Dee n' Do Magazine - Issue 1

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January - June 2014

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ISSUE ONE

A magazine for

Royal Deeside Outdoor Activities Cultural Events + Art Food + Drink Local Business Spotlight Deeside Discoveries History + Tales

Exclu

Raemoir House Hotel Banchory, Aberdeenshire Scotland AB31 4ED +44 (0)1330 824884 hotel@raemoir.com www.raemoir.com

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usively yours...

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Dee n’ Do Magazine Tel: +44 (0)7790 129212 or +44 (0)7975 727767 hello@deendo.com www.deendo.com Produced by Burdie Creative Ltd Room 2, 2nd Floor, 46a Union Street Aberdeen, AB10 1BD +44 (0)7975 727756 hello@burdiecreative.com www.burdiecreative.com Editor Kirsten Horne +44 (0)7790 129212 Ads & Design Director Kelly Whyte +44 (0)7975 727767 Creative Director Mairi MacLeod Gray +44 (0)7975 727756 Contributing Photographers Graeme MacDonald Aboyne Photographics Jim Henderson Amy Muir

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE FIRST BI-ANNUAL ISSUE OF DEE N’ DO, THE NEW PUBLICATION THAT WILL EXPLORE, SERVE AND CELEBRATE THE ROYAL DEESIDE AREA. Dee n’ Do will sit on your coffee table, reside with your travel guides or nestle in the miscellaneous drawer for you to reference, be inspired by and simply enjoy for

Printers J Thomson Colour Printers www.jtcp.co.uk (Dee n’ Do greatly acknowledges the support of JTCP)

seasons to come.

Publisher Dee n’ Do is published twice a year by Burdie Creative Ltd. © Burdie Creative Ltd 2014. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, Burdie Creative Ltd and its editorial contributors accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including and loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication.

area and we can’t wait to share our findings and promote

Copyright All images contained in Dee n’ Do are subject to copyright of the artist, illustrator or photographer as named, but not limited to. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

Disclaimer All rights reserved.

The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of the editor or publisher.

Advertise with us Contact us to get your business in the next issue of Dee n’ Do. Call +44 (0)7975 727767 or email advertising@deendo.com and request a media pack.

Each issue will focus on different aspects of this diverse Deeside in the manner it both commands and deserves… with unbridled enthusiasm and unbiased respect.

It has certainly been a real pleasure to meet, chat and get involved with so many of the people who love this treasured area. We invite you to get a taste for their enthusiasm (and ours) through the exciting travelogues, breathtaking photography, and collective knowledge of the area and hope that it inspires you to discover Deeside.

Enjoy,

Kirsten, Editor

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CONTENTS ISSUE 01 JAN -JUN 2014

Outdoor Fin Bremner stamps his authority in the world of Freestyle Snowboarding

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The River Dee and the importance of salmon angling

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Travelogue: an epic bike adventure

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Delight in the small hills of Deeside

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Deeside Day Out A day trip to Burn o’ Vat and Loch Kinord

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Food + Drink Shedding some light on the fantastic Cow Shed Brasserie

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Tales from the drink’s cupboard

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Business Focus A team effort: Braemar Mountain Rescue Team

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The foundations of a champion? A look at The Paul Lawrie Foundation

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Regulars Ask the Vet

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Into the Past

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Dee n’ Doodles for the bairns

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On the Bookshelf

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Founded in 2013 by Kelly Whyte, Mairi MacLeod Gray & Kirsten Horne

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Fo�gotte�

U �ES S A � L P

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Written by

HOLE PUTTING GREEN

VENUE

Braemar Games Field COST PER ROUND

ADULT

20 p

15 ’s 10 p UNDER

paid to honesty box

Shirley Macdonald

At the age of 37, I never thought that spending an hour in a field with a few of my closest friends could invoke so many memories, friendly rivalries and some jolly good laughs. Hearty belly laughs.

The Putting Green in the Braemar Games Field relies on an honesty system for the putters and balls for the grand total of just 20 new pence each. This charming wee hut is unmanned, however is well respected by its visitors.

If, like me, it has been many years since you’ve been putting then I recommend that you head to your nearest green and grab some buddies or your children and have a go.

What started as a lighthearted game with four (admittedly fairly competitive) friends, we agreed a point scoring system for the 18 holes. What I should point out is that one of us has never played a round of golf in our life, one of us is married to an ex golf pro, one of us has played a few rounds and the other is just starting out in the

Spend a fun filled hou� in the most beautiful �etting for less than o�e pound for the entire family... no, really! sport. So between us it was fair to say that we had some knowledge of the rules of golf.

From the tee off at the first hole it was ‘game on’. Player 1 adopted her unusual hockey stance with back to front grip, however this did not seem to hinder her in any way; on the contrary it hampered the rest of us as we were laughing so much! Player 2 preferred a pitching action to the putting however she seemed to be onto a winner as the length of the grass caught us short on most holes. Over the course of the round, rules were contravened and penalties dished out for failing to mark our balls (yes it really did get that serious).

There was a clear winner (the one that is married to the ex golf pro if you’re interested) and unfortunately a clear loser (our host) however it could not be denied that all four of us had just spent a camaraderie-filled hour in the most beautiful setting for no more than a pound.

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Pisssste!

The Early Bird Gets Clear Runs

By Claire Black Waking up in the village of Braemar on the morning of a family day skiing is not only an advantage but gives you a certain sense of smugness. While eating my porridge at a reasonable 8:00am, the children cannot contain their excitement for the day ahead.

Enthusiastically, they look out their ski goggles and masks, get dressed into their base layers and pack their rucksacks with all they won’t need for the day.

Looking out the window, I notice two things.

The first is that the weather does not look very promising despite reports that the grey mist hovering should burn off. And secondly, there is a stream of headlights coming

from the east heading through the village.

From where I’m situated higher up on a hillside cabin, I watch as the cars slow and eventually come to a standstill as far back as the local garage. My smugness reading has just been turned up a notch as I realise that the snow gates are probably temporarily closed at the far side of the village.

As I help the family get ready (this involves enduring a 15 minute workout to get our outer gear on!), my husband packs up the car and there is time for another cuppa before we set off. We keep an eye out for the traffic which slowly starts to move again.

We head through the (now very quiet) village at about 9:00am with not another car in sight. One of the perks of staying in the village is quick access to the snow gates, which are now open and we travel uninterrupted up the glen. As the weather starts to clear and blue skies appear, my smugness reaches new heights. Excellent!

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Glenshee facts Glenshee is the UK’s largest snow sports resort Size of Area: 2,000 acres (790 hectares) Summit Elevation: 3,504ft (1068 m) Base Elevation: 2,132ft (650 m) Pisted Runs: 40km 22 Lifts: 3 Chairlifts, 16 Pomas, and 3 T-Bars 36 Runs: 8 Green, 13 Blue, 13 Red, and 2 Black Uplift Capacity: 15,460 per hour Vertical Descent: 1,500ft (457m) Longest Run: Glas Maol - 2km (1.25m) Snowmaking: 20,000m Season: December - April (snow dependant) Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00 (7 days a week) www.ski-glenshee.co.uk

Of course we have no problems with parking, so we head straight to the ski hire shop and buy our lift passes. The very friendly and efficient staff make sure the children are quickly kitted out in good equipment.

At 9:40am, we head over to the Cairnwell T-Bar, stress free. The conditions are great and with very few people on the slopes we take a moment to look around and appreciate our sunny surroundings. With 40km of pisted runs, we had plenty of options for keeping the whole family happy.

