land Rover tracks until the final short path to the gorge.

Care is needed around the unprotected and slippery edges of the gorge.

Photograph courtesy of Steve Whyte

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EST.

1902

Once the last of the spring snow thaws, the course at Braemar becomes unveiled and one of the true summer holiday golfing gems comes to life. ~ By Tim Gray, PGA Professional ~

Braemar Golf Course is famed as the highest course in Britain, sitting at 1,200 feet above sea level and surrounded by the glorious heather coated hills of Glen Clunie.

Huddled doon between Glen Clunie and Military roads and split by the Clunie Water, you can tell that this is going to be tight and tricky, but in the best possible way. Like all great holiday courses, it should be accommodating to all abilities and Braemar certainly makes that achievable.

It is relatively short, only 4,935 yards off the medal tees, compared to the modern day monsters, and

with no sand bunkers truly allows the ‘one game a year’ golfer a clear sporting chance of enjoying their annual day out.

As with all courses there are certain holes that can ruin your card and at Braemar they come early into your day, especially at the 2nd. A tight par 4 with the gentle sound of the Clunie reminding you that anything right is hers! If lucky enough to stay dry then a towering second shot is required to reach the summit of the green. But it’s best to get these ones over with early so you can relax and enjoy the remaining 16 which are a true pleasure.

There’s a bench by the 11th tee, take a seat for a few

moments and look around you, life just doesn’t get much better than this!

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History

Clock Golf

Founded in March 1902, during the latter part of the golfing boom in Scotland, a nine hole course was carved out of the picturesque landscape, and nearby steadings were converted into a clubhouse.

During the 1800s, the establishment of the railway lines now made it possible for the middle classes to reach the often remote golf links.

In August 1905, the Club required funds and a Grand Bazaar was held to raise money. This two day event included a selection of stalls, concerts and recitals together with fishing, shooting and Clock Golf competitions.

The Grand Bazaar was a great success and during the following years further fundraising events were held enabling the committee to start looking into the feasibility of developing the course into an 18 hole facility. Finally in 1910, the lease of Cavan’s Park was agreed, with the extended course opening in August 1911.

Further changes were made to the design and layout of the course by architect Robert Mearns (who is in fact the great, great grandfather of Dee n' Do's Design Director Kelly!), and in 1930 the present 18 hole layout was completed.

Holes: Par: SSS: Length:

18 65 64 4,935 yards (4,512m)

The English upper classes required to practise this wonderful game in a more intimate and less strenuous way. An unknown, but creative, person decided to build the Green as a clock face with 12 starting points. The hole was placed randomly within the clock-face, so that the distance to the hole from any of the 12 tees were all different.

It was especially the nobility who built Clock Green’s in their various parks and gardens and Clock Golf became a favourite pastime with this class.

The Rules of Clock Golf: 1

Start at 1 o’clock, no further than the length of a putter’s head from the edge.

2

Count how many puts it takes you to reach the hole.

3

Continue this way round the clock 2, 3, 4 etc until all 12 holes have been played.

4

Add the 12 scores together.

5

All players are scratch players – i.e. without handicaps.

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Discover Donside Inverurie

Lumsden A97

Kildrummy

A944

Alford

A947

A97 A944

Strathdon

River Don

Sauchen

A96

Dunecht Westhill

Loch of Skene B9119

ABERDEEN

Tarland A97

Lumphanan

A939

Loch Kinord

Ballater

Dinnet

Aboyne

River Dee

A93

A980

Torphins

Kincardine O’Neil

Drumoak Banchory Crathes

Upper Donside is a destination for those who appreciate wonderful views and peace and quiet. It is well placed as a base to explore Speyside and the Cairngorm Mountains, Royal Deeside as well as Aberdeen.

The River Don rises in the eastern Cairngorms and winds its way eastward through Corgarff, Strathdon, Glenkindie and Kildrummy; on its way to the rest of Aberdeenshire. Chiefly a farming area with sheep, cattle and barley. The high moors are managed for grouse shooting and acres of forestry clothe the glen sides.

Hill walking and low level walks use old drove roads, ancient smugglers trails and forest tracks.

The tracks are also suitable for mountain biking and

horse riding. Abundant wildlife includes red and roe deer, grouse, red squirrels, crossbills, buzzards and even osprey.

Castles overlook the river and are fascinating to explore as are the historic gardens at Kildrummy. In August the world famous Lonach Highland Games are held in Strathdon. Hotels and tearooms provide warm hospitality. Accommodation is available in hotels, B&B establishments and self-catering cottages and houses.

For more information on natural and historical interests, outdoor activities, accommodation and local services please visit www.upperdonside.org.uk

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Castle Country Corgarff Castle, Corgarff Set in barren moorland, Corgarff’s medieval tower house, built in the mid-16th century, is surrounded by a distinctive star-shaped perimeter wall of 18th century date.

It played a prominent part in the Jacobite Risings and its last military use was to house the English Redcoats, who had the unpopular task of combating whisky smuggling. Off A939 Ballater-Tomintoul road.

019756 51460 or visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk.

Open daily in summer from 1 April - 30 September, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Closed during winter season.

Kildrummy Castle, Kildrummy

Corgarff Castle

walls come to a point, which was once defended by a massive twin-towered gatehouse. The castle also had a seven-storey tall keep, called the Snow Tower, which contained the main living quarters.

There was also a Great Hall at the rear of the castle, and a chapel on the east side. Extensive earthworks protected the castle, including a dry moat and the ravine. Most of the castle foundations are now visible, along with most of its lower-storey walls.

Archaeological excavations in 1925 uncovered decorative stone flooring and evidence of battles.

Today, the castle property is owned by Historic Scotland (www.historic-scotland.gov.uk). A hotel (the Kildrummy Castle Hotel) has been built on the old estate, overlooking the ruins.

Kildrummy Castle dominates the landscape it proudly sits on, even in its present ruined state.

Of all the many fine castles of northeast Scotland, Kildrummy has no rivals. It certainly earns its title as ‘the noblest of northern castles’.

Off A97 Mossat-Glenkindie road. Open daily in summer from 1 April - 30 September, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Closed during winter season.

Throughout its long and distinguished history, Kildrummy was seldom far from the political spotlight. It was built in the mid-13th century, in an age when the Scottish Kings were battling to overcome the rebellious province of Moray further north. Kildrummy guarded the main routes from the south as they converged, before being funnelled northwards into Moray and Buchan.

A fine example of a Z-plan tower house. Off A97 Strathdon-Mossat road. An ancient seat of the Gordons built in 1590. Its last laird played a notable part in the Jacobite Risings. The castle is closed until further notice due to unsafe masonry at high level – the castle is not expected to open until spring 2015.

Kildrummy figured prominently during the Wars of Independence of the early 14th century. In later centuries, the castle became a residence of the Elphinstones, before resuming its role as seat of the earls of Mar after 1626. In 1715 the political spotlight fell on it for the last time.

The Doune of Invernochty is a 12th-century castle in Scotland, of which only earthworks survive.

The remaining structure is a moated motte; an extensively modified natural mound. Surrounded by a deep ditch, the summit has remains of a curtainshaped wall 1.8m thick with an entrance to the south.

In the wall are remains of a Norman chapel which served as a parish church until the mid 17th century.

A unique piece of Norman military engineering.

Kildrummy is shield-shaped in plan with a number of towers. The flat side of the castle overlooks a steep ravine. On the opposite side of the castle the

Glenbuchat Castle, Glenbuchat

Doune of Invernochty

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Accommodation & attractions Donside offers a central location for visitors to the northeast of Scotland and has a variety of accommodation to satisfy a range of holidaymakers. There are many hotels and inns, bed and breakfasts and self-catering holiday homes to choose from. For a more comprehensive list of options, please visit www.upperdonside.org.uk.

Kildrummy Inn The excellent location of the Kildrummy Inn provides the local community, visitors as well as tourists from further afield with the opportunity and chance to enjoy the superb cuisine, great hospitality and excellent en-suite accommodation the Inn is renowned for. www.kildrummyinn.co.uk

Auld Cummerton, B&B High up on the south facing slopes of Strathdon, Carole and Bruce Luffman rebuilt an 18th century ruin in 2002 to establish a 5 Star Gold B&B. Off the beaten track, with magnificent mountain views and surrounded by its own woodland, Auld Cummerton offers an oasis of calm and luxury with the highest quality furnishings and antiques. Ideally placed on the Castle and Whisky Trails with an abundance of local walks to suit all abilities but still in easy reach of all the delights of Donside and Royal Deeside.

Lost Gallery The Lost Gallery, established in 1994, has an excitingly eclectic selection of paintings, sculpture and photography. It is housed in a 19th century farmhouse that crouches low into the side of Moss Hill, one of the gentler sisters of the Cairngorms. The guiding policy at the Lost Gallery is simply stated: it is to show works by Scottish contemporary artists who most excite the owners, artist Peter Goodfellow and his wife Jean. www.lostgallery.co.uk

Delights Rich in scenic beauty and places of interest, Upper Donside offers relaxed motoring and peaceful surroundings. The opportunities for fishing on the Don are superb. There are also excellent trails for forest walking and mountain biking, and in winter there is excellent skiing at the Lecht Ski Centre. All around there are castles, gardens, galleries and museums waiting to be explored and nature waiting to be enjoyed. Ospreys feed on the Don and buzzards and even eagles can be observed. Red deer are common and herons and otters are to be seen in the river.

www.auldcummerton.co.uk

The best

IN

Royal Deeside and The Cairngorms

Glenbuchat This is a quiet and peaceful Highland glen running to the north west of Strathdon. It is guarded by the ruins of 16th century Glenbuchat Castle. A narrow, single track road runs through the glen with side loops off to farms and small hamlets like Kirkton of Glenbuchat, where the church originally dates back to 1473.

Glenbuchat Lodge lies at the head of the glen where the road swings back southwards through Glen Nochty to Bellabeg. www.visitroyaldeeside.com

AWA R D W I N N I N G

UM MY IN R D L A WEE GEM N KI

Rising Star AND

When David Littlewood and Nigel Hake, together with their families, visited Kildrummy Inn in the heart of rural Donside in Aberdeenshire, they found themselves instantly cast under its charmful spell. Looking for a business that this family team could own, run and enjoy, they were drawn to the traditional building, the beautiful surroundings, the endless potential and the close sense of community. They knew that if they felt such a strong connection with this place, that perhaps others would too.

And in October last year, Donside welcomed their newest residents as this team took over the ownership of Kildrummy Inn. Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the AA four-star Kildrummy Inn has a 30 seat restaurant, four clean and comfortable rooms, a warm and cosy bar, a private 12 seat dining room, and a large function room that can accommodate up to 120 people. Nestled in a peaceful location, surrounded by fields and hills, Kildrummy Inn also benefits from the salmon and trout fishing rights to a private four-mile stretch of the nearby River Don. In contrast to the tranquil surroundings, the team had to quickly adjust to the intensity and pace of their new lives. David, who has many chef accolades to his name (including Scottish Chef of the Year 2013/14), transformed the food offerings to reflect his passion and skills. Using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, he produces everything freshly on site, from the bread to the ice creams and chocolates. This takes tremendous effort and hard work, but that’s exactly how he wants it. Nigel has taken on the role of the genial host with a comprehensive knowledge of the carefully chosen wine list and other drinks on offer, as well as an extensive selection of malt whiskies. Together, they offer a warm and engaging experience that cannot fail to impress the visitor.

Kildrummy Inn is fast becoming a hub of the community; a destination where locals and visitors can retreat and enjoy a relaxed evening of great food and humble, yet comfortable, surroundings. The sense of pride and genuineness of the team is obvious, and their passion for what they love and want to achieve is unmistakable.

Their combined hard work to mould and nurture Kildrummy Inn has not gone unnoticed in industry circles. At the recent Scottish Hotel Awards, Kildrummy picked up three honours winning Scotland's Rising Star Restaurant of the Year 2014, NE Scotland Small Country Hotel of the Year 2014, and NE Scotland Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year. This is an amazing feat considering the short time it has been under new ownership.

