Discover Stirling & Northeast Scotland - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 397

heads as it is with single-malt whiskies. There's a good restaurant with hill views, plus a
12-berth hikers' bunkhouse in the hotel grounds.

GATHERING PLACE££
( 01339-741234; www.the-gathering-place.co.uk ; 9 Invercauld Rd; mains £15-19; dinner Tue-Sat)
This bright and breezy bistro is an unexpected corner of culinary excellence, with a wel-
coming dining room and sunny conservatory, tucked below the main road junction at the
entrance to Braemar village.

| Bistro

Getting There & Away
Bus 201 runs from Aberdeen to Braemar (£9.60, 2¼ hours, eight daily Monday to
Saturday, five on Sunday). The 50-mile drive from Perth to Braemar is beautiful, but
there's no public transport on this route.

If You Like... Castles

The royal connection means that Balmoral is the name everyone knows, but there are
many other castles in and around Royal Deeside.

1 CRATHES CASTLE
(NTS; 01330-844525; adult/child £10.50/7.50; 10.30am-5pm Jun-Aug, to 4.30pm Sat-Thu Apr,
May, Sep Oct, to 3.45pm Sat Sun Nov-Mar; ) Famous for its Jacobean painted ceilings,
magnificently carved canopied beds, and the ʻHorn of Leys', presented to the Burnett
family by Robert the Bruce in the 14th century; 16 miles west of Aberdeen.

2 CRAIGIEVAR CASTLE
(NTS; adult/child £11.50/8.50; 11am-5.30pm daily Jul Aug, Fri-Tue only Apr-Jun Sep) A superb
example of the original Scottish Baronial style, Craigievar has managed to survive
pretty much unchanged since its completion in the 17th century; 15 miles north of Bal-
later.

3 FYVIE CASTLE