The runs at Glenshee are suited to all abilities but particularly for beginners and intermediates. After a couple of fun-filled, but exhausting hours, we had worked up a thirst and appetite by lunchtime. The resort has three cafes serving a wide range of snacks and meals; the base café runs from first thing in the morning until going home time, it serves fast food and is fully licensed so you can enjoy a gluhwein at the end of the day! Cairnwell café is situated at the bottom of the Cairnwell T-Bar and offers panoramic views of the ski area and provides hot and cold meals. Meall Odhar

café has an alpine feel and serves snacks and lunches.

All fuelled up, I leave the family to enjoy their hot chocolates and take the opportunity to browse in the on-site shop. Coincidentally, I bump into a friend who has travelled up from London for a short stay in the area. He was on his way to book a ski instructor for his three children for the following day, such was his enthusiasm for this sport. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced skier or boarder, Glenshee offers an experienced team of qualified instructors to help you. You can join a class or have private lessons – whatever suits you best.

In the afternoon, we skied over the other side of Glenshee taking in the Sunnyside, Meall Odhar and finally Glas Maol. The views were breathtaking. You can see the Cairngorms taking in Ben Macdui, Beinn a’Bhuird and Ben Avon. By now the runs were much busier, however we felt that it was only fair to share the resort with others since we’d ‘owned’ it for most of the morning!

Enthusiasm quickly turns to exhaustion near the end of the day and we all head back to the car. My smugness creeps in again knowing we only have a short drive back to the village where we can grab a hearty meal somewhere local, get an early night and be ready to do the whole thing again tomorrow.

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Ski. Eat. Sleep.

Repeat.

If you’re planning on skiing in Glenshee, we recommend making the most of it by staying the whole weekend or at least coming up the night before. In any case, after a full day’s skiing you may want a hearty meal or a cold beer or somewhere to rest your head. Or probably all of the above.

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Eat. Braemar Lodge Restaurant Glenshee Road, Braemar 013397 41627 The best of local produce prepared using natural flair and innovation. Traditional surroundings.

Selection of whisky is vast and some interesting local real ales (no public licence but alcohol can be enjoyed with meal or if you are a resident.)

The Gathering Place Bistro 9 Invercauld Road, Braemar 013397 41234 Situated at the entrance of the village of Braemar, The Gathering Place is a small, cosy, family-run restaurant. Exciting dishes, sourced with only local ingredients.

Gordon’s Tearoom and Restaurant 20 Mar Road, Braemar 013397 41611 Awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2013, the Tearoom is licenced and offers tasty food at reasonable prices.

Moorfield House Hotel Chapel Brae, Braemar 013397 41244 They stock real ales from Aviemore, a wide range of single malt whiskies from the length and breadth of Scotland and everything in between. And if it is cold outside, the roaring log fire will keep you warm as you unwind at the end of an exciting day.

Fife Arms Mar Road, Braemar 013397 41927 Can’t miss this hotel. Cheap and cheerful bar that doesn’t pretend to offer more.

Sleep.

Craiglea Bed & Breakfast Hillside Road, Braemar 013397 41641 A warm, friendly, family-run bed & breakfast with five spacious, comfortable en-suite rooms. Ideally situated for walking, cycling, golf, skiing, shooting, fishing and of course sightseeing. Serves a substantial full English or continental breakfast to set you up for the day's activities.

Callater Lodge 9 Glenshee Road, Braemar 013397 41275 Victorian villa built in 1861 of local granite stone, Callater Lodge stands in spacious and attractive grounds. The welcoming and informative hosts pride themselves on the lovely location and a high standard of accommodation (the only establishment in Braemar to be awarded 4 stars by the Scottish Tourist Board and 4 stars by the Automobile Association).

Cranford Guest House 15 Glenshee Road, Braemar 013397 41675 A home-from-home, this guest house is decorated in contemporary style, offering a relaxed stay. Views at the front take in the local hills while the rear facing rooms have views of the pine trees. In addition to the five rooms, there is also a detached self-catering cottage with wood burning stove and enclosed garden.

Braemar Youth Hostel Corrie Feragie, 21 Glenshee Road, Braemar 013397 41679 Quiet and clean, the hostel offers a great place to lay your head for a night or two. Set in a lovely old hunting lodge at the edge of Braemar, the location is ideal for hillwalkers and skiers looking to escape without spending too much. As with many hostels, expect sociable guests and fairly basic amenities.

Braemar Lodge Glenshee Road, Braemar 013397 41627 Dating from 1870, this splendid Victorian shooting lodge is set in its own grounds. It offers nine cabins with 1 or 3 bedrooms situated in the hotel grounds, a bunkhouse providing comfortable accommodation for up to 12 people with the option of hotel dining. The hotel has seven bedrooms, all of which have en-suite facilities - the choice is yours.

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Hig

To the nature lover, be it naturalist or hill walker, or what is quite probable, a mix of them both, wild flowers and fruits will always be more beautiful than many of the richest treasures of the garden.

But comparison should scarcely be made, perhaps, between wild fruits and the fruits of cultivation, for the whole character of the latter has been changed.

The bitter has become the sweet, the small, large; and thanks to our greater resource in carrying and preserving the fruits of the earth, many sweet and suave or tart and astringent joys are in season most of the year. You need not wait upon autumn for a good apple, or upon Christmas for a good orange. But as the swallows “observe the time of their coming” so the wild fruit knows its month and abides by nature’s limitations.

There are considerable quantities and varieties of wild fruits in Scotland, but the largest and certainly the most interesting of hill berries is the mountain bramble (Rubus Chamaemorus).

While growing most readily at high elevations, the Cloudberry prefers a moist, peaty soil. At first sight the plant seems to have little in common with

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t h e e c lou v o b a h

the bramble, as the stem is herbaceous, possesses neither thorns nor prickles, and is seldom more than three or four inches in height.

The leaves of the Cloudberry though fairly large, are simple, rounded and deeply lobed. The white petals of the flower last for a short time, and about six weeks after the flower is fertilised, its place is taken by a large berry, at first red and opaque, then, when fully ripe, yellow and semi-transparent.

The berry itself consists of a collection of cherry-like bodies called drupes which are larger in size but less numerous than those which form from the fruit of the common Bramble.

The taste of the fruit is very peculiar; there is no suggestion of the sweetness of either the strawberry or the bramble in it. There is a hint of the acidity characteristic of certain gooseberries mixed with the tang of peat and heather. In the form of jam or jelly the flavour of the fruit is lovely, a preserve very much sought after.

Excerpt taken from The Deeside Field

by Alexander MacGregor

The origin of its appropriate name of Cloudberry is explained as follows:

Cloud-berry This plant grows naturally upon the tops of high mountains… where the clouds are lower than the tops of the same all winter long, therefore the people of the country have called them Cloud Berries.”

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A day trip to

Burn O’Vat & Loch Kinord Royal Deeside is described as ‘one of Scotland’s most enchanting landscapes’ on the official tourism website and we are fortunate enough to have this, quite literally, on our doorstep. ~ By Georgina Gordon ~

Burn O’ Vat

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I am forever sending Colin Baxter postcards to relatives in far-flung places ‘boasting’ of the merits of where we live, but if I am perfectly honest, I have never visited half of these places. So, I decided that the summer of 2013 (in the absence of a foreign holiday somewhere hot and sunny with a spa and kids club!), would be spent exploring the sights and scenery of Aberdeenshire.

Scotch Broom

‘The perfect family day out’ may sound like an oxymoron in itself to those of you with ‘bored’ children who would rather be playing computer games or hanging out with friends, but our visit to the Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve really was just that.

Muir of Dinnet is 9.5km east of Ballater on the A93, located just off the B9119. Simple enough to find, or so we thought, before proceeding to get lost (the ‘scenic route’ was actually scenic on this occasion and we saw some lovely, quaint villages). Another small delay later, to herd a roe deer and her fawn off the road to safety, and we arrived at the Burn O’ Vat Visitor Centre.