Whilst awards are certainly a great confidence booster and much-savoured pats on the back, the owners' biggest reward is greeting eager customers through the door and bidding their farewells to now-satisfied regulars.

So the next time you are looking for somewhere a little bit special – somewhere warm and welcoming that serves great quality food, or fancy an overnight stay in tranquil surroundings – we suggest you head to Kildrummy Inn and pay these lovely people a visit.

Sunday’s at Ardoe now available, book your table today!

Join us for a lazy Sunday lunch Award winning food, friendly service and stunning surroundings will make you glad you chose to spend your Sunday with us at Ardoe House.

Sunday Lunch in Blairs Restaurant Experience the grandeur of a three course Sunday lunch at Ardoe House in the newly refurbished Blairs Restaurant served between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

£25 per guest. Under 12’s £14.

High Tea Served in the newly refurbished Blairs Restaurant from 4.00pm-6.00pm. Enjoy tea, coffee, toast and preserves before ordering your main course and then completing your meal with a selection of scones and sweet treats.

£19 per guest. Under 12’s £12.

Afternoon Tea Served all week from noon till 6.00pm. Delight in our selection of afternoon teas and champagne afternoon teas in the sumptuous surroundings of our Drawing Room overlooking the lawns with rounds of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, preserves and home bakes. Children’s afternoon tea menu available.

From £19 per guest. Under 12’s from £12.

Young Diners menu available at any of our Sunday offerings To make a reservation for any of the above please

call 01224 860 600 or email h6626-re@accor.com

Enjoy 10% OFF Your Food Bill. Quote ‘Dee&Do’ when booking your Sunday lunch or High Tea. Terms and conditions apply. Valid until 30th November 2014.

Toys, Treats and Teething Advice as The Scottish Kids Show Set to Debut at AECC New parents, family members, or those looking for a fantastic gift for someone young will be in for a treat this June at the GE Oil & Gas Arena at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. Xcite Media’s Gavin Esslemont and Darren Ross, the Directors and Organisers also behind the Aberdeenbased home improvement exhibition, The Scottish Home Show, are to expand their portfolio of events with the launch of a dedicated children’s show – set to debut on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June, 2014.

The new exhibition, known as the Scottish Kids Show, will showcase everything from pre-natal products and services for mums and dads to be, as well as toys, gadgets, gift ideas and advice for children right through their development - from the young toddler, right up to 16 years old. Confirmed exhibitors include everything from big brand names such as The Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Glasgow Pram Centre, Halfords, Aberdeen Football Club, RSPB, LBS Chillipeeps and NHS Grampian to smaller, local companies. With over 150 stands already booked up by such fantastic brand names, the organisers hope to attract over 8,000 visitors over the weekend.

Darren Ross comments: “The children’s market is absolutely massive and can be pricey, but we want to show that it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Whilst we will showcase some of the more extravagant products and services for children, we will also ensure we cater for those who are sticking to a strict budget. It’s also a great opportunity for businesses to highlight products and services to people interested, and passionate about family life.

“We are really excited to bring the first exhibition of its kind to the North East, and look forward to delivering a first-class show.”

Tickets are available to buy online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Balmoral S c ot t i S h h o m e

to t h e

R oya l F a m i ly

Open daily from 1st April until 31st July 2014 Exhibitions, Gardens, Castle Ballroom, Audio Guide, CafĂŠ & Shop.

For further information telephone: Tel: 01339 742 534

www.braemargallery.co.uk www.balmoralcastle.com

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Mar Lodge, near Braemar, is opening its doors to the public on Saturday 14th June for ‘Midsummer at Mar Lodge’, an event which will showcase the best of local produce, craft and vintage.

Mar Lodge was built in 1895 as a Highland Sporting Lodge for the Duke and Duchess of Fife, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter.

The event, hosted by local events company Blythe Events in conjunction with the National Trust for Scotland, will allow visitors to appreciate this magnificent setting while browsing Scottish food, craft and vintage stalls in the lodge and the stag ballroom, which displays some 2,500 stag antlers.

Visitors can also enjoy a BBQ on the lawn, with venison from the estate, and lemonade from Berry Scrumptious’ Summerhouse on wheels. Meanwhile children can be entertained with lawn games and a treasure hunt on the grounds, especially created for the day by ‘Treasure Trails’. Pause to appreciate the stunning lodge building with ‘Around the World in 80 Teas’ who will be hosting tea tastings in the elegant dining room or enjoy a full afternoon tea on vintage crockery in the magnificent drawing room, organised by local volunteers to raise funds for the National Trust.

Entry is a £1 donation to the National Trust and children go free.

For further details on tea tastings and afternoon tea bookings please contact Blythe Events on info@blytheevents.co.uk or visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/Blytheevent

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E T PE

ANT R RG

- THE L A S T

JAC OB IT

E

1714 -182 4

Braemar Graveyard

The remarkable story of the last rebel begins at the Dubrach, a long abandoned farm a few miles from the Linn o' Dee where Peter Grant was born in 1714. He grew up to become a tailor in Auchendryne (now Braemar) and there he remained till 1745. ~ By John Broon ~

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Peter Grant was one of the first to join up when the Jacobite recruiters came to Deeside and fought at the battle of Prestonpans where he distinguished himself and was promoted to Sergeant Major.

He then marched to England and was one of the garrison at Carlisle Castle when it was held by the Jacobites, the knowledge he gained then was to serve him well later.

Peter Grant was at the battle of Falkirk in January 1746 and then moved northwards and on April 16th he lined up with the Mackintoshes at Culloden.

Plenty has been written about the battle of Culloden, all we need to know here is the Highlanders were completely overwhelmed and Dubrach (as he was now known) was taken prisoner, lucky to have escaped execution on the field as befell many of his comrades. Grant was held for a while in Inverness Castle before being transferred to Carlisle Castle where he was held awaiting trial for treason and possible hanging. Now the knowledge from his time in the garrison proved invaluable, somehow he managed to escape, possible only by one who knew the castle inside out.

He travelled north and walked the entire way back to Auchendryne. He arrived in time to go to his neighbour’s daughter’s christening – Mary Cumming, who, 16 years later he fell in love with and married!

After a period of ‘hiding’ he was then able to resume his life as a tailor without any trouble from the authorities until he retired many years later and moved south, to Lethnot in Angus. His wife died in 1811 leaving him a single man again at 97.

In 1814, Dubrach had his 100th birthday, apparently in very good health and spirits, the last surviving rebel from the ’45. His story reached King George IV and he was presented to the King when he visited Edinburgh in 1822. It is said the exchange between them went something like this; George IV: “I believe you are my oldest subject?”

The Dubrach: “Na, na sire, I am your oldest enemy!”

Whatever passed between them the King granted Dubrach a pension of £52 a year for life and suggested no time be wasted as Peter Grant, the last rebel, was now 107.

In springtime 1823, the Dubrach could no longer resist the call of home and moved back north to Auchendryne to stay with his family where on 11 March he died, at the fine old age of 110. The funeral was a huge occasion with a cortege of pipers heading some 300 Highlanders. It is said that there was no shortage of whisky and that four gallons were drunk “even before the lifting”. As the Dubrach was finally dispatched, so closed the final chapter of the 1745 rebellion and the remarkable story of The Dubrachs.

Dubrach’s Funeral Over three hundred people attended Peter Grant’s funeral, and three highland pipers played the Jacobite tune "Wha Widna Fecht Fer Charlie" as his funeral proceeded to the cemetery of Braemar beside the ancient Braemar Castle.

Who were the Jacobites?

The Jacobites were the supporters of King James VII (of Scotland) and II (of England) and his heirs.

James VII and II ruled Britain from 1685 to 1689 but because he was a Roman Catholic he was replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband, the Dutch Prince William of Orange. Those who continued to support the exiled James (‘Jacobus’ being the name in Latin) became known as ‘Jacobites’.

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( U I S GE

BEATHA )

W hisky

CA I D E D

TED TO DRAM S

~ D I S TI L L E D W I TH PR IDE ~

While whisky has firmly established its status as Scotland’s national drink, the country also offers many other alcoholic beverages, such as beers, ales, cider and wine.

It is therefore no coincidence that there are many tours and trails on offer to let you sample the delights and regale in the hype and history of our beverages. And it is also no surprise that we like to celebrate and promote our drink through events and festivals.

One such celebration is Homecoming Scotland 2014’s Whisky Month May. This month-long, countrywide event hopes to attract the whisky novice or the real connoisseur through a variety of events across the country. The unique characteristics of Scotland’s whisky regions are discussed, with behind-the-scenes experiences and distillery tours. Check the VisitScotland website for more details.

So where did it all start?

Whisky has been distilled here since at least the 15th century, with the first record of it dating back to 1494 when Friar John Cor of Lindores Abbey in Fife was granted the king’s commission to make acqua vitae. Acqua vitae is Latin for ‘water of life’ and the word ‘whisky’ derives from the Gaelic translation: uisge beatha (pronounced oosh-ga beh-huh). Water isn’t only part of the name; it is an integral part of whisky creation. The art of distilling started as a way

of using up rain-soaked barley and, as it still does today, uses water from Scotland’s crystal streams and burns. It has been produced in Scotland for hundreds of years. It is generally agreed that monks brought distillation with them along with Christianity in the fourth and fifth centuries. The first official recording of distilling stretches back to tax records from 1494.

The first official taxes on whisky production were not imposed until 1644, causing a rise in illicit whisky distilling in the country. Around 1780, there were about 8 legal distilleries and 400 illegal ones. In 1823, Parliament eased restrictions on licensed distilleries with the “Excise Act”, while at the same time making it harder for the illegal stills to operate, thereby ushering in the modern era of Scotch production.

Two events helped the increase of whisky’s popularity: first, a new production process was introduced in 1831 called Coffey or Patent Still.

The whisky produced with this process was less intense and smoother. Second, the Phylloxera beetle destroyed wine and cognac production in France in 1880, meaning that stocks of both in cellars around the world dwindled to almost nothing.

Since then, whisky production has gone from strength to strength, weathering prohibition in the United States, two world wars, the Great Depression and economic recessions throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Today, it is enjoyed in over 200 countries around the world.

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Types of Whisky There are two kinds of Scotch whisky: malt whisky, which is made by the pot still process, and grain whisky, which is made by the patent still (or Coffey still) process.

Malt whisky is made from malted barley only while grain whisky is made from malted barley together with unmalted barley and other cereals. A third, blended whisky, involves an intricate process of mixing different single malts with grain whisky.

This third process requires a very skilled and experienced kind of master blender. The art of blending is to mix grain and malt whisky in percentage proportions. Each blending house has its own peculiar percentage formulae. The blender has to know the different characteristics of whisky production from separate regions of Scotland. Grain whisky is much the same wherever distilled and proportionally used. Malt whisky has different variations in taste and maturing years, light or heavy in quality. Malts are determined as Highland, Lowland and Islay/Skye. The peaty smell of the latter group merits a lower percentage usage in blends. The blender has to adhere to laid down specifications, strictly controlled, using his

knowledge and experience in selections of whiskies, particularly noting the type of casks the whisky has been matured in. The over use of sherry type casks not only sweetens, but also upgrades the colour, thus creating unnecessary inconsistencies in the final blend.

Years back, casks were transported from the maturing warehouses to various Blending Houses in central and southern Scotland by the twice weekly whisky train, who duly returned north laden with empty casks. Modern methods now make use of tanker transportation. Blending is mainly nosing and whether a blend has 100 or 1000 casks each has to be examined and nosed prior to disgorging.

The blender has to use his discretion as to how ‘a bad odour’ cask is used. Consistency in selection and nosing is vital. After the blender approves the mixture, the whisky is prepared for bottling, water being added to reduce the percentage alcohol market strength and colouring to obtain production consistency. This completes the blending process.

