The rivers Don and Dee — 141 miles (226 km)
Take
in high quality scenery and attractions in two contrasting
river valleys, and you may find yourself seriously delayed!
From Inverurie on the A90 take the B993 via Kemnay (traditional
granite quarrying) and Monymusk (arts centre and Norman
church) for the A944 (optional detour to Castle Fraser).
Continue west to Alford (Haughton Country Park, narrow-gauge
railway, heritage centre, Grampian Transport Museum).
Continue west to Mossat (water garden, antique shop
and tea room), turning left on to A97 for Kildrummy
(castle and gardens).At Glenkindie, turn left on local
road signed Towie, and cross over river Don to rejoin
A97 above Boultenstone, turning left for Logie Coldstone.
Enjoy superb views from the summit of the mountains
of Morven and Mount Keen on Deeside). Travel by Muir
of Dinnet nature reserve, then join A93, the main Deeside
road, going west for Ballater.
(Alternatively,
stay on A97 through Strathdon on A944, then take the
mountainous A939 southwards. This gives fine views of
what Byron called "the steep crowning glories of
dark Lochnagar". Rejoin main Deeside Road west
of Ballater, and turn right).
Continue
west up Royal Deeside, passing Balmoral and Old Invercauld
Bridge for Braemar (Braemar Castle, ruins of Kindrochit
Castle, heritage centre). If time permits, continue
on local road to Inverey (walk to Colonel’s Bed,
a rocky river gorge in Glen Ey), Linn o Dee (spectacular
river narrows). Public road ends at Linn of Quoich.
Return to Braemar, taking the B976 South Deeside Road
at Crathie (Crathie Kirk, Royal Lochnagar Distillery
visitor centre). Return east to Ballater (optional detour
to Glen Muick with mountain scenery, waterfall and walks).
Remain
on South Deeside Road signed for Aboyne, passing on
right road to Glen Tanar (Tower of Ess, walks, visitor
centre). Rejoin A93 at Aboyne, and head east for Banchory
(shopping, salmon at Brig o Feugh). Then take A980 (signed
for Torphins), B977 for Echt (Cullerlie farm park, Millers
Visitor Centre), Dunecht (planned village) and Kintore
(historic burgh) to return to Inverurie (capital of
the ancient Lordship of the Garioch).
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