After parking the car, unloading everyone (dog was jumping up and down enthusiastically by this point) and making sure we had the picnic, it would have been easy to just bypass the visitor centre to get on our way; however the children were keen to go in for a look. Glad we did. This small building is full of information on paths to follow, what there is to see and how the different elements of the Reserve have evolved. Leaving here armed with maps and leaflets really helped us get the most out of our day.

The Vat Trail is 1.3km long and marked by red trail markers. The wide, well-surfaced paths are easy to follow and our children, aged 5 and 6, had no difficulty at all. It follows along beside a

small stream and over the occasional wooden bridge. Just when you think the path comes to an end, cut short by a wall of boulders, you have to look a little more closely to notice that there is a small gap in the rocks, almost like a ‘doorway’.

To reach this you have to clamber up some rocks and negotiate a line of stepping stones over the stream. Our son was in his element (and in wet shoes by the time he had made it across).

The Vat is a water-carved bowl formed of pink granite after the last ice age, about 14,000 years ago. Despite our collective lack of geological knowledge, we all found it absolutely fascinating.

The Vat burn, which resulted in the formation of the Vat all those years ago, now runs through it, creating a small waterfall. There is a concealed cave behind the waterfall which is rumoured to have been used as a hiding place for Patrick Gilderoy MacGregor, a notorious cattle rustler in the 1600’s. Everyone loves a good story about ‘cops and robbers’, don’t they?

Several photos later, we left the Vat the same way we had gone in and continued on the path which led us to a viewing platform, giving panoramic views of Loch Kinord and up the Dee Valley towards Dinnet and Aboyne. A short stretch further and we were back at the car park. Slightly disappointed that our adventure had come to a premature end, we consulted our maps and decided to embark on the Little Ord Trail; a 4km walk which takes you along the banks of Loch Kinord and offers the opportunity to explore traces of village life in the Iron Age. The first section of the walk took us along narrow paths that wound through the woodland and heathers. A haven for wildlife, and mountain bikers it seemed! A little further on it opened up onto wider gravel paths which gave views down towards the Loch. Such a beautiful, peaceful

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Ferns

Scots Pine

place, away from the hustle and bustle of our usual hectic lives. No mobile phone signal, no fast food outlets, no coaches full of tourists. The children ran and explored, played with sticks, climbed trees and hunted for bears! We strolled along behind them at a leisurely pace feeling completely stress-free and declaring that we really should do this kind of thing more often.

Once we reached the banks of Loch Kinord, we had worked up quite an appetite and found a perfect picnic spot to have lunch. It really was idyllic with views of Black Craig, Craigrae Beg and Knockie Branar, the hills opposite. Even my city-loving husband, who had sacrificed a day on the golf course, admitted that he’d had a great day and that the picnic beside the loch was the highlight so far.

After spending time with the resident ducks and skimming some stones over the, previously tranquil, waters it was time to get moving again, although we could all have spent a lot longer there. The path alongside the Loch features some informative signs giving facts about the

Loch Kinord Photograph courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

Rowan Tree

history of the surroundings. One of these signs told us about ‘Crannog Island’, a man-made island believed to have been built hundreds of years ago which would have had a jetty that could be withdrawn during times of attack. There is also another island which once boasted a castle, visited by several Scottish kings.

As the path starts to lead away from the shores of the Loch, you come to the Kinord Cross, a Pictish cross carved over 1,000 years ago. There are various theories about the history of the Cross and how it came to be here. Definitely a must-see for any history buffs.

The final section took us back over the same ground we had started on and back to the car park at the Burn O’ Vat Visitor Centre.

It was very quiet in the car on the way back to Aberdeen, with my whole family (bar me) happily snoozing after their day on Deeside. We all agreed that it had been one of the nicest days we had spent together and that it had, indeed, been ‘The Perfect Family Day Out’.

Burn O’ Vat Photograph courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

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E ffor m a e T t A The Braemar Mountain Rescue Team (BMRT) The Braemar Mountain Rescue Association was formed in 1965 by a group of locals who were concerned about the increasing number of mountain related incidents. Today, 48 years later, the current team continue the long tradition of helping those in need in mountainous areas of the Grampian region.

By Allan Murdoch

THE TEAM The original team members were mostly local game keepers and estate workers along with the local police constable; today the same mix of people are joined by local residents which include doctors, offshore workers, office workers, estate workers, teachers etc.

Despite a slow turnover of team members, they are constantly looking for new volunteers: anyone with suitable experience and interest is encouraged to get in touch.

The original Grampian Police Mountain Rescue team was formed around the same time as Braemar Mountain Rescue Team and throughout the last 48 years, the two teams have operated together essentially acting as one team.

WHO DO WE ASSIST? The range of people we assist is as varied as the members in our team. In the past our rescues were made up of mostly hill walkers and summer rock or winter climbers. Nowadays, these two groups still make up the largest percentage of our rescues but in addition we frequently receive calls to assist mountain bikers, canoeists, skiers and ski tourers and even paraglider and glider pilots.

We also use our searching expertise in assisting the police in more urban searches for missing persons often involving golf courses, railway sidings, riverbanks or forests close to urban areas.

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WHERE ARE WE? We currently have two rescue centres; our main base is in Braemar where we have a purpose built rescue centre designed to accommodate all of our vehicles and equipment along with providing office space, training rooms and accommodation for rescuers and casualties when the need arises.

During the winter months, the Braemar rescue centre is used as the southern Cairngorm base for the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) forecasters. A secondary base is located in Ballater and is used for all callouts to the Lochnagar and eastern areas. The Team covers all of Grampian including the whole of the southern and eastern Cairngorms which has some of the remotest mountain terrain in northern Europe.

HOW ARE WE FUNDED? Braemar Mountain Rescue Association is a registered charity which relies on donations for the continued operation of the Team. In the past few years we have received a small grant from the Scottish Government which is available to all mountain rescue teams in Scotland.

Every year the team must raise enough money to operate; this includes the running of our bases, purchasing and operating our vehicles and equipment, and purchasing clothing and equipment for team members. This is a feat in itself considering the amount needed runs into the tens of thousands of pounds, year on year. A large part of our income comes in the form of annual donations from private individuals, clubs and organisations, as well as from the people and families we've rescued. Raising awareness is just as important to us as raising money. Our team members conduct talks and present displays to interested groups, within the towns and villages of the Aberdeenshire area. The Order of St John Scotland are long-term supporters of mountain rescue in Scotland. We are very grateful to receive a recent donation from the Order that helped towards the cost of replacing one of our older landrovers.

Interested in joining Braemar Mountain Rescue Team? We are always on the look out for experienced mountaineers and walkers with good winter skills.

For further information please email: secretary@braemarmountainrescue.org.uk or visit: www.braemarmountainrescue.org.uk

ATTRACTIONS OF THE AREA Upper Deeside and the eastern Cairngorms provide a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast, with some of the best mountain scenery Scotland has to offer along with (generally) better weather than the west coast.

The eastern Cairngorms tend to be a lot quieter than the western side and the busy Spey valley, so it’s very easy to spend a full day in the mountains and meet only a handful of people. The area hosts many Munros including the most easterly one (Mount Keen) and is a haven for hill walkers and ‘Munro Baggers’. Traditional winter mountaineering is still a very popular sport and the Corrie of Lochnagar offers some of the best routes in Scotland.

The many estate landrover tracks and traditional stalker’s paths make the mountain biking in the area some of the best to be found anywhere in the world.