Bottling and labeling is passed to the control of sales and marketing department.

If you’re interested in discovering the secrets behind the art of whisky creation, from its history through to production, explore the unique flavours as part of Scotland’s Whisky Month or follow a whisky trail and visit some of our distilleries!

Strathisla Distillery in Keith, Moray

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Grab your pens kids, it's time to start doodling!

Why don't you draw something from the Highland Games, or challenge someone to a quick game of noughts n' crosses. This is your page so get doodling!

Building A Den

Here’s a simple way to make a den in the woods. Once you have mastered these 4 easy steps, have a go at building your own!

1 Find a suitable tree

Look for a strong tree with suitable branches which will help you form a sturdy base.

2 Build a sturdy frame

Find a couple of branches which you can firmly wedge together against the tree to make your den’s main frame - just like the picture here.

4

Camouflage Cover the den with heather, scots pine twigs and leaves, to make it wind and water tight.

3

Strengthen the frame

Collect more branches and lay them so they are leaning against the frame. Pack them together so they are secure.

Enjoy your den!

CALLING ALL KIDS! Got a favourite picture you want published in our next issue? Have the most fantastic idea for a puzzle we can share? Got the funniest joke to split our sides?

If you think so, please send us your pictures or ideas and you might just see your contribution in the next Dee n’ Doodles! Email: hello@deendo.com

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ES K O J e Be

y? n holida es go o e b o d re Q. Whe apore! g n ti S .

A p bees dro inds of k t a h Q. W things? s! ble bee A. Fum orn a bee b ou call y o d t a Q. Wh in May? ybe!

A. A ma chool? get to s do bees w o H .

Q l buzz! e schoo A. On th

YOUR DOODLES >>>>

Far’s the bagPipes?

Somewhere hidden in this magazine is oor Amelie’s bagpipe’s.

Can you find them?

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Don’t eat any berries

Will the fern s be curly?

r Not fo r o g n i k pic ! g eatin

Ouch!

nibb led by sq uirr els?

folk Some e m ll a c ’s n a m old d r bea

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LISTEN OUT

for Woodpeckers! see Will you fly? r a butte

‘Y’ shaped Twig

a Spot rel! r i u q s red

Ladybird l p Woo

Shee

es

av n Le

Brow

Heather

Stone (any shape)

t n u rH

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low find? nd a ou n y igh a ! h c t bag Hun things a ng Bri any m o r t how mbe e rem

Sca

Ants - but don’t touch!

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Planning a trip along the Deeside Way? If the Duthie Park is your destination, head across the road to the Inn at the Park and enjoy a well-earned rest with a refreshing drink or hearty meal.

3-4 Deemount Terrace Aberdeen, Scotland AB11 7RX T +44(0)

01224 583699

E info@innattheparkhotel.co.uk

find us on...

www.innattheparkhotel.co.uk

YOU DON’T NEED THE WHITE STUFF TO ENJOY THE SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE CAIRNGORMS! Throughout July and August, the chairlift up the Cairnwell is operational* to almost the summit. The top of the chairlift offers the best panorama of the Cairngorms to be seen from any Scottish ski area. You can choose to walk, bike or take the chair back down. *Weather permitting, approx. 9.30am – 4.30pm, single chairs, 8 years and over.

THE CAFÉ & SHOP open from 8.30am - 5pm Throughout the summer until November

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACK approx. 3.2km graded blue with two uphill sections accessed by Cairnwell Chair

OUTSIDE CATERING weddings, family gatherings, business meetings Contact Aileen Lawrence, 013397 41320

GLENSHEE SKI CENTRE Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5XU T: 013397 41320 E: info@ski-glenshee.co.uk

www.ski-glenshee.co.uk Deedo Advert_Layout 1 03/01/2014 10:33 Page 1

u Customised Outdoor Clothing made in Deeside u Supplying Specialised Outdoor Clothing for over 35 years u Outdoor equipment stockist u Visit our shop and workshop

.......High Performance 100% Cotton Fabric

Ballater Rd, Aboyne T: 013398 86062

www.hilltrek.co.uk

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A WEEKEND WITH

G IANTS Conquering a munro in a day is a challenge for some; conquering a climbing route on a munro in a day is a challenge for many. To take three days out of your busy life to conquer several climbs and munros is something completely different! ~ By Duncan Paterson, North East Mountaineering ~

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From a very young age I have been passionate about mountaineering and am now a professional Mountaineering Instructor. I am very lucky to be able to combine my love of the sport with my professional life. Here I share with you an account of a weekend’s adventure in the Southern Cairngorms.

In the depths of the Cairngorms, away from the hustle and bustle of the towns and cities, hidden even from the tourist thoroughfare in the Deeside corridor, lie weathered, rough and aged giants. South of Ballater and through Glen Muick on the Queen’s estate of Balmoral, resides Lochnagar with its towering and imposing crags above its dark loch.

Carry on past Loch Muick, above and beyond the horizon, you will be faced with the ever steepening cliffs of Creag an Dubh Loch. The corries and crags of the Cairngorms do not number in the few – they number in their hundreds. I dare not count!

Selecting a prime few to undertake in a long weekend adventure is not an easy task. An entire weekend could be spent climbing any of those we will visit, and you would still have to come back for more! We, however, opted for camping near the waters of the Dubh Loch below the Crags, and in our sleeping bag high up on the plateau of the famous Lochnagar.

DAY/EVENING ONE Base (car park at the Spittal of Glen Muick) - Creag an Dubh Loch Leaving the car park at the Spittal of Glen Muick along the long Land Rover track you will often pass some of the more hairy local residents making the most of the evening sunshine. Red deer are prominent in this area, easily numbering over 50 in any given day.

The trail along the north side of Loch Muick can be a long one and sometimes a hard push if you have travelled it before and haven’t been blessed with the best of weather. This is, however, where the excitement and imagination of the journey in front of us boils over and is the unending conversation piece.

Before we know it, we have passed the Queens House at Glas alt Shiel and the bothy behind it nestled in the forest. Continuing beyond the loch, following a more rugged trail, we find ourselves passing waterfalls, crossing streams and gaining height. Finally, the cliffs of Creag an Dubh Loch come in to sight with the loch itself below and Eagles Rock opposite.

The pace quickens for the last jaunt alongside the Dubh Loch. We reach the shores on the west end next to the stream that feeds the loch its deep dark water. Setting up camp here is very atmospheric, made even more so by the thought of waking up in the morning and having breakfast below the ever steepening crags.

Looking over from Eagles Rock to Creag and Dubh Loch

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DAY TWO Creag an Dubh Loch/Eagles Rock Lochnagar Climbing Route 1: Black Mamba Climbing Grade: Very Severe Climb Length: 260m Climbing Route 2: Climbing Grade: Climb Length: Munro:

A Likely Story Hard Very Severe 75m Broad Cairn

Up and at it! The great thing about getting away from work early the day before is that you can enjoy an evening walk through the glens and get an early start the next day. Our climbing exploits of today’s mission consist of three parts: Tackle ‘Black Mamba’; a gem of a climb up through the sweeping granite slabs of Creag an Dubh Loch, and descending back to the campsite for a late lunch via the rocky Central Gully.

Duncan Paterson

1

2 Once fed, make our way to Eagles Rock on the north side of the glen for a shorter climb named ‘A Likely Story’.

3

Find a suitable spot to camp for the night.

Black Mamba follows a series of different rock features on the Centra Slabs of the crag. The crag has seen ascents of varying difficulties with some amazing feats of determination over the last one hundred years and looks to continue to do so for many years to come.

Selecting the best or hardest route of the crag was not our aim. There are many starred routes and classics (Black Mamba being among them). Having climbed well over a dozen routes on the crag itself; Black Mamba holds somewhat of a special place in my heart, being the first route I climbed on Creag an Dubh Loch.

Finding your way through the mass of rock and route choices is difficult. I have found myself falling foul of complacency in route finding and crossing several routes unintentionally. After nine pitches (approximately 260 metres), we reach the top and take in the breath-taking sight of the expansive Broad Cairn summit slopes.

It is a good idea to carry a bag with food and water, along with some essential clothing (jackets and shoes/boots), especially when faced with a descent of Central Gully. It is an awesome sight to behold as you make your way down to the base of the crag;

towering walls either side and numerous climbs meandering up the steep corners and overlaps of granite. Filled with large boulders, care must be taken to remain in one piece!

After a quick lunch we pack up the tents and move on to the next part of our day. Eagles Rock feels to me like Minas Tirith in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings; ever looking upon the slopes and in the shadows of Mount Doom. In this case it is ever looking upon the cliffs of Creag an Dubh Loch. In the sunshine there are bright swathes of granite and, if wet, a glistening spectacle of light. In the dim view of a stormy day however they sit dark and deep, uninviting and forbidding.

Climbing in full view of the larger cliffs of Creag an Dubh Loch can be an event in itself, regardless of the choice of route. Watching walkers make their way alongside the loch and beyond, or spotting climbers on ledges and making moves in the expanse of the opposing crag provides some entertainment.

The crag here does not provide a ‘topping out’ on to summit slopes but rather an opportunity to descend back to the bags for the remaining journey (whether that is home or on to another destination). Two long abseils later, we pack our gear at the base of the crag and head onward.

For the final leg of the day, we walk up and over the slopes behind Lochnagar to a suitable spot for the night. Weather is on our side, the winds are light which allow us to camp high up on the plateau near the main tourist path to the summit.

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Mountain Hare

Looking up Central Gully. Can you spot the climbers?

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DAY THREE Lochnagar - Base Climbing Route: Climbing Grade: Climb Length: Munro:

Eagle Ridge Severe 250m Lochnagar

We wake to glorious sunshine on our second morning (it’s not always like this, trust me!) and we get all our gear packed. We leave the tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipment in a safe spot, then descend the mountain until we find a route down to the corrie floor.

Skirting round the amphitheatre above the loch, like many before us, we sought rest and fuel beside the Mountain Rescue box before making our way to the base of the climb.

Eagle Ridge lies almost in the centre of the main corrie cliffs. It is graded ‘Severe’ or ‘Hard Severe’ depending on which guidebook you read. More worthy labels I would add to that are atmospheric, challenging, inspiring, towering, enthralling.

Early in the summer season it is common to have to safely negotiate the remaining snow skirting the base of the cliff. A series of deep corners pass beyond ledges providing a breather. If wet, these corners certainly test the confident; when dry, rock stars have their chance to pull off their fancy climbing moves to pull up and out.

Beyond the first few corners, the route opens up to a series of airy ridges and bulges of rock. Stay to the left and you find yourself in the sunshine moving on the crest high above the gully hidden in the shade. Nestled on the ridge is the aptly named ‘Sentry Box’ where two can fit for some security before setting off for the final sections of the climb.

Surmounting the back wall of the box, climbers must overcome the trickier moves on the route, with some imagination required.

The final pitch of the climb leads you up a sunclad slab and onto the plateau of the mountain with views reaching north far through the northern

Derek Arnot

Cairngorms; south through Glen Clova and the Angus glens; west over the white mounth and Glen Shee; and east through the Deeside valley.

For those that have the urge to tick off the summit then a short walk around the corrie rim will lead you to the cairn. Our journey home takes us back over the same paths as the morning to pick up our camping kit. We descend the stepped path to the col at Meikle Pap which leads us down to the main Landrover track and back to the starting point at the Spittal of Glen Muick.

Having spent the weekend amidst the mountains and on the crags of the Southern Cairngorms, all we can think about is a nice cup of tea and a lovely warm bath. It may be tiring, but nothing compares to the great escape of the heather-clad hills, star filled nights and exciting climbing of the Cairngorms.

The Scottish mountains present a thriving playground of activities and routes waiting to be explored, whether you’re a walker or climber. Get out there and find your adventure; it’s right outside your door!

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you can plan

but you can’t

Do you recognise the lyrics above? See below for the answer.

Did you know?

