Braemar and Deeside are to be our base for the next few days, south of the main Cairngorm Mountains it is a mix of remote, wild and civilised all in one valley through which the River Dee flows.
There are many more remote valleys but that which runs from Braemar to the Linn of Dee is one of may favourites it broad and in places somewhat marshy plain cut through by a wide and winding Dee with a backdrop of mountain and hills.
The view East from Braemar.
Across the Dee to QUIOCH WATERS
West towards the head of the valley where paths lead you over to Glen Feshie to Kingussie or Glen Tilt to Blair Atholl or across the Lairig Ghru to Aviemore
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But first stop is that tourist draw the LINN of DEE and after all the rains of the past few days I was surprised that more Dee waters were not surging through the gorge……perhaps it is a sign of just how much water the main river can carry away to the North Sea…..but still a thunderous sound and dramatic scene for all that.
But as it was late afternoon and the skies lifting we thought a walk up our very favourite gorge beside the QUOICH WATERS was called for and it didn’t disappoint. The smell of Pine and heather with the tumbling waters and the occasional glint of sunshine was not to be missed.
The start of the walk just above where the Quoich joins the Dee. From here the walk follows the Quoich up into the hills. Old crofts, abandoned once then taken over as bothies and once again abandoned plus the occasional ‘shooting lodge’ add character and their historical mark to the surroundings. Not all are so humble….the wee house in the pines overlooking the Quoich’s Punch Bowl was built by Queen Victoria and known as the ‘Queens Tea Room’ a venue for one of her many afternoon picnics here on Deeside,
The Quoich Waters can easily rival those at the Linn of Dee as here at the Punch Bowl just above the Linn of Quoich as water flow from Beinn A’ Bhuird in the Cairngorms.
Rain clouds start to head in from A’Chioch on Beinn A’ Bhuird and evening started draw in so a return to the valley was deemed preferable to a soaking and in any case a steak beckoned. But not before we caught the last of the evening light over the Dee Valley started to fade.
AND Rainbow to complete our day (from the same location as the first image in this blog) …..just hope tomorrows weather is as good.
Written September 14th to be posted when a signal available.
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 