During the winter months the high Cairngorm plateau and the generally rounded nature of the Cairngorm mountains provide excellent terrain and reliable conditions for the ski mountaineer, a sport which has become increasingly popular in recent years.

HARSH CONDITIONS During the winter months, the mountains are majestic and the views are simply stunning.

Unfortunately, many people grossly underestimate the Scottish mountain environment during winter.

The maritime weather systems we experience can result in some of the toughest conditions on any mountain. It is not uncommon for wind speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour on the top of Cairngorm – add in near zero visibility, wind-chill and the featureless terrain of the plateau and you have a very serious and committing environment.

Luckily not all days are like that, however even on the blue sky days the wind-chill can still be significant and any forced stops through injury or poor navigation will result in hypothermia very quickly.

The snow pack in Scotland also demands respect; the wind redistribution and loading of lee slopes (slopes sheltered or protected from the wind) are common in Scotland which means that human triggered avalanches are a common occurrence and sometimes fatal as was sadly highlighted in the media on a few tragic avalanches last winter.

As members of Braemar Mountain Rescue Association we encourage anyone to experience the joys of the winter mountains, after all that’s why most of us are in a mountain rescue team!

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home not on an icy slope (it goes without saying owner must be competent in their use).

To make your visit safer and more enjoyable we recommend taking the following steps: PLANNING

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A pair of skiing goggles are essential on windy days when wind blown snow can make it impossible to open your eyes without them.

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Lastly don’t forget your camera to record your adventure and some sun cream just in case!

Start with a good plan!

1

Research your desired route. Remember to factor in slower progress in snow, less daylight hours, escape routes in the event something does go wrong.

2

Ensure you have the latest mountain weather forecast and are able to interpret them (MWIS provide excellent forecasts at www.mwis.org.uk) as well as the latest avalanche forecast for the area you are visiting at www.sais.gov.uk/.

3

Create a route card with details of your intended route and expected duration/finish time. Include contact details of your own phone as well as a spouse or family member. If you do not want to leave such information on the dashboard of your car then it can be handed into any local police station before you set off. In the event of an accident it can’t be stressed enough how valuable this information is to us.

EQUIPMENT

Winter hill walking requires everything you would expect to carry in the summer (see page 28) plus some additional items (see below).

1

Extra warm clothing and spare hats and gloves, a bothy shelter or a survival blanket as a minimum. These items will allow you to survive a forced stop.

2

During winter the body tends to burn more energy so additional food and flask of hot drink is advised. A small supply of emergency rations weighs very little but can keep you going if you are forced to sit through the night.

3

Everyone venturing onto the mountain should have an OS or HARVEY map (in a waterproof case), a compass and a spare of both, along with the ability to use them effectively. GPS systems are fantastic nowadays but they can be dropped onto rocks, batteries can deplete in the cold, or they can be left on inadvertently in the rucksack so everyone should be able to fall back to the good old map and compass! Smartphones are primarily phones not navigational devices and should be kept as such.

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A modern LED head torch is a must for the shorter winter daylight hours.

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Specialist winter equipment includes an ice axe and a set of crampons; these should be checked for fit against the boot in the comfort of your own

SKI TOURING As mentioned previously there has been a surge in popularity in recent years for ski touring.

Participants should carry everything a winter hill walker carries plus a few additions.

By its very nature, skiing is usually done on a snow covered slope between 15-45 degrees which is also the perfect terrain for avalanches. Ski tourers should have a thorough understanding of the Scottish avalanche by either attending winter skills courses or at least reading books such as “A Chance In A Million” written

by Bob Barton & Blyth Wright. If a person or group is caught and buried in an avalanche the best chance of survival is self-rescue by other companions within the first 15 minutes of burial, after this time the survival rates diminish quickly. To locate and recover a buried casualty within 15 minutes requires the competent use of equipment which must be carried by everyone in the group. An avalanche transceiver worn below the outer garments will allow others to roughly locate the person.

An avalanche probe will then be used to pinpoint the casualty and finally a snow shovel can be used to dig the person out effectively. These search and recovery skills should be practiced throughout the season so that they become automatic if the need arises. Some of the equipment mentioned above is expensive to purchase but alternatively most of the items can be rented for the day or the week locally in Deeside.

CHANGING PLANS Be realistic and flexible; if the weather forecast or snow conditions are looking unfavourable then make the safe choice and postpone your day or trip and head for a low level alternative instead.

The hills have been around for many years and will still be around when conditions improve! If conditions change when you are actually high up in the hills then it’s no disgrace to cut your day short and use one of the escape routes you identified on your route card.

For all the added challenges that winter brings to mountain sports, it can be one of the most magical experiences in your life, so get out there and enjoy it, but do stay safe!

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ea t h e r &

The term Macnab is taken from John Buchan's 1925 Scottish novel 'John Macnab', which revolves around three successful London friends in their mid-forties who, in their boredom, decide to turn to poaching on three Scottish estates. After informing the landowners of their intention to hunt game on their estates under the pseudonym John Macnab, they go ahead with their jaunts, with dramatic results.

In the early part of the 20th century this adventurous pursuit captured the imagination of sportsmen and women as it combined the romance of the countryside in Scotland, the thrill of hunting, and the feeling of the hunter himself being the hunted! Today, ‘Bagging a Macnab’ has spawned a new breed of competitive hunters eager to declare their triple triumph. Those who attempt to enter the Macnab hall of fame must possess a talent with rifle, shotgun and fly-rod, as well as a degree of luck.

Few estates in Scotland offer the conditions and diversity of species where a Macnab may be achieved. If one is indeed blessed with success, it becomes a most memorable hunting achievement for most.

Ruaridh Cooper, local businessman, knows exactly what this achievement means. After an early morning start last September,

A Macnab is the name given to the feat of successfully hunting ‘fur, feather and fin’ in one 24-hour period, that is to say successfully stalked, shot and landed a stag, a brace of grouse and a salmon. Not easy to achieve when you consider that conditions, season, talent and luck all have to coincide.

Ruairidh achieved the Macnab challenge on Finzean Estate by hooking a salmon in the suicide pool on the estate’s Commonty Beat on the River Dee at 6pm. This was his second successful Macnab in only three attempts and he said, “I just love to be out on the hill and the scenery on Finzean is superb. It is always nice to fish at Commonty.”

About the Author John Buchan, one of Alfred Hitchcock's favourite writers, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist.

He published nearly 30 novels and seven collections of short stories. He was born in Perth, an eldest son, and studied at Glasgow and Oxford. In 1901 he became a barrister of the Middle Temple and a private secretary to the High Commissioner for South Africa. In 1907 he married Susan Charlotte Grosvenor and they subsequently had four children.

After spells as a war correspondent, Lloyd George's Director of Information and Conservative MP, Buchan moved to Canada in 1935. He served as Governor General there until his death in 1940.

22

The ruins of Tullich Kirk stand alongside the A93 about a mile and a half north east of Ballater.

After the Reformation, Tullich was one of three parishes serving this part of Deeside. In 1798 they were rationalised into the joint parish of Glenmuick, Tullich and Glengairn served by a new parish church built in Ballater, and Tullich Kirk was simply abandoned.

Although abandoned as a place of worship, Tullich Kirk and the circular kirkyard that surrounds it was never abandoned as a place of burial. This is very evident as you wander around the kirkyard, and within the shell of the kirk itself, which has been used as a burial enclosure. Perhaps Tullich Kirk has remained so popular as a place of burial because of the sense of history which still pervades the place.

When it was abandoned in 1798, although the church that stood here dated back to around 1400, it was just the most recent in a series on the same site, the

earliest of which was founded here by St Nathalan in the mid 600s.