Queen Victoria’s favoured picnic places included Connacht on the Queens Drive about three miles from Balmoral Castle, the Linn of Dee and the Linn of Quoich where “The Queen’s Cottage” overlooks the well known ‘Earl of Mar Punchbowl’.

OutKast - Ms. Jackson

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P icnicking in Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms

The rules of good picnicking should be observed and so please enjoy your piece in peace, respect nature and any monuments, take nothing from the spot and leave only footprints behind!

Generally, if you follow these rules you can picnic anywhere where you judge the conditions to suit your mood. The locations we suggest here can be reached with short walks from parking. If you are looking for something more remote please look at our short and longer walks. If you opt for a river location take care since river flows can be both hypnotic and deceptive.

Keep everyone at a safe distance.

Craigievar Castle The peaceful grounds of Craigievar make an excellent picnic ground, with shelter available if required.

Environment is mature garden/woodland estate.

Ballater Riverside open location (near the river and Ballater Golf Course) A local short walk takes you here or there is parking nearby if you are traveling from outside Ballater.

Cambus o’ May You can opt for a riverside location close to the Cambus o’ May suspension bridge or alternatively choose the woodland walks area on the north side of the road. The two spots are located about four miles east of Ballater off the A93 and are well sign posted.

Linn o’Dee, Mar Lodge Estate This area has a lot to offer for wildlife watching and walking. The road towards Linn o’ Dee has several parking spaces and if you wish to combine a walk with your picnic you may well find other options present themselves.

Linn o’Quoich, Mar Lodge Estate Linn o’ Quoich is also a renowned beauty spot but is more remote though still accessible by car.

A number of walks lead away from the car park so it also offers more options for shelter or more sunshine as the day demands.

Loch Muick (situated in the Balmoral Estate) There is a visitor centre with parking at the Spittal of Glen Muick where there are some picnic tables.

Picnic here or opt to walk towards Loch Muick and find a comfortable spot with a view. Open, spacious landscape can be breezy, so pick your day!

Aboyne Gliding Club The club holds the height record for UK gliding and so has, through the years, attracted many spectators.

A picnic area overlooking the airfield has been made to accommodate the curious and when flying conditions are good there is a lot to amuse, as small tug planes tow gliders up for soaring. The airfield is less than a mile to the west of Aboyne on the A93.

Strathdon There are a line of small villages close to Strathdon with a number of locations along the River Don where it is possible to picnic. It is possible to park at Lonach Hall, next to the Colquhonnie Hotel, and from there walk into woodland to the west with picnic tables.

There is also a designated picnic area in Bellabeg.

Nine Stanes Stone Circle The Stone Circle is enclosed in a secluded forest area which has a picnic area. From the village of Strachan, south of the River Dee, turn from the B976 onto the B974 and head south. After crossing the River Feugh, take the first left onto an unclassified road. Nine Stanes Stone Circle is sign posted and there is a small area to park.

Potarch A number of bridges cross the River Dee and a fine one exists at Potarch. It is possible to park off the A93 and from there make your way down to the banks of River Dee where it is possible to picnic. There is also a designated picnic spot across the bridge.

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ED H S COW

COOK SCHOOL

The Cow Shed in Raemoir is the only Scottish Cook School running Weber® BBQ courses.

Held in their purpose-built BBQ bothy, the specialised courses teach you how to barbecue more than just the basics. Using the range of charcoal, gas and electric BBQs, you can see what can be achieved using the tricks of the trade.

In addition, they also run bespoke BBQ courses for groups of six and above. These are very popular, and the group can then choose a date and menu that specifically suits their requirements. Great idea for a birthday or stag do perhaps, or as an activity for tourists to the area, as the BBQ menu can be tailored to a more Scottish theme.

Course Dates £75

Weber BBQ Grill 1 Saturday 17th May, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Prepare your own lunch and enjoy with a cold beer or glass of wine. Herb rubbed Aberdeen Angus Steak, Loch Duart Salmon in a parcel, 2 vegetable accompaniments, shallot sauce. £75

Sample Menu Canapés/appetisers belted scallops, asparagus and Parma ham, lamb meat balls, honey smoked chicken fillets Main courses cedar paper smoked salmon, beer can chicken, steak selection served with seasonal salads, herb crusted beef fillet, Latino pork roast Dessert pineapple upside down cake, fire roasted black pepper strawberries

Weber BBQ Grill 2 Sunday 22nd June, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Prepare your own lunch and enjoy with a beer or glass of wine. Chicken, corn and cheese tortillas, creole prawns in grilled crusty roll.

The Cow Shed, Raemoir Road, Banchory, AB31 5QB. Tel: 01330 820813, email: info@cowshedrestaurant.co.uk www.cowshedrestaurantbanchory.co.uk

We are quality catering butchers, supplying a large number of leading hotels and restaurants, schools, hospitals and other organisations with top quality beef, pork, lamb, poultry and speciality cooked meats; as well as some of the highest quality venison and game available in the UK.

Based in Aberdeen, we make regular deliveries all over Scotland throughout the week.

G McWilliam Aberdeen Limited 37 St.Clement Street, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB11 5FU T: 01224 211174 F:01224 211128 E: info@gmcwilliam.co.uk

www.gmcwilliam.co.uk

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Wild

S w i m m i n g S p ot s ~ By Joanna Whysall ~

Firstly, it has to be said that I wouldn’t necessarily be keen to receive local knowledge from someone who has only been in the area for five minutes, however, for as long as I can remember, and way before the phrase “wild swimming” was coined, I haven’t been able to resist taking a dip in any river, lake, sea or stream I have come across – whatever the temperature, whatever the time of year. Brrrrrr!

I am sure most locals have many more suggestions – but here are mine. It goes without saying that these are only suggestions and that anyone wanting to swim or bathe in natural water must take all necessary safety precautions.

Cambus o’ May I’ve been told that it’s not uncommon to see youngsters jumping off the Cambus o’ May bridge on a hot sunny day. This beautiful Victorian suspension bridge is on a very picturesque bend on the river, which can be as deep as four metres in parts. There’s a shingle shore on one side and an area of large flat rocks on the other, so dipping your toes in is easy. Obviously, great care needs to be taken when swimming in any river, and you certainly shouldn’t jump off any bridge before being certain that there’s enough water below! Perfect picnic spot.

Linn o’ Dee The Linn o’ Dee is a 300 metre rock gorge and is one of the most scenic areas in Royal Deeside. Swimming in the gorge is dangerous but below the gorge the river widens out and becomes a combination of shallow and deeper pools. Obviously, the state of the river changes but on a sunny day last summer the water was as still as a mill pond. There are also plenty of warm flat rocks to dry out on.

Callater Burn I haven’t taken a dip in Callater Burn yet but I walked alongside it this winter and have seen a few spots I would like to use in the summertime. Head south on the A93 from Braemar and you will find a car park on the left hand side just past the Auchallater Farm buildings and over the river. There’s a track that follows the river up to Loch Callater and along the way there are a few great places for bathing in – dependent on conditions.

Loch Muick Clean, clear waters of Loch Muick on the Balmoral Estate are perfect for a dip. Loch Muick is well sign posted and easy to reach. One of the best places to enter the water is from the shoreline by Glas-allt Shiel, an impressive house built for Queen Victoria.

The easiest and quickest way to reach this corner of the Loch is to walk anti-clockwise. There is a small charge for the car park at Loch Muick.

Cambus O' May Photograph courtesy of Dod Peters

Unusual and interesting is our speciality and passion

Deeside Drinks are an independent wine, whisky and craft, artisan beers.

We provide a professional customer service within a welcoming place and hold regular tastings of wine, spirits and beers.

Deeside Drinks Emporium 22 Dee Street, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB31 5ST t +44(0)1330 822650 e deesidedrinks@live.co.uk

www.facebook.com/DeesideDrinksEmporium twitter.com/deesidedrinks

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By Sandy Kenneway Deeside Drinks Emporium, Banchory

Adventurous Aromatics As the winter slowly fades into recent memory I find myself moving away from the comforting, big, spicy red wines that brought so much warmth and joy to the bleakest part of the year and instead start to crave the styles and flavours of lighter whites (cool from the ice bucket preferably).

The temptation to reach for the familiar is strong; a punchy, grassy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio is an easy option, but frankly I’m getting bored of the same old routine. Don’t get me wrong, I love these wines when they are well made, but more and more they are all starting to taste the same as producers all jump on the same bandwagon. I even met a French producer (who shall remain nameless) on my travels this year who told me “you’ll like my Sauvignon, it tastes like it’s from New Zealand!”…I didn’t.

Wine can seem snobby, upper class and elitist at times and the fear of ‘getting it wrong’ can weigh heavy on people’s mind, especially if you are in some fancy-schmancy place with a wine list that reads like War and Peace!

Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc slip off the tongue all too easily, certainly more so that Gewürztraminer or Viognier, and as such take away the fear.

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Viognier

Malvasia

vee-oh-nyay

[mall-vay-sea-ah]

Perfumed, flavours of peach and apricot

Candied fruit aromas, jasmine, elderflower and lime

Tor r ontes

Gewur ztr aminer

[tor-ron-tess]

[guh-vurts-trah-mee-ner]

Very tropical, tangy-ness like tangerines, refreshing

Spicy, concentrated flavours of lychee, roses and mango Sample responsibly

Another worry can be that grape types such as Gewürztraminer or Riesling sound German and will therefore be sweet. No, not always. A quick look at the alcohol content can be a guide (anything over 12% ABV is likely to be drier).

These varieties can produce incredibly complex wines that are very food friendly – try a new world Gewürztraminer with spicy curries or Thai food.

They are unbelievable.

Some great examples: 2011

2012

2013

2012

Tomero Torrontes Vista Alba, Mendoza, Argentina Ben Marco Torrontes Mendoza, Argentina Villa Mura Malvasia Sartori, Italy Birichino Malvasia Monterey, USA

Our hot tip for 2014 is:

Torrontes from Argentina Typically, they are powerfully aromatic with an array of wildflower and tropical fruits. Medium bodied, fruity and crisp, well balanced with a clean finish, this wine drinks great as a glass by itself but will also pair well with a multitude of dishes.

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Deeside Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic offers the highest quality physiotherapy assessment and treatment of all types of muscle and joint problems thoughtout the whole of the Deeside Valley.

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creativity is the driving force behind this design and publishing group. we’re all about the design, look and feel. but we’re also sticklers for detail.

T H I N K . C R E AT E . D E L I V E R .

If you need some help producing creative works and ideas, we have an open mind and can plan new, innovative, and interesting ways of translating ideas into reality. We specialise in graphic, web and promotional material design.

GET IN TOUCH

Room 2, 2nd Floor, 46a Union Street Aberdeen, AB10 1BD t +44 (0)7790 129212

e hello@burdiecreative.com

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Make Charlie House your 2014 charity!

Charlie House is a new, locally based children’s charity established to support children with complex and multiple disabilities and their families in the North-east. By supporting us you will help many local children with chronic or life limiting conditions engage in new activities, make friends and socialise.

Our plans for the future include a purpose built, specialist care centre that will be able to provide the children and their families a place to have some fun together. www.charliehouse.org.uk info@charliehouse.org.uk

5 Midmar Crescent, Kingswells, Aberdeen, AB15 8FD

n’ Do1has pledged to donate a page to highlight and promote a local charity. Contact us if you would like to be featured in our31/03/2014 next issue.14:55 Dee-n-DooDee Ad.indd

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1st

Aboyn A93

Dinnet

Braemar Ballater

To explore Royal Deeside is to share in one of the most delightful parts of Aberdeenshire and indeed possibly the most beautiful place in Britain. To influence and shape parts of this majestic area, is truly an honour and a privilege and one which WCP architects take very seriously and sympathetically.

