49-578: Braemar Castle is situated near the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire , Scotland . It is a possession of the chief of Clan Farquharson and is leased to a local charitable foundation. It is open to the public. From the Late Middle Ages , the castle was a stronghold of the Earls of Mar . The present Braemar Castle was constructed in 1628 by John Erskine , Earl of Mar, as a hunting lodge and to counter
98-476: A few purposes, namely land registration and lieutenancy . Aberdeenshire Council is headquartered at Woodhill House in Aberdeen , making it the only Scottish council whose headquarters are located outside its jurisdiction. Aberdeen itself forms a different council area (Aberdeen City). Aberdeenshire borders onto Angus and Perth and Kinross to the south, Highland and Moray to the west and Aberdeen City to
147-539: A new October record for Braemar — 22.7 °C (72.9 °F). Braemar recorded −5.0 °C (23.0 °F) later that month, so for the second month in a row Braemar recorded the warmest and coldest monthly temperatures for the UK. On 2 November 2015 a new record high temperature for November in Braemar was set 17.7 °C (63.9 °F). On 11 February 2021 Braemar made national news after a temperature of −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F)
196-499: A rich prehistoric and historical heritage. It is the locus of a large number of Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites, including Longman Hill , Kempstone Hill , Catto Long Barrow and Cairn Lee . The area was settled in the Bronze Age by the Beaker culture , who arrived from the south around 2000–1800 BC. Stone circles and cairns were constructed predominantly in this era. In
245-465: A round stair tower and is built of granite covered with harl . The main entrance retains an original iron yett , and many of the windows are protected by heavy iron grilles. On the ground floor are stone-vaulted rooms which contained the guardroom, ammunition store and original kitchen. These are built out into the salients of the outer wall, and in Victorian times a second kitchen was added adjoining
294-928: Is approached from the south on the A93 from Glen Clunie and the Cairnwell Pass and from the East also on the A93 from Deeside . Braemar can be approached on foot from the west through Glen Tilt , Glen Feshie , Glen Dee (by the Lairig Ghru ), and Glen Derry (by the Lairig an Laoigh ). Braemar is within a one-and-a-half-hour drive of Aberdeen , Dundee , and Perth . The village is overlooked from roughly northwest by Carn na Drochaide (818 m), from roughly northeast by Creag Choinneach (538 m), from roughly southwest by Carn na Sgliat (690 m), and from roughly southwest by Morrone (859 m). Like most of
343-452: Is estimated at £3,496M (2011), representing 5.2% of the Scottish total. Aberdeenshire's economy is closely linked to Aberdeen City's (GDP £7,906M), and in 2011, the region as a whole was calculated to contribute 16.8% of Scotland's GDP. Between 2012 and 2014, the combined Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City economic forecast GDP growth rate is 8.6%, the highest growth rate of any local council area in
392-642: Is held at Braemar on the first Saturday in September and is traditionally attended by the British royal family . In 1746, the Act of Proscription stopped all clan gatherings, but following its repeal in 1782, the old enthusiasms for such events returned. In 1815, the Braemar Highland Society was created and officially constituted in 1817; the first modern-day games taking place in 1832 with cash prizes being awarded to
441-455: Is much higher, at £741.90, as many people commute out of Aberdeenshire, principally into Aberdeen City. Total employment (excluding farm data) in Aberdeenshire is estimated at 93,700 employees (Business Register and Employment Survey 2009). The majority of employees work within the service sector, predominantly in public administration, education and health. Almost 19% of employment is within
490-429: Is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland . It takes its name from the historic county of Aberdeenshire , which had substantially different boundaries. The Aberdeenshire Council area includes all of the areas of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire except the area making up Aberdeen City Council area, as well as part of Banffshire . The historic county boundaries are still officially used for
