Braemar and Ballater: Royal Deeside
Royal Deeside is the Cairngorms for connoisseurs. The magnificent pinewoods may be less extensive than their northern counterparts, but from this side
the Cairngorms seem more like individual peaks rather than the wide plateau of the north, and require long approach treks.
One of Scotland's fastest
flowing rivers, the Dee flows past the Devil's Point out of the High Cairngorms to carve its beautiful course down through Braemar and past Balmoral Castle
to Ballater and beyond. On its south side is are the Mounth, a range of mountains almost as extensive as the Cairngorms themselves, and presided over by the grand peak of Lochnagar.
Quick links for accommodation:
| Walk |
Grade |
Distance |
Time |
|---|
| Linn of Quoich circuit |
|
4.5km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Glen Tanar riverside circuit |
|
4.75km |
2 hours |
| The Colonel's Bed, Inverey |
|
5km |
1 – 1.5 hours |
| Keiloch Crag, near Braemar |
|
5km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Braemar riverside walk |
|
5km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Loch Kinord circuit, Muir of Dinnet |
|
6km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Glen Tanar pinewoods, near Aboyne |
|
8km |
2 – 2.5 hours |
| Seven Bridges and Knock Castle, Ballater |
|
10.5km |
2.5 – 3 hours |
| Derry Lodge and the Linn of Dee |
|
11km |
2.5 – 3.5 hours |
| Loch Callater near Braemar |
|
11.5km |
3 – 3.5 hours |
| Creag Choinnich, Braemar |
|
2.5km |
1 – 2 hours |
| Craigendarroch oakwoods, Ballater |
|
4km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Morrone Birkwood, Braemar |
|
4.5km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Pannanich Woods and Craig Coillich, Ballater |
|
5km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| The Lion's Face and the Cromlins, Braemar |
|
5.5km |
2 – 3 hours |
| Burn O' Vat and the Culblean circuit |
|
6.5km |
1.5 – 2 hours |
| Around Craig Leek, near Braemar |
|
8.5km |
2 – 2.5 hours |
| Loch Muick Circuit |
|
12.5km |
3 – 3.5 hours |
| Clais Fhearnaig circuit |
|
15.5km |
3.5 – 4.5 hours |
| Sgor Buidhe circuit, Ballater |
|
11.5km |
3 – 4 hours |
| The Cairnwell Munros |
|
11.5km |
5 – 6 hours |
| Carn na Drochaide, from Linn of Quoich |
|
12km |
4 – 5 hours |
| Morrone ascent, Braemar |
|
12km |
4 – 5 hours |
| An Socach from Glen Clunie |
|
15.5km |
5 – 6 hours |
| Mount Keen by Glen Tanar |
|
27km |
7 – 9 hours |
| Lochnagar from Glen Muick |
|
19km |
7 – 8 hours |
| Glas Maol Munros circuit, Cairnwell Pass |
|
19.5km |
7 – 8 hours |
| Tolmount and Tom Buidhe via Loch Callater |
|
26.5km |
8 – 10 hours |
| Beinn a' Bhuird |
|
28km |
8 – 10 hours |
| Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn Bhreac |
|
28.5km |
8 – 10 hours |
| Ben Macdui and Derry Cairngorm |
|
29km |
9 – 11 hours |
| White Mounth Munros, Glen Muick |
|
29km |
9 – 11 hours |
| Beinn Iutharn Mhor & Carn Bhac, Inverey |
|
32km |
9 – 10 hours |
| Ben Avon via Gleann an-Slugain |
|
33.5km |
9 – 11 hours |