Established in 1984, WCP architects is a company of Chartered Architects based in Aberdeen. Owner and architect Dougal Morgan, together with his partner and fellow architect Kirstin Bradley (originally from Aboyne) have over 45 years’ industry experience and run an award-winning architectural practice, with projects throughout Scotland. Some of their favourite projects have been working within the Dee Valley from Braemar along the route of the River Dee to where it meets the North Sea in Aberdeen. The reasons for this are as varied as the projects they are involved in; unique locations, contrast in requirements, project interpretation, building client relationships etc.

Nearly everyone you meet in Royal Deeside has a story to tell – from the chatty safari guides on the Glens to the aspiring artists whose work has captured the beauty of the land. Some however, go further than just telling their stories; they also wish to make their mark on the community. WCP architects have helped so many to achieve this. The architects take immense pride in a role that allows them to interpret and improve how people interact with buildings and surroundings through the use of effective creative design and careful detailing.

This was recently recognised at The Aberdeen Society of Architects Design Awards when The Stack Yard in Braemar was a winner!

The Stack Yard had a definite story to tell. Perfectly placed to take advantage of the impressive views north to Ben Avon and the Cairngorms beyond, this house was

designed to reflect the simplicity of a bothy. The open plan living area, with its wood burning stove, gives the feeling you’re in your own little haven; a place of safety and warmth from the elements. Using traditional external materials, compatible with the local vernacular, it is in keeping with its semi-rural setting on the fringe of Braemar.

Travelling further east along the River Dee, WCP architects were involved in a similar story of a sympathetic design for an extension to a stone built cottage in Glen Muick, overlooking the River Muick on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The new building maximised its location and the chance to see some native residents, including a wide variety of bird and animal life such as red squirrel, red deer and oystercatchers.

As we leave the tranquil shores of the River Muick and continue eastwards along the River Dee we reach the Burgh of Banchory and home to Jane Innes who runs Tai Chi Aberdeenshire. A natural teacher who is focussed, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, Jane enlisted WCP architects to help realise her ideal home/work environment. She requested a large open-plan space with views to Scolty and the surrounding Deeside hills which has helped her and her pupils feel more grounded.

From one sanctuary to another – or a former one, the grade A listed Glen O’ Dee Hospital in Banchory used to house tuberculosis patients in the early 1900’s. The building has had a colourful history serving as a hotel, a sanatorium for contagious diseases and as a residential

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ne A93

Banchory

Cults

Pitfodels

Aberdeen Altens

Drumoak Mid Ardoe

Crathes Durris

home for the elderly. Unfortunately the story of the building ended abruptly in 1998, where the original building has sat empty and deteriorating ever since.

That is until recently, after WCP architects, through a very challenging process, have successfully gained planning permission for its redevelopment into residential use.

Another WCP project that required a considered and sensitive approach to gaining planning approval, was Baldarroch Chapel and Crematorium on the edge of Crathes. It will be the first such crematorium to be built in the area and was designed on behalf of Brian Smith Funeral Services Ltd who operates throughout Deeside.

Invariably, all stories have a beginning and end and none so poignant as the impact that this chapel will have in its beautiful Deeside woodland setting. The Chapel will accommodate up to 100 mourners and will have its own Garden of Remembrance. The design was inspired by its setting and the symbolism provided by the surrounding landscape. The concept of nature and the perpetual cycle of life is very fitting for the contemporary organic form of the Chapel. This project required a high level of trust from the people of Deeside; WCP architects earned that and will deliver on it.

We place trust according to what we know of someone’s character and experience and Deeside based Forbes Homes placed their trust and confidence in WCP architects to design a bespoke home in Drumoak.

Built by Forbes Homes using traditional northeast materials (granite and slate) and methods (crafted with care), together the architect and builder understood the importance of settling in to somewhere new and taking full advantage of the surroundings. This was also witnessed during the collaborative conversion of a steading at the Mains of Drum.

Our story continues eastwards to Mid Ardoe, where WCP architects recently completed the design for a replacement house on the South Deeside Road, with its large landscaped grounds and views over the Dee to Cults. The house is designed to respect its prestigious location, in a traditional style.

On the opposite side of the valley to Ardoe, and in contrast to a traditional style, are eight new homes currently being developed by Forbes Homes, designed

by WCP architects, to maximise the unique views over the River Dee and neighbouring Royal Deeside Golf Course.

As we near the end of the River Dee at Aberdeen City, the story for WCP architects only gets more engaging. They are currently involved in numerous developments for MacDonald Hotels, and have just gained approval for a new Spa at Norwood Hall Hotel on the edge of Aberdeen.

The design incorporates large areas of glazing on the southern elevation of the buildings with views to the River Dee, while the entrance to the Spa is more classical, in keeping with the original B listed building. A 'showcase' kitchen extension is currently under construction at the hotel which cantilevers out over the Dee valley below.

Furthermore, Deeford House, a former hostel for trades apprentices, located on Riverside Drive, gained a Civic Award for the architects for its sympathetic residential conversion and extension.

On a much grander scale, WCP recently completed a purpose-built £5 million state-of-the-art HQ engineering centre in Altens, Aberdeen, for ENGTEQ serving the oil and gas industry worldwide. The client’s brief requested a building that reflected their approach to business and displayed engineering prestige. It also had to be functional, efficient and impressive yet not extravagant.

The Royal Deeside area has been a source of inspiration and influence for hundreds of years and will continue to do so for centuries more. How you choose to tell your story based on your experiences is up to you. But if you are looking for more design inspiration visit WCP architects’ website at www.wcp.co.uk

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Renewable Energy Meeting the demand for future generations

We are all very conscious of the effect that industry and our society are having on the planet and also of the spiralling cost of energy both financially and environmentally.

The triggers are energy consumption and pollution.

We need to become more efficient in utilising available sources of energy.

When we talk about energy consumption, we’re talking about the sources of energy that generate our power: oil, coal, natural gas and alternatives like wind, solar and biofuels.

Renewable Energy technology provides a variety of alternative energy generating products which are ideal for commercial and domestic properties where people are looking to cut their

By Ken Reid

spiraling energy costs and have more efficient sources to provide electricity for heating and hot water.

These include: Solar PV Solar Thermal

Energy Facts:

Currently, the world’s population consumes 15 terawatts of power from a combination of energy sources.

Biomass Heating Wind Turbines Air and Ground Source Heat Pumps There are organisations that you can contact to find out more about these products and their suitability for their specific needs, whether it is for a commercial or domestic premise. The Renewable Energy Advisory Centre was established to carry out independent surveys and to give advice on the suitability, a detailed report on the products’ efficiency and anticipated savings that can be expected to be made on your energy costs. They also provide a number of competitive estimates from accredited local installers to ensure you qualify for the incentive schemes available and get a trouble free installation covered by the strongest guarantees for both product and installation.

One terawatt could power about 10 billion 100-watt light bulbs at the same time.

Developing countries use 30% of the world's energy, but with projected population and economic growth in those markets, energy demands are expected to rise 95%.

Overall global consumption is expected to rise 50% from 2005 to 2030, primarily in the fossilfuel sector.

The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules per year. In 2002, this was more energy in one hour than the world used in one year as quoted in Wikipedia.

You can contact the Renewable Energy Advisory Centre to find out more by calling Freephone 08000 142761 or emailing ken@renewable-energy-ac.co.uk Please visit the website www.renewable-energy-ac.co.uk to find out more about how renewable energy products will save you a king’s ransom in the long term.

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nd the Cair eeside a ngo D l a y n i t a es tion! rms d Ro a …

Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms is the official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for tourism businesses in the areas of Royal Deeside, Donside and the Eastern Cairngorms. ~ By Rebecca Milne ~

We work with over 86 partner businesses to help promote the area as a year round destination and provide visitors with high quality experiences that will encourage them to return. The area we represent is described as the birthplace of Scottish Tourism and is a real hidden gem located within the fabulous north east corner of Scotland The organisation was established in 2005 and is a company limited by guarantee and managed by a Board of Directors who have been recruited from the local businesses in the area.

Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms aims to work closely with local businesses and the community in order to achieve these objectives. With local tourism businesses working together to offer a range of quality services, packages or attractions which incorporate all the features that makes the area special, we believe this will provide tourists with enhanced experiences, whilst generating valuable revenue for the local economy.

The organisation was created to fulfil the following objectives: To encourage tourism growth in Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms in ways that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable to generate the greatest possible benefits to local communities and businesses.

To ensure that visitors to the area have the best possible experiences to encourage return visits to the area and recommendations to friends and family.

To enhance the quality and variety of visitor products and services within Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms.

To provide effective training and development within Royal Deeside and the Cairngorm.

To represent the views and priorities of local tourism businesses to external agencies.

Tourism is an important sector and vitally important for areas such as Royal Deeside & The Cairngorms.

“Remember Tourism Matters”.

www.visitroyaldeeside.com

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Country Sights & City Lights An exhibition of the colours and light effects of Aberdeen and its surrounding countryside The Butterworth Gallery is only a 30 minute drive from Aberdeen along the most beautiful and unspoilt country roads (B976 South Deeside Road) between Banchory and Aboyne. Two miles from the Potarch Hotel, the gallery sits in the former village shop and post office.

The gallery is run by Howard Butterworth’s eldest daughter, Sarah, who will be delighted to welcome you into this bright, spacious and informal gallery.

Howard is a renowned Scottish Artist and captures the atmospheric light and colours of Scotland in all its moods and seasons as only an artist painting outdoors can. Painting mostly in oils, 'en plein air', his description of his style of painting as "emotional realism" conveys the sense of being in a particular place at a particular moment in time and the experience and feeling of Nature's constantly changing colours and light. Howard is famed for his traditional timeless landscapes, featuring snowcapped mountains, sparkling rivers and lochs and native birchwoods of Royal Deeside and his patrons include private and corporate buyers with several works featuring in the Royal Collections of H.M. Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother who closely supported him over the years.

Mary Louise Butterworth (Howard’s daughter) is acclaimed for her night scenes of Aberdeen and

well-known streets and buildings illuminated by bright and colourful city lighting - a modern reflection of the nightlife in this thriving city. Painting mostly in acrylics since 2004, her subjects are contemporary spaces for reflection and solace both within urban and countryside settings. Her unique night scenes often focus on an element of mystery or intrigue within the scene setting the stage for the viewer to play out a story. In her work she attempts to recreate the hypnotic and dramatic qualities of light, pattern, and form emphasising elements rich in colour, depth and emotion. Embracing the contrast of silence and stillness within a moment with the movement and musicality of light, her innovative use of colour is instantly recognisable and very much in demand.

The Butterworth Gallery is an opportunity to compare and contrast the distinctive styles of both artists’ works adding an extra dimension to what is already an impressive and captivating display of inspiration and dedication to capture the unique light and colours of the local area. Investing in a piece of artwork is made easier by using “Own Art” or the Butterworth Gift Account service. Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am – 4pm, the gallery is well signposted, but if you do get lost phone Sarah on 013398 86104.

You are welcome to arrange a visit outside of these times, or visit www.thebutterworthgallery.com.

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150 Y EAR S OF S T E WA R DSH IP OF T HE RI V E R D E E The recent opening ceremony of the fishing season on the banks of the Dee at Potarch marked the end of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board. This body, which formed in February 1863, is tasked with looking after salmon and sea trout on the Rivers Dee, Carron and Cowie. The basic functions of the Board have changed little over the last 150 years to ensure that enough fish live in these rivers to support a thriving fishery: to do this the emphasis has always been that if you look after the river then you will be looking after the fish.

T he S ilvery Dee

By Mike Donald

Mike Donald went to school in the borders town of Jedburgh, where he learned to play the bagpipes under the guidance of Pipe Major Allan Walker. On leaving school, he joined the Scots Guards as a boy piper in 1964 aged 15 years old, where he remained until 1975. He describes gaining the coveted Pipe Major's Certificate at Edinburgh Castle in 1971 as the highlight of his piping career.

After leaving the Scots Guards, Mike pursued a career with Grampian Police, retiring in 1998. Since then he has enjoyed a number of roles, including a spell as Ghillie at Inchmarlo on the River Dee and looking after fishermen on a number of rivers.