As is often the case across Scotland, when new churches were built on the site of earlier ones, they often incorporated elements of the structure of the church or churches they were replacing. Evidence of this can be found at Tullich Kirk in an enclosure surrounded by railings on the outside of the north wall of the kirk. Here are displayed a series of interesting stones which turned up either built into the structure of the church or in its surroundings.

The oldest is what remains of a Pictish symbol stone dating back to around 700. At some point in the past this seems to have been reshaped to make it suitable for reuse as a grave slab, because parts of the Pictish patterns it carries have been chopped off. Today it is difficult to discern the detail of the carvings under the layer of lichen that has colonised much of the surface of the stone.

23

In the 1200s, Tullich Kirk was granted by David I to the Knights Templar, and was included within the Scottish property portfolio of this wealthy and enormously powerful Christian order of knighthood, which was administered from Temple, in Midlothian.

The demise of the Templars followed their refusal to grant loan to King Philip IV of France, and his retaliation by launching a wave of arrests of members on trumped-up charges on Friday 13 October 1307. Templars in Scotland were treated less brutally than across most of Europe, and many simply became Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John, with their property being transferred to that order

and administered from its Scottish headquarters at Torphichen Preceptory near Linlithgow. The Scottish Reformation in 1560 saw many old religious buildings destroyed or abandoned, but it seems that Tullich survived to find a new use, as a parish kirk, a role it was to fulfil for a further 238 years. Perhaps the only incident of real note during this period happened one wintry Sunday morning. The Minister was very late for the service and the congregation took to keeping themselves warm by dancing a reel in the kirkyard. The event was recorded for posterity in the late 1700s by a poem (later set to music as a dance) written by John Skinner, The Reel of Tullochgorum.

Information sourced: www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ballater/tullichkirk

TULLOCHGORUM

By John Skinner

COME gie's a sang, Montgomery cried,

There needs na be sae great a phrase,

May choicest blessings still attend

And lay your disputes all aside,

Wi' dringing dull Italian lays;

Each honest-hearted open friend,

What signifies't for folks to chide

I wadna' gie our ain strathspeys

And calm and quiet be his end,

For what's been done before them?

For half a hundred score o 'em.

And a' that's good watch o'er him!

Let Whig and Tory all agree.

They're douff and dowie at the best,

May peace and plenty be his lot,

Whig and Tory, Whig and Tory,

Douff and dowie, douff and dowie,

Peace and plenty, peace and plenty, May peace and plenty be his lot,

Let Whig and Tory all agree

They're douff and dowie at the best,

To drop their whig-mig-morum;

Wi' a' their variorum.

And dainties a great store o' em!

Let Whig and Tory all agree,

They're douff and dowie at the best,

May peace and plenty be his lot,

To spend the night with mirth and glee,

Their allegros, and a' the rest,

Unstain'd by any vicious blot;

And cheerfu' sing alang wi' me,

They canna please a Highland taste

And may he never want a groat

The reel of Tullochgorum.

Compared wi' Tullochgorum.

That's fond of Tullochgorum.

O' Tullochgorum's my delight,

Let warldly minds themselves oppress

But for the dirty, yawning fool

It gars us a' in ane unite,

Wi' fears of want, and double cess,

Who wants to be oppression's tool,

And ony sumph that keeps up spite,

And sullen sots themselves distress

May envy gnaw his rotten soul,

In conscience I abhor him.

Wi' keeping up decorum.

And discontent devour him!

For blyth and cheery we's be a',

Shall we sae sour and sulky sit,

May dool and sorrow be his chance,

Blithe and cheery, blithe and cheery,

Sour and sulky, sour and sulky,

Dool and sorrow, dool and sorrow,

Blithe and cheery we's be a',

Shall we sae sour and sulky sit,

May dool and sorrow be his chance,

And mak' a happy quorum.

Like auld Philosophorum?

And nane say wae's me for 'im!

For blythe and cheery we's be a',

Shall we sae sour 'and sulky sit,

May dool and sorrow be his chance,

As lang as we hae breath to draw,

Wi' neither sense, nor mirth, nor wit,

Wi' a' the ills that come frae France,

And dance, till we be like to fa',

And canna rise to shake a fit

Whae'er he be that winna dance

The reel of Tullochgorum.

To the reel of Tullochgorum?

The reel of Tullochgorum!

Throw open our regal doors and prepare yourself for a friendly, hearty Scottish welcome.

Blairs Restaurant

Soapies Bar & Lounge

Afternoon Tea

Spa Naturel

There is no better setting to enjoy the very best of seasonal ingredients Scotland’s larder has to offer, including Sunday lunch and High tea.

With a warm, open fire ready to greet you, enjoy relaxed surroundings with a selection of informal brasserie dining open daily.

Focus on the roaring open fire, impressive artwork and opulent furniture in our stunning Drawing Room whilst indulging in a selection of refreshments and home bakes.

Spa Naturel is all about a journey of the senses, ensuring your experience rebalances the mind and body.

Take time for yourself!

Ardoe House Hotel South Deeside Road, Blairs, Aberdeen AB12 5YP T: 01224 860 600

Ardoe House Hotel and SPa

www.mercure.com

@Ardoehouse

25

s ASK THE VET

Woodside Veterinary Group

What is a tick?

Ticks are tiny creatures called parasites that feed on the blood of lots of types of animals and sometimes people.

What does a tick look like?

Ticks vary in colour and size depending on type, gender and age and whether it has fed or not.

Generally, they are very tiny. Many people think of them as being quite big (e.g. balloon-like tick on a dog or cat that has fed for several days and is full of blood!). They will often look like a pink or blue-black wart, and can stick out from the pet’s fur.

How do they attach?

Ticks use their mouthparts to cut into the top layer of skin. Ticks cannot fly or jump, instead they travel by walking on the ground and up plants where they wait for a host (animal or person) to pass by. When the host comes near, they drop or hook onto it with special hooks on their legs.

Why are ticks a risk to people and pets?

When ticks attach to feed, they inject some of their saliva into the skin to prevent the blood from clotting.

In many cases this will just leave an inflamed, hard lump when the tick falls off or is removed. However, some ticks can carry organisms in their saliva which can enter the bloodstream of the host and make them ill. The most commonly talked about disease spread from ticks to you or your pet is Borreliosis, or Lyme disease. If left untreated, an infection can lead to damage of the nervous system, joints and heart, and can be seriously debilitating for both people and

In the first of our Ask the Vet columns we will to try to answer some of your questions regarding ticks and your pets. It is widely reported that tick numbers are increasing and we certainly see plenty attached to pets at our surgery!

certain animals such as dogs and horses. Luckily this is not a condition we have come across in our surgery.

In animals, ticks can also cause Babesia which can cause severe anaemia.

What is the best way to remove a tick from my pet or myself?

There are many suggested removal methods such as burning, suffocating (with petroleum jelly), or twiddling the tick until it is dizzy! None of these are advisable. The aim is to remove the tick in its entirety, promptly, without regurgitation of its stomach contents into your bite wound. Very unpleasant! The only safe way to completely remove an attached tick is by using a special tick-removing tool or a pair of fine tipped tweezers.

After you have removed your tick, keep it in a sealed container and send it to Public Health England’s Tick Recording Scheme*. They will identify it for you and add the information to their database. Alternatively, kill the tick by crushing it inside a piece of paper.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT MY PET OR I GETTING TICKS? Avoid areas of dense vegetation – not so easy to explain that to your cat or dog!

Use products which deter or repel (please seek advice from your vet as the options are vast).

Consider new products such as a collar, which can last for eight months without requiring replacement.

We hope this information has been useful and does not deter you from venturing out and about with your pet! If you have any other questions please contact your vet, who will be more than happy to help you.