539-473: Is shared with Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands . Braemar has an annual average of 102 days of air frost and 153 days with 1 mm or more of rainfall. Snowfall can be heavy in winter and early spring, and often accumulates to depths of 30 cm (12 in) or more. 70 cm (28 in) was recorded by weather watcher Chris Booth on 9 February 2021. On 30 September 2015, Braemar had one of
SECTION 10
#1733085947085588-609: The Anglo-Norman penetration, other families arrive, such as House of Balliol , Clan Bruce , and Clan Cumming (Comyn). During the Scottish Wars of Independence , the King of England Edward I travelled across the area twice with his invading army, in 1296 and 1303. In 1307, Robert the Bruce was victorious near Inverurie . These new families set the stage for the upcoming rivalries during
637-602: The Black Colonel of Inverey during the Jacobite rising of 1689 , to prevent it being used as a garrison by Government troops. In 1716 the castle was forfeited to the Crown following the Earl of Mar's leadership of the 1715 Jacobite rising . The castle and lands were purchased by John Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld but the building was left in ruins until 1748 when it was leased to
686-640: The Iron Age , hill forts were built. Around the 1st century AD, the Taexali people, who left little history, were believed to have resided along the coast. The Picts were the next documented inhabitants of the area and were no later than 800–900 AD. The Romans also were in the area during this period, as they left signs at Kintore . Christianity influenced the inhabitants early on, and there were Celtic monasteries at Old Deer and Monymusk . Since medieval times, there have been many traditional paths that crossed
735-546: The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 . It covers the combined area of the Banff and Buchan, Gordon, and Kincardine and Deeside districts that had been created in 1975. The present Aberdeenshire Council area therefore consists of all of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire (except the area of those two counties making up Aberdeen City), as well as the north-east portions of Banffshire. The population of
784-731: The Mounth (a spur of mountainous land that extends from the higher inland range to the North Sea slightly north of Stonehaven ) through present-day Aberdeenshire from the Scottish Lowlands to the Highlands . Some of the most well known and historically important trackways are the Causey Mounth and Elsick Mounth . Aberdeenshire played an important role in the fighting between the Scottish dynasties . Macbeth fell at Lumphanan in 1057. During
833-530: The Rising of 1715 and the Rising of 1745 . The latter resulted in the end of the ascendancy of Episcopalianism and the feudal power of landowners. An era began of increased agricultural and industrial progress. The present council area is named after the historic county of Aberdeenshire , which has different boundaries and ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 . The pre-1975 territory of Aberdeenshire
882-744: The University of Fraserburgh (1592). During the 17th century, Aberdeenshire was the location of more fighting, centred on the Marquess of Montrose and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms . This period also saw increased wealth due to the increase in trade with Germany , Poland , and the Low Countries . After the end of the Revolution of 1688 , an extended peaceful period was interrupted only by fleeting events such as
931-635: The 14th and 15th centuries. This rivalry grew worse during and after the Protestant Reformation when religion was another reason for conflict between the clans. The Gordon family adhered to Catholicism and the Forbeses to Protestantism . Aberdeenshire was the historic seat of the clan Dempster . Three universities were founded in the area prior to the 17th century, King's College in Old Aberdeen (1494), Marischal College in Aberdeen (1593), and
980-514: The 19th-century Braemar Lodge Hotel was engulfed in a fire and explosion. In the 1891 census, 59.2% of the population of Braemar spoke the Gaelic language "habitually"; the percentage of those actually able to speak the language (despite not having much opportunity to) would have been somewhat higher. The small crofting township of Inverey ( Inbhir Èidh ) was 86.3% Gaelic-speaking, most non-speakers being originally from Lower Deeside. The Gaelic spoken in