Since the advent of fish farming on the west coast of Scotland, there has been a reduction in the price of salmon which in turn saw a decrease in the level of poaching in recent years.

This has allowed the Board to work with other organisations to remove manmade barriers to fish migration so that the salmon may reach their spawning grounds. On top of this, the Board works closely with the River Dee Trust to improve the habitat for salmon and sea trout through the planting of trees and working with the farming community to create buffer strips to mitigate the impacts of agricultural run-off. As for the future, the challenges of climate change and the introduction of alien plants such as Japanese knotweed will keep them busy.

In addition to playing the pipes, Mike has also composed a number of pipe tunes, including 'Doug Murray's Hornpipe' for a good friend and fellow Ghillie on the River Dee, Doug Murray. It was during the presentation of the music to Doug's tune that Mike was approached to write a tune to mark the River Dee Salmon Fishery Board's 150th anniversary as patrons of the river. Given his love for bagpipe music and salmon fishing, it was an easy decision for Mike to make and subsequently, the tune 'The Silvery Dee' was penned for the occassion!

The opening ceremony was a time to bring friends together to celebrate the River Dee and all those that work on it, fish it or simply enjoy walking along its banks. This year was a great success as over 300 people attended the opening ceremony with the first cast by Formula One mastermind Ross Brawn.

On 1st February 2014, the opening day of the new salmon fishing season on the River Dee, Mike's tune was played by the Ballater and District Pipe Band, under the leadership of Pipe Major Ian Smith, as they marched over the Potarch Bridge. A very proud moment indeed for Mike.

Alongside the opening ceremony Mel Shand held an exhibition of photographs she has taken of Ghillies and other people working on the river to celebrate the 150 years of the Dee Board, which will soon be published in the book ‘A Portrait of the River Dee’. Mike Donald was also asked to write a pipe tune to specifically mark the occasion which was played by the Ballater and District Pipe Band.

Thanks go out to the multitude of people who helped to make the opening ceremony such a success by volunteering their time or resources and for the financial support by Aberdeenshire Council.

If you would like to know more about how the River is managed then please check out our website www.riverdee.org.uk.

Photographs courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

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s ASK THE VET

Woodside Veterinary Group

In this issue we focus on dog vaccinations and the common questions we are asked on this.

Should I vaccinate my dog?

Yes. Vaccination protects your dog against a number of diseases which can cause pain or distress and in some cases can be fatal to the unprotected dog. Despite the wide availability of vaccines, large numbers of dogs contract preventable diseases every year.

What do vaccines do?

Vaccines contain a weakened or harmless version of a virus or bacteria in order to stimulate the immune system of your dog to produce antibodies. If your dog later becomes infected with the disease for real, the immune system ‘remembers’ so it can protect your dog. Vaccines are given as an injection into the scruff of your dog’s neck, except for kennel cough vaccine which is squirted up your dog’s nose!

What diseases does a dog vaccine protect against?

When should I vaccinate my dog?

Your dog should be given an initial ‘Primary’ course early in life and then ‘Booster’ vaccinations continually throughout its life. Exact protocol depends on the vaccine type used but sometimes the first vaccine can be given as early as six weeks of age and is followed by a second injection 2-4 weeks later. Booster vaccines are required as the body’s immune response fades over time whatever type of vaccine is used.

My dog never goes into

kennels or mixes with other dogs should I bother with vaccination?

It is true that many of the above named diseases are more common when there are lots of dogs in close contact. However, dog contact is not always required. Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria which can be spread by contaminated water so dogs are at risk if they swim or drink from stagnant water, especially if there are rats about. Given our rural location, this is a well-recognised risk. We frequently see kennel cough symptoms during the shooting and holiday seasons when dogs from different parts of the country come to this area to visit.

Canine Distemper (‘hard pad’) Canine Parvovirus Infectious Canine Hepatitis Leptospirosis

Please contact your own vet who will be very happy to advise you about keeping your dog happy and healthy.

Kennel Cough

Woodside Veterinary Group “Your vet for your pet 7 days a week” www.woodsideveterinarygroup.co.uk. Find us and like us on Facebook at Woodside Veterinary Group.

+44 (0)1339 886137

Great pub grub - locally sourced and freshly prepared breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner!

www.theboatinnaboyne.co.uk Charleston Road, Aboyne

Beautiful New Pine Loft - offering an ideal space for parties, conferences and local gatherings.

Royal Deeside, AB34 5EL

Accommodation - overlooking the stunning River Dee.

Tours s u B p To tember 2 014 n e p O June - Sep Ballater

Braemar Castle

Braemar A93

Balmoral Castle

Loch Muick

For a better view of Royal Deeside For tickets and timetable information visit our travel shops or call 01224 597590 or visit www.stagecoachbus.com

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Hello!

CARRY G N I P ON CAM Ah the great outdoors! But does this fill you with dread or does it pique your adventurous streak? The very notion of camping as an activity can split the population into a number of ‘camps’ so to speak.

Are you of the opinion that there’s nothing better than being at one with nature? Or do you feel that you should at least try it once but not sure where to start? Or simply you feel that the accommodation just doesn’t appeal to you? You may be surprised at the array of camping experiences that are available to you today – camping in the traditional sense is no longer confined to caravans and tents.

If you’re thinking about planning a camping trip, we would suggest it is better to be prepared and do your homework before you set off. For checklists on what to bring (e.g. accessories, clothing, equipment, food and cooking tools, health items, first aid essentials etc), you will find there are many suggestions online.

T�ADITI�NA� CA�PI�G For those with a more traditional ideal for a countryside vacation there are many campsites located throughout Deeside and depending on the early morning scenery you wish to wake to there is certain to be one to suit all requirements. Camping,

whether by caravan or tent, is an extremely popular holiday and it’s definitely advisable to book well in advance to avoid disappointment, especially if you wish to go during the peak time of the school holidays.

There are far too many campsites to mention individually, however consideration should be made when choosing and booking as some sites may be exclusive to Caravan Club members (the main camping and caravanning body) and may be unavailable to the general public. Most campsites offer similar amenities, despite their size. Reception areas normally double as an onsite store, offering camping essentials, a small stock of minor repair items for camping and caravans, and general grocery items so you don’t have to travel far for your early morning fry up. In addition to your pitch, which can come with or without electrical and waste hook ups, you should generally expect to find washing up and laundry facilities, toilet blocks with shower facilities and children’s play areas. Dog walking facilities are also commonly offered and if not on site then generally close at hand.

Dee n’ Do : 2

welcome

U�U�UA� CA�PI�G In addition to the traditional forms of camping, many companies and estates offer a more unusual camping experience for those who are looking for something a little different. Here is a selection of what is on offer near you.

GR�AT GLE� Y�RT� www.greatglenyurts.com At Great Glen Yurts they encourage you to ‘immerse yourself in the landscape - inside out, outside in.’

Their authentic Mongolian yurts are set on their organic farm in the West Highlands of Scotland. At the foot of the North Face of Ben Nevis and a short ride from the legendary World Cup Mountain Bike tracks, the location near Fort William is a great base camp for adventures in the Scottish Highlands.

Staying in a yurt is a great way to experience all the joys of camping and getting back to nature without compromising on comfort. All yurts are comfortably furnished with a double bed, feather duvets and pillows, sheepskin rugs, lanterns and candles. The yurts are ‘off-grid’ so you can enjoy the peace and adventure of living without electricity. This private ecocamp is located about three miles to the North East of Fort William, a short distance off the A82 between Fort William and Spean Bridge.

DEESIDE CLASSIC CAMPERS www.deeside-classic-campers.com Deeside Classic Campers specialise in the provision of ‘high end’ Volkswagen Classic Campers for your adventures in Scotland. Using stunningly restored, and beautifully appointed 1970s classic Volkswagen Campers with brand new modern air-cooled two-litre engines, you are promised a fabulous Classic Camper experience with none of the ‘old camper’ problems. There is room to sleep 4 adults or 2 adults/3 children with a full-width Rock n Roll bed and ample storage.

In addition, they can assist in planning your adventure and provide optional extras including bikes, bike racks, bedding, an air frame awning, baby/child car seats, and a luxury hamper provided

by Finzean Farm Shop on their local sporting estate.

They are centrally based for easy access to all routes; head south to the Borders, west through the Cairngorms to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, or north to the Highlands and the deserted beaches of the north coast and the Orkney and Shetland islands.

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welcome

WO��EN �AMPI�G L�ZY DU�K www.lazyduck.co.uk

mattress and two single mattresses to sleep a maximum of four people. There is a TV, kettle, fridge, microwave and portable heater in each unit (no crockery, cutlery or bedding provided).

Electric heating is provided for the colder months of the year and there are spare electric sockets for charging phones/cameras etc.

C�M�IE CRO�T www.comriecroft.com

Well off the beaten track in an outstanding forest fringe location near Nethy Bridge, two separately situated cabins offer very well appointed and cosy off-grid ‘alternative’ accommodation for couples only. Both are completely individual and each has a stunning outlook. The Woodman’s Hut offers an accessible wildland experience blended with some quirky luxury, and The Duck Nest is like a waterside hide with photo opportunities all year round.

This long established, green-practice, 4-pitch space, without caravans or camper-vans sits beneath a tree-top home to the red squirrels. Prebooking is essential and children are welcome but no dogs, sorry, on account of the ducks. Elemental, and very peaceful with some unusual facilities including an open-air hot shower, a 2-person sauna and a wood-fired hot tub when available.

H�B�IT HOU�E www.invercoe.co.uk Situated in Glencoe, two micro lodge Hobbit Houses are available for nightly hire, with a two night minimum at the weekend. They are a perfect alternative to a tent and especially good when the weather is less than great. Each unit has a double

Comrie Croft in Braincroft by Crieff, is Scotland’s award-winning green destination including a farmstead hostel, group accommodation, camping, nordic kåtas, walking trails, wildlife viewing and some of the best compact mountain-biking in the country.

A�IE�O�E �LA�PI�G www.aviemoreglamping.com Aviemore Glamping is camping but in luxury ecopods that sleep two people in a small but perfectly formed space in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Each of the four pods has an en-suite wet room with WC, shower and wash hand basin.

They also have tea and coffee making facilities and a small fridge. A large communal fire pit area makes this a sociable area where you can retreat to and sit out or have a barbecue.

Dee n’ Do : 2

Would you like to advertise in the next issue of Dee n’ Do? Please get in touch and see how we can help you promote your business, event, venture or Deeside discovery. Email advertising@deendo.com or call us on 07975 727767 for more info.

creative design + communication

We have the insight, knowledge and experience across a wide variety of disciplines and markets to help you stand out in your chosen field.

Take a closer look at www.grayandwhyte.com T E E

+44 (0) 7771 924103 mairi@grayandwhyte.com kelly@grayandwhyte.com

Hydro scheme offers hope to fish habitat and populations The old dam structure and weir of the Culter Paper Mills, dating back to the 1800’s, is now a step closer to being resurrected, after Aberdeen Councillors unanimously approved plans for a hydro-electric scheme and fish pass on the Culter Burn.

What was once a key component of the successful, paper-making industry in Culter, it has remained untouched for decades and is now, in its derelict state, all that is left of the Paper Mills, which were demolished in 1981 to make way for housing.

The Gordon Investment Corporation, that owns the proposed development site, saw an opportunity which would recognise the untapped potential of one Scotland’s most abundant natural resources, whilst playing a vital role in renewable electricity production.

The inclusion of an Alaskan A Denil fish pass will allow migratory salmonid fish, currently unable to move up the Culter Burn catchment beyond the existing dam, to increase their habitat range and re-establish the natural populations upstream. This is first and most important element of the River Dee Trust’s strategy to remove five recognised obstacles and reestablish the natural habitat of the Culter Burn catchment and is a primary environmental benefit of the development. The City Council’s Head of Planning, Dr Margaret Bochel, said in a report to the Planning Development Management Committee, “The proposal also allows for an additional 73 kilometres (45 miles) of watercourse which provides the opportunity for colonisation of freshwater pearl habitats further upstream” and “the proposals provide the opportunity for otters to forage further upstream.”