Woodside Veterinary Group “Your vet for your pet 7 days a week” www.woodsideveterinarygroup.co.uk. Find us and like us on Facebook at Woodside Veterinary Group.

Planning a trip along the Deeside Way? If the Duthie Park is your destination, head across the road to the Inn at the Park and enjoy a well-earned rest with a refreshing drink or hearty meal.

3-4 Deemount Terrace Aberdeen, Scotland AB11 7RX T +44(0)

01224 583699

E info@innattheparkhotel.co.uk

find us on...

www.innattheparkhotel.co.uk

A state of the art family run garden centre, shopping destination and restaurant.

The Mains of Drum

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28

BEFORE YOU WALK Checklist If you’re walking in mountainous regions be prepared for more challenging weather - especially in winter. It is important to be properly equipped as conditions can vary dramatically from valley to mountaintop, regardless of the season.

Walking on an exposed mountainside, you can quickly become susceptible to wind chill.

The combination of high winds and cold air can dramatically lower your body temperature to potentially fatal levels of hypothermia.

Do not assume you will find emergency shelter on the Scottish hills as even those marked on maps may not be suitable. Ensure that you are properly equipped.

PREPARATION • Improve your general level of fitness • Get the right boots • Consider walking poles • Get your posture right • Manage your breathing • Warm up • Shorten stride • Enjoy yourself

BEFORE YOU GO • Obtain a weather forecast • Leave an itinerary of your route and expected time of arrival with someone • Plan an appropriate route based on your experience, fitness, navigation skills, knowledge of area and weather conditions

GENERAL GEAR • Map and Map Case (know how to read it!)

• Compass (know how to use it!)

• Rucksack • Whistle • First Aid Kit • Medicines e.g inhalers • Swiss Army Knife or multitool • Torch • Dry sack • Day sack • Sunglasses • Suncream • GPS if needed • Pen/Marker and Paper • Magnifying Glass • Drinks Container- Bottle/ Hydration System • Insect Repellent • Blister relief/foot care

CLOTHES ESSENTIALS • High energy snacks that can be stored in pockets/easy reach of your rucksack • Meals that can be heated/made using water • Water - more than you think you need • Lighting - a torch or a headlamp • Spare batteries - for any electrical equipment or your torch • Stove - if you intend to cook and camp • Sleeping bag - if you intend to cook and camp • Ground sheet/sleeping mat - if you intend to cook and camp

• Waterproof Trousers/ Over-trousers • Waterproof Jacket • Fleece - as Insulating Layer • Baselayer • A t-shirt for periods of inactivity • Thick walking socks for warmth • Slim liner socks for next to the skin comfort • Walking boots and spare laces • Gaiters • A weather suitable hat • Gloves in cold weather • Scarf or Neck gaiter

29

SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS Be sensible about not over-reaching yourself on a mountain hike. Don't push yourself or your party beyond your limits, and cut your walk short if you are tiring or the weather is worsening and you are not confident of your skills or equipment.

QUICK CHECK

Leave a route card or other indication of your likely location in view in your parked car or with a responsible person, and notify this person immediately of your safe return. If a real emergency occurs, the international distress signal is a group of six loud blasts of a whistle, to be repeated at one-minute intervals.

The emergency number in the UK is 999 and you should ask for mountain rescue.

Map

Compass

First Aid

Food Supplies

Shelter

Phone

Matches

Torch

Binoculars

Water

Correct Clothing

Emergency Equipment

HOW TO GET CHILDREN OUT WALKING First, put away all your personal ambitions. You're not going to break your distance record or climb three Munros.

Second, provide a packed lunch containing things that are high energy and interesting for them e.g. sweeties, chocolate and fizzy pop. And don't carry all the food yourself. They may want to carry their own food in their own little rucksack which looks just like dad's (or mum's or sis's etc.)

Thirdly, go to a place that's not boring. Maybe it would have some of the following: a small stream for building dams and/or paddling/throwing stones into; a few boulders for scrambling about on; a pub or a cafĂŠ that likes children to repair to for more unhealthy food and fizzy drinks.

And finally, don't let the kids follow dad (or mum or sis etc.), but rather let dad (or mum or sis etc.) follow the kids. You won't get very far at all on these first trips. The idea is to let them run around daft, get mucky and tired, and give their eyes a break from all that screen time so many of them get.

Remember, that fresh air is good for them after all!!

30

DEE�IDE �ALKS:

Area: Cambus o’ May

Cambus o' Ma�

Distance Return: 13km (8 miles) Terrain: Easy walking on a good surface. No special footwear required.

Start: Cambus O’ May just off the A93 - Parking area Finish: Ballater Station

To Morven (872m)

Cam

bus

n Bur llich

u of T

Pass

r ve Ri

A93

Braehead of Tullich

r llate

Farquharson Monument

Tullich Kirk and graveyard

ide

Craigendarroch (402m)

y Wa

Eastfield of Monaltrie

Station House

Pannanich Wells

Ballater Station

N

FINISH

BALLATER

Royal Bridge e

r ve Ri

START

6 B97

B972

es De

ay

Footbridge

ay eW

id Dees

a of B

o’ M

e De

De

Craig Coillich (397m)

W

E S

Pannanich Hill (601m) To Coyles of Muick (596m) & Lochnagar (1155m)

0 0

1

Miles Kilometres

1

The old Royal line, originally frequented by day trippers from Aberdeen up for a picnic on the bonnie banks of the River Dee, is now frequented by walkers and cyclists. Many sections of the old Aberdeen–Ballater railway have been opened and are accessible to walkers but none so pleasant as the stretch of line where the Royal train once came puffing up from Cambus o’ May on the last leg of its journey to Ballater.

The walk starts near the old platform, where the station building has now become Cambus Cottage (a private residential house). Steps run down to the track and from there you set out past the long white span of Cambus o’ May Bridge.

Not far from the bridge, the path leaves the track and goes past a house known as Cutaway Cottage (named so for the corner of the house that was ‘cut away’ to accommodate the passing trains!). Beyond this cottage, the path turns away from the river and rejoins the track, with birch trees enveloping either side of the route. As you walk, you can see the Dee curving round towards Cambus.

About 1.5km west of the station, a granite obelisk (raised in memory of William Farquharson of Monaltrie), stands on top of a birch-clad knoll on the left.

The ruined Kirk of Tullich is little more than a stone’s throw from the walkway. It is an ancient and fascinating place, with a picturesque circular wall and a valuable collection of Pictish sculptured stones.

(Read more about the Tullich Kirk and its history on page 22).

Past the kirkyard, a wooden bridge crosses the Burn of Tullich. Craig Coillich can be seen to the left, while between the rows of birch trees the puddingbowl shape of the Craigendarroch comes into view.

Minutes later, the trees thin out and the track reaches Eastfield of Monaltrie.

The North Deeside Road (A93), breaks the walkway at Eastfield. Across it, the track runs in a straight line to the station at Ballater. From the walkway, you can see in the distance the outline of the Coyles of Muick and, behind them, the great bulk of Lochnagar – a magnificent backdrop to the Royal Deeside town.

Di� �ou know?

Cambus o’ May Bridge was originally built in 1905, but the one that stands today was built in 1984 to look exactly like the original after it was in desperate need of repair.

Cambus o’ May, camas mhaigh, means the Bend of the Plain.

32

secures his place in the snowboarding scene Follow Fin www.finbremner.com

|

twitter.com/finbremner

33

If you haven’t heard of this Deeside dynamo yet, you soon will. Despite being part of the Aberdeen scene for years now, Fin Bremner's profile in the white world of Freestyle Snowboarding has been raised significantly in recent months thanks to successful performances and securing Elite Status on the GB Junior Squad for season 2013/14.