1029-705: The Aberdeenshire Highlands shared most features in common with the Gaelic of Strathspey and East Perthshire. The last native-speaker of the local Gaelic dialect died in 1984, though there are still surviving native-speakers of the similar Strathspey dialect. At the 2001 census, out of a total population of 839 in Crathie and Braemar Civil Parish, only 5 (0.6%) claimed to be Gaelic-speakers. Known colloquially as "The Games" and originating from those believed to have been held by Malcolm III , an annual Highland games gathering
SECTION 20
#17330859470851078-596: The Braemar area, and the bones of Saint Andrew rested in Braemar before being taken to the place now known as St Andrews. St Ninian's Chapel, Braemar , completed in 1898, is the Scottish Episcopal Church place of worship. Johann von Lamont (1805–1879), the Scottish-German astronomer and astrophysicist who pioneered the study of the Earth's magnetic field was born in nearby Corriemulzie . On 16 March 2022,
1127-539: The Farquharson family in the latter years of their visits. Braemar Braemar / b r eɪ ˈ m ɑːr / is a village in Aberdeenshire , Scotland, around 58 miles (93 km) west of Aberdeen in the Highlands . It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee , sitting at an elevation of 339 metres (1,112 ft). The Gaelic Bràigh Mhàrr properly refers to
1176-473: The UK and above the Scottish rate of 4.8%. A significant proportion of Aberdeenshire's working residents commute to Aberdeen City for work, varying from 11.5% from Fraserburgh to 65% from Westhill. Average Gross Weekly Earnings (for full-time employees employed in workplaces in Aberdeenshire in 2011) are £572.60. This is lower than the Scottish average by £2.10 and a fall of 2.6% on the 2010 figure. The average gross weekly pay of people resident in Aberdeenshire
1225-725: The UK. In 2011, 82.2% of residents identified as 'White Scottish', followed by 12.3% who are 'White British', whilst ethnic minorities constitute only 0.9% of the population. The largest ethnic minority group is Asian Scottish/British at 0.8%. In addition to the English language, 48.8% of residents reported being able to speak and understand the Scots language. The largest settlements in Aberdeenshire are: 19,060 14,660 12,570 12,110 11,150 10,070 8,940 7,440 4,700 4,700 4,550 4,000 3,890 3,830 3,140 3,120 3,050 3,010 2,920 2,800 Aberdeenshire's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
1274-615: The United Kingdom, Braemar experiences an oceanic climate ( Köppen Cfb ) though somewhat cooler than lowland areas, verging on a subpolar oceanic climate . Braemar is the third-coldest low-lying place in the UK after the villages of Dalwhinnie and Leadhills with an annual mean temperature of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F). Braemar has twice entered the UK weather records with a low temperature of −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F), recorded on 11 February 1895 and again on 10 January 1982. This record
1323-488: The area of upper Marr (as it literally means), i.e. the area of Marr to the west of Aboyne , the village itself being Castleton of Braemar ( Baile a' Chaisteil in Scottish Gaelic ). The village used to be known as Cinn Drochaid ('bridge end'); Baile a' Chaisteil referred to only the part of the village on the east bank of the river, the part on the west bank being known as Ach an Droighinn ('thorn field'). Braemar
1372-434: The castle has been leased to the local community. It is run on behalf of the community by local charity, Braemar Community Ltd and staffed by local volunteers, and an ambitious restoration programme has been started. It reopened to the public in 2008. The building is a five-storey L-plan castle with a star-shaped curtain wall of six sharp-angled salients, and with three storey angle turrets . The central tower enfolds
1421-656: The competitors, using the funds of the Braemar Highland Society. On 14 September 1848, Queen Victoria attended the Gathering at Invercauld . In 1866, Royal was added to Braemar Highland Society and in 1906, the Duke of Fife presented 12 acres (5 hectares) of Mar Estate to the society, and the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, the current home of the Braemar Gathering, was created. Since Queen Victoria 's time,