The minimal environmental and visual impact of a hydro scheme such as this makes it a favourable proposal and one which has been developed successfully elsewhere in Scotland. The development at Peterculter will demonstrate that embracing change, whilst combining old and modern technologies, brings unquantifiable benefits and new opportunities.

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Grantown Wood clears the way for

rare pla nts

Some of The Cairngorms’ most iconic and rare wild flowers are being given the chance of a new lease of life in Old Grantown Wood.

Rhododendrons planted in Castle Grant over 100 years ago are being cleared to allow the rare twinflower and the one flowered wintergreen the space to flourish again.

The clearance marks the final piece of work of the hugely successful Cairngorms Rare Plants Project, and this action is supported by Plantlife Scotland, and Seafield and Strathspey Estates. The aim is

to completely eradicate the rhododendrons to ensure the conservation of the rare pinewood plant populations there.

Martin Price, Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) board member and Chair of the Cairngorms Nature Strategy Group explained, “Rhododendrons are not native to Scotland, they were brought here in Victorian times and planted for their ornamental value, they are a very invasive species and make it impossible for rare plants such as the twinflower to grow.

The rhododendrons were planted along the drive of Castle Grant in Victorian times and have now spread to cover over four and half hectares.

Rhododendrons poison the soil and have an enormous spread, meaning nothing else can grow, it is vital that we clear them out to allow our rare plants a chance to repopulate the area.”

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BE am used

Ballater Vi oria Week ct

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2014

Saturday 9th - S ay 17th August und Ballater Victoria Week was established in 1987, initially as a one-off bid to raise money for the then dilapidated Victoria and Albert Halls. But locals and visitors to the Deeside village loved the resulting mayhem so much that it was decided to make it an annual event.

BVW has always been steered entirely by volunteers, which means it has had its peaks and troughs, highs and lows, and even a few years when it didn’t happen at all. But overall, the now nine-day extravaganza during the second week of August (wrapped around the equally-loved Ballater Highland Games) holds a special place in the hearts of many at home and abroad, and its varied base of fans and contributors is reflected in its eclectic mix. Some have even described it as being unique.

Where else can you spend your days touring 50-odd (some very odd) scarecrows, watching 500 multicoloured plastic ducks sail down the Dee, putting your dog in a pet show dressed as ET, catching a film you don’t know the name of, dressing up as a Victorian (for a picnic, or a picture), driving a Porsche (or a tractor) down Bridge Street, getting really messy with paint, reading your favourite storybook out loud, or taking in a random historical, musical, outdoor or sporting event, before whiling away your evenings looking for ghosts, staring at the stars, spinning round a ceilidh, learning about bats and moths, rocking out the disco in a Kermit costume or belting out your finest number at Victoria’s Got Talent?

You might wonder what Queen Victoria would have to say about all this, or indeed what any of these events have to do with our most famous monarch’s

ties to the area. But 1987 also celebrated the 150th anniversary of her accession, early BVWs saw many of the local shopkeepers dress up in Victorian garb (until the layers proved too hot to wear in August!) and Her Majesty is misquoted in the week’s motto and aim – Be Amused. Plus it’s all in a good cause.

BVW has given thousands of pounds to local causes over its 27-year history.

The Victoria and Albert Halls still benefit from the profits, but over the years the remit has widened so that now around a dozen separate groups and organisations, from the under-fives to the Fire Fighters Charity, gain a share, with over £4,000 dished out in 2013, and almost as much made by other charities during the week itself.

This year BVW runs from Saturday 9th - Sunday 17th August with the Ballater Highland Games taking place on Thursday 14th. New events being planned for 2014 include a speed dating night, a Scrabble competition, a food safari, a treasure hunt, a kids’ quiz, a climbing wall, a murder mystery evening, an ancestry event and… wait for it… pantomime horse dressage. In honour of Homecoming Scotland 2014, a competition was held in the spring to design a tartan for BVW. For more information and updates about 2014’s events, or to see how you can get involved, go to the new-look website at www.ballatervictoriaweek. co.uk, email info@ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk or find us on Facebook.

More volunteers with wacky ideas are always welcome, if Royal Deeside is to continue to Be Amused for years to come.

Ballater Victoria Week Pet Show

Duck Race Car Boot

Quizzes

Scrabble

Highland Games

Ceilidh

Music

OUtdoors

Ghost Tours

Kids’ Stuff

9-17 August 2014

Sports

Parade

www.ballatervictoriaweek.co.uk

Films

Talent Show

Discos

Scarecrows

Be Amused.

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Having spent the last 20 years travelling up and down from Aberdeen to our second home in Braemar with my husband, and often with my grandchildren, I feel that I have tried and tested a fair few coffee shops and eateries that allow me to share my finds with you! ~ Please make sure you check opening times before you go as they often vary during holiday periods ~

Buchanans Bistro at the Barn ~ BANCHORY ~

The Woodend Barn at Burn o’ Bennie is a unique venue which hosts a variety of entertainment events. Buchanans Bistro is attached to the Barn and is a great place to eat all day long (from 9am – 10pm, and is open 7 days except Monday evenings).

The majority of the food is prepared and cooked in their kitchens so you know that what you’re getting is fresh and homemade.

On a recent visit, my friend and I ordered the homemade soup, which was very tasty and wholesome and came with freshly made bread that had been baked onsite. Their breads are a speciality here. It was not for the first time that I found it

difficult to make a choice as their dishes all sound so appealing!

It has a bright, large seating area with a variety of sizes of tables, and also has comfy sofas by the windows so you can look out and enjoy the views. There is a selection of teas and coffees with tempting homemade cakes. There are books and magazines for you to read while enjoying your cuppa or you can browse the selection of gifts or goodies if you intend to buy. It is well signposted off the main road with plenty of parking – Buchanans is well worth a visit.

Birdhouse Café ~ BANCHORY ~

A warm welcome awaits all who visit the Birdhouse Café in Banchory. My friend and I visited recently for a light lunch; good job I booked a table as they were very busy (always a good sign and take note!).

Homemade soup, sandwiches, paninis, and salads are available as well as yummy home bakes and cakes. My friend ordered a tuna and cheese melt which she declared as being the best she’d ever tasted. My salad was also delicious but I should have asked for a wee bit of salad dressing. We followed this up with some delicious coffee and cake.

This relatively small space has a very cosy atmosphere with a lovely buzz and cute décor. If you have any requirements – do ask. They may not have a children’s menu but are happy to cater for and make up a small sandwich for them. And we also overheard the next table asking for vegan options which they did offer.

The Birdhouse is well worth a visit and a lovely addition to the coffee shops on any journey up Deeside. (They are closed on Mondays.)

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Taste ~ BRAEMAR ~

Situated at the far end of the village beside the famous Games Park, Taste is in a fantastic location to enjoy a well-earned coffee and cake. The large windows provide a light and airy atmosphere to the cafe and diners are not crammed into a small space. Artwork on display complements the nearby gallery's offerings – look out for Elmer!

A mouth-watering selection of freshly baked cakes and scones are available along with great hot chocolate, coffees and teas. I must admit, if we go in the morning we normally enjoy a coffee and bacon

roll. Light lunches are available; although not a huge menu there are soups on offer and a variety of sandwiches using Balmoral bread and fresh locally sourced products where possible.

This is a family run business with friendly and helpful staff. Kids are welcome with their own menu and small play area to keep them busy. Takeaway is available and there also is a mini deli selection stocking items from their menu.

Open 10am – 5pm, closed on Sunday and Monday.

Dee’s Teas Vintage Tea Room ~ KINCARDINE O’ NEIL ~

Step inside Dee’s and be greeted with a very homely and vintage feel. Tables are set with vintage china, and an assortment of tables, chairs and painted sideboards fill the room. The room is adorned with gifts and crafts by local crafters and artists; so plenty to look at and buy.

They have a coffee machine and serve lovely LavAzza Italian coffee which we enjoyed with some yummy cake. They serve the usual selection of

hot and cold drinks along with fresh sandwiches, paninis and soup. Although a relatively small menu selection, we were happy to sit back, relax and enjoy this relaxing and interesting environment. It’s a great place in ‘Kinker’ to have a good cup of coffee or a welcome stop off point if you are walking or cycling the Deeside Way. They are closed Mondays but open until 8pm on a Thursday evening.

Tearooms featured: Buchanans Bistro at the Barn Burn o’ Bennie, Banchory AB31 5QA t 01330 826530 w www.buchananfood.com

Taste Airlie House, Braemar AB31 6PA t 013397 41425 w www.taste-braemar.co.uk

Birdhouse Café 74 High Street, Banchory AB31 5SS t 01330 822072 w www.birdhousecafe.co.uk

Dee's Teas 38a North Deeside Road, Kincardine O’Neil AB34 5AA t 013398 84202 w www.deesteasvintagetearoom.co.uk

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On The Bookshelf

Music & Melody

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Jelly-Faced Women Members: Liam Stuart & Patrick Shand

Links: Jelly-Faced Women: jelly-facedwomen.bandcamp.com facebook.com/pages/jelly-faced-women Liam Stuart: liamstuart.bandcamp.com soundcloud.com/liam-stuart facebook.com/pages/liam-stuart Patrick Shand: patrickshand.bandcamp.com soundcloud.com/patrickshand facebook.com/patrickshandmusic

Jelly-Faced Women are an acoustic duo from Banff, Aberdeenshire consisting of teenagers Liam Stuart and Patrick Shand. Forming in 2009, when the boys were 14-years old, the duo began writing and performing original songs inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan and the Beatles.

However, the band’s influences have expanded considerably in the past few years and they attempt to accommodate this with their dense lyricism and eclectic choice of instruments.

The boys recently released a live album which featured highlights of their concert at the Portsoy folk club; The Salmon Bothy. The album features original compositions alongside interpretations of songs written by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Thelonious Monk and Everything Everything. The album, entitled ‘Live 3/1/14’, is available on the group’s Bandcamp page to stream for free and download at the customer’s price of choice.

Patrick Shand began writing songs at the age of 13 and provides vocals and plays ‘cello, piano, guitar and harmonica in the band.

Currently in his sixth year at the Aberdeen City Music School studying ‘cello and piano, Patrick is also active in various ensembles performing classical music as well as jazz and folk. In addition to this, Patrick is a keen composer of

avant-garde and contemporary classical music and he will continue his musical education at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying composition.

Liam Stuart writes songs for the duo and plays guitar, sings and occasionally plays percussion in the band. His solo material, which is inspired by influences such as Frank Turner, Ben Howard and Little Comets, is also available on Bandcamp and consists of recordings made at his home.

Liam has performed solo at various local gigs and events in the past few years, and in the past few months occasionally alongside guitarist James Wiseman.

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Aidan O’Rourke

Links:

Musician, Composer & Producer Winner of Musician of the Year award, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

www.aidanorourke.net www.twitter.com/obanfiddle www.myspace.com/aidanorourke

Both a “dazzling fiddler” (Scotland on Sunday), and an “unfailingly strong and imaginative” composer (The List), Aidan O’Rourke stands at the centre of the modern Scottish folk music revival. Loved for his warm lyrical fiddle style and admired for his adventurous compositions, O’Rourke has emerged as one of Scotland’s leading artists, defining a modern attitude to traditional music. In February 2014 he was named ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

across a wide spectrum of genres, receiving a wide variety of media coverage. In the six years following, Lau have released two more highly acclaimed studio albums, (Arc Light 2009, Race the Loser 2012) two live albums (2008, 2012) and a series of collaborative EPs. Hotline is a suite of new music written, rehearsed and recorded on the Argyllshire coast. The catalyst was Gordon MacLean at An Tobar Arts Centre who, through the PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music 20x12 scheme, commissioned O’Rourke to write a piece which linked Argyll to the London 2012’s Cultural Olympiad.