Achieving this status in no mean feat in the sport and has a certain amount of kudos attached to it. At just 14 years old, Fin’s career in Freestyle Snowboarding has earned him many firsts, including Scottish Overall Freestyle Champion 2013! Being one of the best athletes in Scotland and indeed GB, Fin’s dedication, skill and commitment secured his place on the team.

Photograph courtesy of Graeme MacDonald

For the 2013/14 season, Fin will continue training at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre and compete slopestyle at various events (involves athletes performing tricks in the air as well as on rails and boxes and are awarded points for style and difficulty). Hopefully his success will continue in the European competitions. As well as proud, supportive parents, Fin has had ongoing support from Ski Scotland, Glenshee Ski Centre,

Cairngorm Mountains, Glencoe Mountain, Nevis Range and the Lecht. It’s obvious that Fin is keen to give back and promote these organisations as much as he can.

We love that a local talent, as young as he, appreciates and recognises the importance of our beautiful alpine scene.

We’re all about that Fin and we wish him all the success he most certainly deserves!

34

More on

Fin

How old were you when you first learned to snowboard?

I was 9 years old when I had a tubing party at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre and I really liked the look of snowboarding so my mum and dad booked me lessons that commenced in September. I now train there regularly and am very fortunate to live a 10 minute drive away.

When did you first compete?

I think the first competition I competed in was the Westbeach Series 2010 in Bearsden, Glasgow.

What are your favourite tricks?

Frontside cork 360 tail mute; which is when I do a frontside 360 inverted and my front hand grabs my board between my legs and my back hand grabs the tail of my board.

Where is your favourite winter resort?

My favourite resort is probably the Cairngorms because it's not too far away and it always had a good park but this year is set to be exceptional.

Who do you admire most in the sport?

I admire Jamie Nicholls the most because he has come from a similar background from me (riding dryslope) and is at the top level where I want to be.

What are the benefits of the sport?

I love travelling and seeing the beautiful scenery all around the world. There are a lot of big festivals associated with snowboarding such as the Air & Style and Freeze. There are so many nice genuine people in the industry that help me as well.

What is your training schedule?

I have a weekly training programme; I go to the gym twice a week for a strength and conditioning programme and then I snowboard around three times a week.

Olympic dreams‌?

I would love to go to the Olympics at some point during my career as it is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career. I would also love to compete in the X Games but the Olympics is the priority.

All photographs on this spread courtesy of Graeme MacDonald

35

36

Photograph courtesy of Graeme MacDonald

37

37

FREESTYLE

FACTFILE

The Junior Snowboard Freestyle Team is designed to support talented young riders to train and compete on an international stage for their home nation and GB.

Athletes must commit to developing their fitness, technical skills and be motivated to succeed and are expected to train and compete in halfpipe, slopestyle and big air events.

Freestyle comprises three main disciplines: the Olympic disciplines of Moguls and Arials and New School (Half-pipe, Slopestyle and SkierCross).

In Scotland, Mogul competitions are held on snow and Big Air events are held both on snow and on artificial slopes. Freestyle is an exploding discipline concentrated around the new artificial freestyle slopes springing up around the country, including SNO!zone, Bearsden, Bellahouston, Hillend and Garthdee. The Highlander and Lowlander series which has been adopted by TTR should see the sport gain even more credibility worldwide.

New School

Moguls

Aerials

New School follows formats devised for snowboarding via skateboarding. Big Air involves manoeuvres such as grabs, rotations and holding stylised positions whilst airborne. In skiercross, up to 8 competitors ski head to head down a marked run with gates, jumps and other obstacles. Halfpipe events mirror those for snowboarding.

The skiers' style, aggression and speed down a bumps line account for 50% and 25% of the overall marks respectively with the other 25% is based on the two tricks or jumps that are required as part of the descent.

Competitors perform spectacular twisting somersaults from large snow ramps. The scoring system marks competitors on take off, form in the air, landing and degree of difficulty.

38

By Sandy Kenneway Deeside Drinks Emporium, Banchory

In the not so distant past, drinking gin was a straight forward past time. The only question you were likely to be asked upon ordering a gin and tonic in your favourite bar was “ice and lemon?”

At home your drinks cabinet would contain Gordon’s, maybe Beefeater or Plymouth.

Then things started to change...

The first of the new order of gins that really sticks out for me was the arrival of Bombay Sapphire; its bold, square blue bottle shining out from wine shop shelves, posters on every billboard and bus shelter and people were talking about gin again.

No longer was gin the preserve of the caricature spinster or suave cocktail aficionado. On further inspection of Bombay’s label I learned that this gin came with its own story; 10 ingredients and a special distillation processes.

When I tasted it for the first time I was surprised, but not blown away. Yes, it was more interesting when compared with the standards of the time as it had a depth and resonance that went beyond just citrus and juniper, but I couldn’t see where all the extra money was going (it could cost up to 50% extra for this compared to the standards of the time). Maybe the extra cost was the blue bottle?

Slowly the market expanded as more and more companies started to explore recipe variations, each with their own tale to tell on the label, each extolling the virtues of how their product was more

39

Dr y Mar tini

Gin St. Clements

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

50ml Warner Edwards Harrington Gin

50ml Six O’clock Gin 2 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters

20ml white vermouth (Nouilly Prat is a favourite)

100ml Fever Tree Lemon Tonic Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the bitter and gin. Top up with tonic, stir and garnish with an orange twist.

Stir the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass Sample responsibly

special than the next, and how this gin was different to the rest. Products like Tanqueray, Beefeater 24 and Greenalls were suddenly everywhere and every supermarket had their own label gin.

Fast forward to today and the market has exploded.

Gin shelves of supermarkets now have many choices and the best specialist shops I’ve seen can have over 50 varieties.

So, how to choose and why not just stick to your favourite standard gin? To start I’d recommend that you have a good read of the labels and try to work out what’s in the bottle. Many larger brands spin complicated stories of heritage and rare ingredients that read more like a pirate adventure story.

Artisanal producers will talk of special distillation techniques and how their approach is different.

There is no substitute for taste. If you can find a bar with a decent selection speak to the bar staff to see what they stock and why. Flavour profiles vary, but can be broken down into simple categories. London Dry Gin is the style that most of us are familiar with where the flavours that come through are typically juniper dominated and have a citrus finish. Most of the popular new wave of products are citrus lead with the juniper more in the background.

Some more exotic brands have many layers of flavours (the most unusual being something like Hoxton Gin which infuses both grapefruit and coconut into the mix) but the ones I’d recommend you seek out are Six O’clock gin, Warner Edwards Harrington Dry Gin, Death’s Door or City Of London

Distillery (COLD). All are very different to each other and all much more layered than their competitors.

Six O’clock is a classic, bright citrus gin that comes alive when paired with its own tonic.

Warner Edwards is made from a barley spirit and produced in a way similar to single malt whisky. This versatile spirit works well with tonic, but is equally great in a classic martini.

Death’s Door is an American Gin which uses a more neutral spirit made from wheat and is balanced to perfection for me and a perfect all rounder gin.

COLD make and sell their gin in an underground bar in central London. On my last visit they had a choice of over 150 gins in their bar!

Whichever gin you decide to buy, play around with how you mix it and what you mix it with and enjoy this golden era for gin.