1470-432: The council area has risen over 50% since 1971 to approximately 263,750 in 2022, representing 4.7% of Scotland's total. Aberdeenshire's population has increased by 9.1% since 2001, while Scotland's total population grew by 3.8%. The census lists a relatively high proportion of under 16s and slightly fewer working-age people compared with the Scottish average. Aberdeenshire is one of the most homogeneous/indigenous regions of
1519-457: The crossing. The ruins are considered to be largely of 14th-century origin, replacing the presumed timber-construction of the original castle. Following the accession of George I in 1714, the Earl of Mar launched the 1715 Jacobite Rising on 6 September at Braemar. In 1795, a Roman Catholic Mass house was built on the high-ground to the west of Auchendryne, giving the name to Chapel Brae, which
Braemar Castle - Misplaced Pages Continue
1568-510: The east. Traditionally, it has depended economically on the primary sector (agriculture, fishing, and forestry) and related processing industries. Over the last 40 years, the development of the oil and gas industry and associated service sector has broadened Aberdeenshire's economic base, and contributed to a rapid population growth of some 50% since 1975. Its land represents 8% of Scotland's overall territory. It covers an area of 6,313 square kilometres (2,437 sq mi). Aberdeenshire has
1617-452: The government at a fee of £14 per year, now to serve as a garrison for Hanoverian troops. From 1760 to 1806 the estate was used largely for commercial woodland, but on a massive scale, with James Farquharson of Invercauld planting 16 million fir trees and 2 million larch during this period. Rebuilding started under the command of John Adam , Master Mason to the Board of Ordnance . In 1831
1666-399: The largest recorded diurnal ranges of temperature in the UK, as well as recording the warmest and coldest temperatures for the UK for September 2015; the maximum temperature was 24.0 °C (75.2 °F) and the minimum was −1.3 °C (29.7 °F). The next day it was again the coldest and warmest place in the UK. The minimum temperature was −2.0 °C (28.4 °F) and the maximum was
1715-490: The military garrison was withdrawn and the castle returned to the Farquharson clan. Restoration to provide a family home began under the 12th Laird of Invercauld who entertained Queen Victoria there when she attended the Braemar Gatherings in the grounds of the castle. In 1800 Braemar Castle was documented to have its moat intact. It has also featured in the video to Andy Stewart's "A Scottish Soldier". Since 2006
1764-409: The modern village, rather than Braemar Castle to the south, while Kindrochit means 'bridge end'. Kindrochit (or Kindrochit-Alian) was known as Doldauha before the mid-9th century. According to legend, Malcolm III came to the area in around 1059, and built a timber bridge connecting the east and west banks. 'Kindrochit' means bridge end and the castle is assumed to have been built to protect
1813-774: The public sector. Aberdeenshire's economy remains closely linked to Aberdeen City's and the North Sea oil industry, with many employees in oil-related jobs. The average monthly unemployment (claimant count) rate for Aberdeenshire in 2011 was 1.5%. This is lower than the average rate of Aberdeen City (2.3%), Scotland (4.2%) and the UK (3.8%). The following significant structures or places are within Aberdeenshire: There are numerous rivers and burns in Aberdeenshire, including Cowie Water , Carron Water , Burn of Muchalls , River Dee , River Don , River Ury , River Ythan , Water of Feugh , Burn of Myrehouse , Laeca Burn and Luther Water . Numerous bays and estuaries are found along
1862-625: The reigning monarch has been the patron of the Braemar Royal Highland Society, and is styled Chieftain at the games. The current Chieftain of the Braemar Gathering is King Charles III . Lots of events are held, including: Another event that happens at Braemar is the presentation of the Aberdeenshire League/Walker's Shortbread League winners. The overall top six dancers from across certain Highland games held over
1911-540: The rising power of the Farquharsons, replacing an older building, which was the successor of nearby Kindrochit Castle , which dates from the 11th century AD . The siting of Kindrochit Castle was based upon the strategic location of this site relative to historic crossings of the Grampian Mounth . An important garrison after the 1745 Jacobite rising , Braemar Castle had been attacked and burned by John Farquharson ,