O’Rourke is best known for his ground-breaking trio Lau, formed in 2005 with accordionist Martin Green and singer/guitarist Kris Drever.

Releasing their debut album, Lightweights and Gentlemen, in 2007, Lau immediately captured the attention of many thousands of music fans

Frequently garlanded with awards as both an individual and as a member of Lau, O’Rourke is increasingly chosen as an ambassadorial figure for Scottish musical culture.

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The World History of Highland Games David P. Webster

Minerals and Ancient Monuments in Royal Deeside Ian Cameron

Cool Camping Kids Jonathan Knight, Andrea Oates, Alexandra Tilley Loughrey, Dixe Wills

On The Bookshelf

Music & Melody

92

‘Kids’ plus ‘camping’ equals happy holidays and the adventure starts right here.

Highland Games expert David Webster charts a history of the events at the heart of Scotland's sporting and cultural life.

Uncovering the true origins behind today's traditions, Webster details the development of the gatherings from ancient Celtic roots to current international status. He examines the tradition's influence in the global sporting arena, and how Highland Games attracted mass appeal and participation long before the advent of the modern Olympics. Complemented by archival prints, lavish illustrations and beautiful photographs, this book will delight anyone interested in the history and development of Highland Games around the world. £25.00

288 pages 180mm x 215mm

Book three of Cameron’s trilogy explores the minerals found in local rocks and how the Deesiders drew on the limestone and peat to sustain their existence.

Adam Welfare of the RCAHMS writes in his foreword “The book invites the reader to explore an exhilarating landscape. Yet the author is such an affable and engaging guide that it would be a dull soul indeed who could not resist the call to examine the granites in the Bass of Ballater, in order to discover beryl, topaz, tourmaline and purple amethyst, or scout out the ‘hidden valley’ above Creag an t-Seabhaig. And who would not wish to visit the recumbent stone circle at Tomnaverie, in order to appreciate the author’s theory or perhaps venture to…the locations that are referred to in this evocative and memorable book.” £10.00

112 pages 234mm x 156mm

This expanded and fully updated second edition of Cool Camping: Kids reveals Britain’s 75 best family sites in full-colour glory. Treat them to onsite water sports or horse riding, camping in sand dunes or fun lessons on outdoor survival - and, of course, loads of open space. Whatever their age or preferences, you’ll be able to find the perfect pitch and enjoy some good old fashioned family time.

Each campsite review details all the important practical information including ‘onsite fun’, ‘offsite fun’ and ‘nannystate alert’ to keep children busy, happy and safe during their holidays. This essential guide also features other ideas to get the most out of your canvas adventure, with sections on campsite games, cooking with kids, family festivals and residential camps. £16.95

177 pages 170mm x 211mm

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Where is the Green Sheep?

The Pocket Scavenger

What do the grown-ups do?

Keri Smith

Mairi McLellan

Mem Fox, Judy Horacek

Where is the Green Sheep? is a delightful tale for young readers.

Each page of this board book features every kind of sheep, including the bath sheep, the up sheep, the brave sheep, the car sheep, the blue sheep – but where is the green sheep?

Children will enjoy pouring over each page time and time again to mimic the action of each sheep until… ssssh [whisper] they get to the end to discover where the green sheep is!

£4.22

32 pages 152mm x 152mm

Within the pages of The Pocket Scavenger, readers will be instructed to collect a spectrum of quirky items.

Then, once their quarry is in hand, they'll apply an alteration dictated solely by chance: create a funny character, conceal it etc.

It is a great book for adults and children alike for microexploring your environment.

Without realising, this book will teach you observation and how to look at objects in a different or unexpected way. Scavenging is the first activity. The second is the process of randomly selecting an alteration process and record it in the book. This book will help stretch the creative muscles in both directions.

£8.99

The What do the grown-ups do? is a series of chatty, lighthearted stories, designed to educate children aged 5-10 years, about working life and the world around them.

Based in northwest Highlands of Scotland, each book follows the three Mackenzie children as they meet the characters of the different jobs. And so the adventure begins. Five books will be completed before end 2014. The first three books in the series, Joe the Fisherman, Papa the Stockfarmer and Sean the Actor.

Available in paperback and kindle

208 pages 196mm x 128mm

editions.

Kindle Editions £6.64

Aberdeenshire Folk Tales

£1.99

Lassickie (The Charlotte Series)

Grace Banks, Sheena Blackhall

Lindsay Inkster

The folklore of the North East provides a rich tapestry for the tales within; from Celtic and Pictish origins meet witches, selkies, smugglers, fairies, monsters, despicable rogues and heroes.

Tragic events, spellbinding characters, humour, romance and clever minds are bound together by two well-established storytellers living and working in the city and shire of Aberdeen.

Charlotte Gordon is born in 1874 in Glenbuchat, West Aberdeenshire. Eldest of six, her main role is to rock the cradle of the latest baby.

Until one decisive day. Lassickie, the first in a family saga series about Charlotte and her family, offers insight into ways of life and customs in late nineteenth century north east Scotland and Shetland.

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Dee n’ Do : 2

CA�ENDA� �F E�E�T� May - September

MAY MAY

3/4

MAY

End of

Jacobites & Redcoats Re-enactment Crathes Castle

Opening of the Stonehaven Open Air Pool Stonehaven

JUN

19

JUN

7

JUN

13 - 15

JUN

JUN

22

Family Fun Day World Horse Welfare Centre

JUN

Belwade Farm, Kincardine O'Neil

27/28

Banchory River Festival Banchory

JUN

28/29

Come and enjoy the spectacle of what will be the first ever Duck Race on the Coy Burn at Milton of Crathes on Sunday 15th at 11.30am. Pick your duck and cheer it on as it meanders down the stream. Ducks on sale at Tesco Banchory on Saturday 14th June.

It's going to be massive!

JUN

13

JUN

14

Big Fat Electric Ceilidh Woodend Barn, Banchory

JUN

28/29

JUN

29

Scottish Chamber Orchestra Woodend Barn, Banchory

JUN

15

Aberdeen Highland Games Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen

Sauchen

Midsummer Family Fun Braemar Castle

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Portsoy

Deeside Railway Victorian Weekend Milton of Crathes

Scottish Kids Show 2014 Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre

Alford Speedfest Transport Museum Alford

JULY

Mar Lodge, Braemar

Burnett Arms Hotel, Banchory

Castle Fraser Steam Fair Weekend

A recreation of the opening of the line in the 1860s, top hats at the ready!

Midsummer at Mar Lodge

Antique, Vintage & Collectable Fair

Mains of Drum, Drumoak

Join Weber’s top barbecue chef as he travels to The Mains of Drum, Drumoak, on Thursday 19th June 2014 at 6.30pm to host a unique two hour cookery demonstration, as part of the Weber® Barbecue Roadshow 2014. Suitable for the beginner right through to the experienced barbecue. Expand your knowledge and revolutionise your barbecue repertoire. Tickets cost £10 and must be purchased in advance from The Mains of Drum, Drumoak. Tel: 01330 811000

21/22

JUNE

Weber® Barbecue Roadshow

JUL

10- 13

JUL

10- 13

Stonehaven Folk Festival Stonehaven

Scottish Open Golf Tournament Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

Dee n’ Do : 2

JUL

12

JUL

12/13

JUL

17

Echt Show

AUG

Banchory Beer Festival

Echt

9- 10

Banchory

Junior Highland Games Braemar

Aboyne Cello Festival: Philip Higham Woodend Barn, Banchory

JUL

Aboyne Sheepdog Trials

20

Potarch

JUL

25- 27

JUL-AUG

25- 10

Inverurie Jazz Festival Inverurie

Aboyne and Deeside Festival Aboyne

Range of beers and food on offer with live music from 12 noon at Deeside Rugby Club Pitches, Woodend, near Tesco Banchory.

Tel: 07772 278863 AUG

10

AUG

16- 17

AUG

23

AUG

28

Annual arts festival in Royal Deeside with an exciting and diverse selection of events covering classical, folk and contemporary music, politics, thought, art, drama, literature and film.

JUL

Banchory Show

26

Banchory

JUL

Castle Fraser Jousting Tournament

TBC

AUG

2

AUG

14

Aboyne Highland Games Aboyne

Ballater Highland Games Ballater

SEPT

6

SEPT

7

Ballater Victoria Week

9- 17

Ballater

Deeside Steam Rally Milton of Crathes

Lonach Highland Gathering & Games Strathdon

Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham Woodend Barn

Braemar Gathering Fife Momorial Park, Braemar

CHAS Aberdeen Ladies Lunch Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen

Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) are the only children’s hospice charity in Scotland and provide support and services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions. The Aberdeen Ladies Lunch is taking place on at the Marcliffe Hotel where there will be a drinks reception, two course meal, raffle, auction and entertainment from Iain Thain (host and auction) and Michelle McManus (entertainment). To book a table or for more information contact Gill Levy, 0131 444 4914.

SEPT

AUG

Braemar Castle

SEPTEMBER

Sauchen

AUGUST

World War 1 Fundraising Concert

27

The Beast Race Strachan, Banchory

Keep an eye out for the Dee n' Do team!

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Dee n’ Do : 2

ur feedback yoon issue one

What did you think?

Our first issue managed to clock up the miles on various journeys around the world – it popped up in Perth, Australia; New York, Houston and LA; and even ended up on a glacier in Belle Plagne, France.

It’s great to see Dee n’ Do getting around – home and abroad. If you have any photos of the magazine you’d like to share, just send your pic to us at hello@deendo.com, or via www.facebook.com/deendomagazine or www.twitter.com/Dee_n_Do.

l found your magazine at the

@Dee_n_Do Excellent work

reading it. l thought it was

celebrated! Looking forward

fit a pocket. l have lived on

Kirstin Gove, Twitter

can’t believe all this is all on

Duthie Park and l really enjoyed wonderfully written and l loved the graphics!! Can’t wait to go

should be recognised and to your next issue : )

on some adventures . . . l haven’t

Mari-Anne Maskew

Lindsay Thomson, Email

The writing, typography,

photographs and features

are all beautifully done - it

Really enjoyed the first issue! Amazing photography,

through your first edition and

Shri Krishnamoorthy, Email

format, design, print quality

coffee table!

Please keep them coming here!

Jm Chu, Email

Reading the articles

@Dee_N_Do Just saw your

first edition and had to pick

it up. l’m drooling all over it so different, so beautiful, so pick-me-upish!

Laura Stadler, Twitter

Thanks to @WeMakeMags for

much more tactile in print!

PPA Scotland, Twitter

has reminded me that

Deeside has so much to offer regardless of how long you’ve lived in the area. Thanks so much for refocusing my eye

on what’s just up the road

- l will be getting out and rediscovering my forgotten

copy of the lovely @Dee_n_Do.

1st issue available online, though

think its brilliant. Love the and, of course, the content.

Aberdeen Uni’s Crombie house. gone (in less than 2 days).

l’ve just been leafing

has earned a firm spot on our

great articles. Picked it up at Nabbed one before they were

Deeside all my life and I my doorstep.

been to the Burn O’ Vat for

years and l am to rediscover it!!

Very informative and

certainly the right size to

favourite places imminently !

Great to see Dee n’ Do Magazine online!

The Butterworth Gallery, Twitter

Kathryn Masterson, Email

The landscapes of Deeside have inspired so many over the centuries; it’s not difficult to see why.

Take a moment to look beyond, feel the tranquillity and embrace the majestic atmosphere. Connect with Deeside once again…through Dee n’ Do. We hope we have made a small contribution towards that hunger for inspiration.

See you next time!

Photograph courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

DnD2 SP - Cover.indd 7

19/05/2014 19:38

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Do you have something to say? Ideas to promote?

Information to share? Feedback to give?

If so, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

You can reach us at the following: hello@deendo.com | +44 (0)7790 129212 www.facebook.com/deendomagazine www.twitter.com/dee_n_do www.deendo.com