1960-606: The seacoast of Aberdeenshire, including Banff Bay , Ythan Estuary , Stonehaven Bay and Thornyhive Bay . Aberdeenshire has a marine west coast climate on the Köppen climate classification . Aberdeenshire is in the rain shadow of the Grampians , therefore it has a generally dry climate for a maritime region, with portions of the coast receiving 25 inches (64 cm) of moisture annually. Summers are mild, and winters are typically cold in Aberdeenshire; Coastal temperatures are moderated by
2009-427: The spelling by Wyness) from Ach' an Droighinn ('field of the thorn') belonged to a branch of the Farquharsons until it was forfeited in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745 . Later that century it was acquired by William Duff, 1st Earl Fife . The Catholic Church in Braemar is dedicated to Saint Andrew and, following Catholic Emancipation , it was built in 1839. Catholicism has traditionally been strong in
Braemar Castle - Misplaced Pages Continue
2058-558: The staff rooms. In the floor of a passage, an iron grill provided access to the Laird's Pit , a dark hole used as a dungeon. On each of the upper floors a large room and a small room occupied the two arms of the tower. On the first floor are the Dining Room and Morning Room , whilst on the floor above is the Laird's Day Room , entered by a curved door. Opposite is the Rose Room , and between
2107-419: The summer are presented with their awards. Each dancer receives a tin of Walker's shortbread (hence the nickname 'Shortbread League') and a commemorative vase, picture or something similar. Braemar has a golf course, two large hotels (Fife Arms and Invercauld Arms) as well as many smaller hotels and private homes offering bed and breakfast -style accommodation and a large SYHA hostel . On the southern edge of
2156-674: The two is a small bathroom installed in 1901. In the main wing at this level is the Drawing Room , containing graffiti incised on the window shutters by government troops. The words "John Chestnut, Sergeant, 1797" can be clearly seen. On the third floor is the Four Poster Bedroom , whilst on the fourth floor lie the Ladies Guest Bedroom , Gentlemans Guest Bedroom and the Principal Bedroom . These upper floors were used by
2205-442: The village there is also a caravan site. Braemar also has a small post office /village shop and mountain bike hire. The Morrone Birkwood Nature Reserve is a nature reserve on the edge of the village reached from the car park at the top of Chapel Brae. There is a regular bus service between Braemar and Aberdeen. Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire ( Scots : Aiberdeenshire ; Scottish Gaelic : Siorrachd Obar Dheathain )
2254-449: Was originally applied to the general area; using Braemar for the village dates to around 1870. Before the 11th century, there were separate hamlets on each bank of the Clunie, Auchendryne on the west and Castleton on the east, or Bail Chasteil . The names are clearly marked on the current Ordnance Survey maps, below 'Braemar'. 'Castleton' refers to Kindrochit Castle , located within
2303-590: Was recorded. It was the lowest February temperature since 1955 and the UK's coldest night since 30 December 1995. The modern village sits over the Clunie Water , a strategically important crossing on the Elsick Mounth , an ancient trackway used by Picts and Romans . It is located in the upper end of the historical Earldom of Mar , literally the Braes o' Mar . The Scottish Gaelic name Bràigh Mhàrr ('Upland of Mar')
2352-454: Was then split between four of the five new districts in the Grampian region: Banff and Buchan (which also included eastern parts of Banffshire, including its county town of Banff ), Gordon , Kincardine and Deeside (which also included most of Kincardineshire), and Aberdeen City. Local government functions were shared between the two levels. The modern council area was created in 1996 under
2401-673: Was used as a school. Until the 20th century, Braemar was largely owned by one of the adjoining Mar Estates , with Auchendryne and Invercauld on one side, Castleton on the other. Allegedly, inter-estate rivalry was a factor in each having its own pub , the Fife Arms Hotel in Auchendryne, and the Invercauld Arms Hotel in Castleton, built over the mound where the Earl of Mar raised the Jacobite standard in 1715. Auchindryne (to use
#84915