For more information on the products discussed in the article please email us at: deesidedrinks@live.co.uk or visit the product links below. www.bramleyandgage.co.uk www.warneredwards.com www.deathsdoorspirits.com www.cityoflondondistillery.com

40

H

c

istori

A97

Kildrummy (Ruin)

s

c

astle

A944

Glenbuchat (Ruin)

The Castle Trail For centuries, the inhabitants of Scotland have been building fortifications and strongholds, and it has been estimated that there were once about 3,000 castles in Scotland. We go in search of the more notable castles that can be seen in Aberdeenshire and Deeside and explore their history, condition and purpose.

Corgarff

Strathdon

Craigievar Tarland A97 A939

Loch Kinord

Dinnet

Lumphanan

Kincardine O’Neil

ABOYNE

Braemar

Balmoral Kindrochit (Ruin)

Alford

A97

BRAEMAR

BALLATER Knock (Ruin)

A93

Drum Castle

Castle Fraser

Corgarff Castle

Drum Castle is near Drumoak and for centuries was the seat of the Chief of Clan Irvine. The castle and its grounds were granted to William de Irwyn in 1325 by Robert the Bruce, and remained in the possession of Clan Irvine until 1975.

Castle Fraser is located near Kemnay and is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland, and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'. There is evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400/1500 within the current construction.

Corgarff Castle is a four-storey tower house built circa 1550 by John Forbes, and in 1748 was converted into a fort.

In the early 20th century, after years of neglect the castle fell into ruin, but in recent years has been wonderfully restored by Historic Scotland.

Crathes Castle

Craigievar Castle

Balmoral Castle

Crathes Castle is a 16th-century castle near Banchory. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for almost 400 years. The castle and grounds are presently owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford. It was the seat of Clan Sempill and the Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.

Balmoral Castle is located near the village of Crathie and has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert. It remains the private property of the monarch, and is not part of the Crown Estate.

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castles

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Sauchen Dunecht Loch of Skene

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Beautiful Gardens to visit and walk around for hours

Ghosts

A980

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Torphins

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Crathes

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100’s 1 x castle

where the Queen lives 1 x castle built between Braemar Castle Braemar Castle is a five storey L-plan castle situated near the village of Braemar. It is owned by the Chief of Clan Farquharson and leased to a local charitable foundation but is also open to the public.

"The castles of Aberdeenshire and Grampian are surrounded by an ambience

Castle Ruins Kildrummy Castle Glenbuchat Castle Kindrochit Castle Knock Castle

of awe, a feeling of strength and timelessness"

1057-1093 Crathes Castle

BAT HOTSPOT! Drum Castle has the oldest 13th Century tower still intact

Did you know?

Craigievar Castle has a stunning 17th Century plaster ceiling

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Garden and Estate: All year, daily 9 - sunset Castle: 23 Mar - 31 Oct, daily 10.30am - 4.45pm (Last admission to castle 45 mins before closing) Café: 1 Apr - 31 Oct, daily 9.30am - 5pm

Spotlight on:

Crathes Castle Crathes Castle is surrounded by woodland to the east of Banchory in the Aberdeenshire countryside.

This late 16th century castle, with connections to King Robert the Bruce, provides a memorable experience with its fairytale-like towers, turrets and stories of its resident ghosts.

The castle, built in the second half of the 16th century, is a superb example of a tower house of the period. Some of the rooms still retain their original painted ceilings and collections of family portraits and furniture.

A visit is enhanced by the 1.5 hectares of walled garden, which incorporates colourful herbaceous borders and many unusual plants, providing a

wonderful display at all times of the year. The great yew hedges, fascinating examples of the art of topiary, date from as early as 1702. Explore the estate on the six way-marked trails, including one suitable for wheelchairs, which lead through the mixed woodlands, along the Coy Burn and past the millpond.

In July 2013, British archaeologists discovered what may be the world’s oldest calendar in the grounds of Crathes Castle. The Mesolithic monument was originally excavated by the Trust in 2004. Analysis by a team led by the University of Birmingham, published in July 2013 in the journal Internet Archaeology, sheds remarkable new light on the luni-solar device, which pre-dates the first formal time-measuring devices known to Man, found in the Near East, by nearly 5,000 years.

Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate Banchory, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB31 5QJ T +44 (0)844 493 2166 E crathes@nts.org.uk

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Connect with Crathes in 2014

In this year of Homecoming, there are many reasons to connect, or re-connect, with Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate. Whether you live in the area and visit the Crathes estate and gardens regularly, or visited once as a child and want to return to the 16th century tower house with iconic yew hedges, we have many things going on this year to add to your Crathes experience.

As well as our annual Cadbury Easter Egg Trail, we will also have a springtime craft fair in the Courtyard where you can browse the stalls at your lesiure before enjoying a homebaked scone in the Courtyard Cafe.

For the children, we will have a variety of Ranger led walks, opening your eyes to the creatures that live in the natural habitat of the Crathes estate, and Crathes Crafts where you may find yourself creating a garden with real flowers or designing your own version of the Holly and the Horn coat-of-arms.

May Bank Holiday weekend will see Jacobites and Redcoats descend upon Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate. While the

Burnetts at Crathes try to remain neutral, many in the area have torn loyalties. Join the Alan Breck’s Regiment as they bring The ’45 to life in this free event. Follow the British Army on patrol and witness Jacobite attempts to block their path! This is set to be an exciting weekend of living history and dramatic skirmishes, suitable for all the family. Hanoverian or Jacobite: who will you support?

Due to their popularity last year, we will again be running our hands-on garden workshops, led by our expert Head Gardener. You will have the opporunity to learn about pruning, propagating and maintaining herbaceous borders in the world-famous setting of the Crathes Walled Garden.

This will be followed by a special Scotland’s Gardens event: In the Footsteps of the Family. See the garden through the eyes of the Burnett family, the way it was designed, appreciating the castle from every aspect and is if wandering through a series of rooms in a house.

Rich with family history, the Burnett family lived at Crathes continually for over 350 years with many stories to be shared.

Everyone has their own family tale to tell, so this summer participate in “My Family” at Crathes and share your family facts with us in the Courtyard Cafe. This will be complimented with our summer of storytelling in the Walled Garden where Scottish tales will be brought to life.

New for 2014 are two new trails, the Muses Quest and the Nine Nobles Quest, which will be launched this year within the castle, offering the chance for children and grown-ups alike to connect with the 400 year old painted ceilings which are unique to Crathes. Another new trail for 2014 is the Crathes Tree Trail; become a collector of trees like Sir James Burnett, 10th Baronet, who added grandeur to the designed landscape of Crathes with his unusual, foreign specimens of trees, such as the Giant Sequoia from the Sierra Nevada and the Douglas Fir from the Rocky Mountains.

With all this and more, 2014 is the year to Connect with Crathes.

Visit www.nts.org.uk/Events to be kept up to date with events and booking information.

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SINGLE GREATEST ASCENT

2300ft

1st

130 MILES

JELLY BABIES REQUIRED

class

0 2 NIGHTS OFF THE GROUND

0 NIGHTS ON THE GROUND

72 HRS

Forres

Grantown-on-Spey Nethy Bridge Glenmore Cairngorms National Park

Banchory Ballater

Linn of Dee

RATE THE RIDE PHOTOS? Just take a look >> COLLISIONS? Nearly 1 (With Horse)

Braemar

REMEMBER TO PACK...

• Puncture Repair Kit • OS Maps & Compass • First Aid Kit • Suitable Clothing • Water Bottle • Your Helmet!

Aboyne

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L: Wayne Bruce R: Richard Batho

An EPIC bike adventure As with most bright ideas, it all started one night around Wayne’s dinner table. This year’s bike adventure was to be bigger, longer and steeper than anything we had done before. ~ By Richard Batho ~

After the nightmare we encountered last May trying to bike our way through Glen Feshie in the driving snow, I felt we could surely conquer anything. This needed to be tough. After a few more beers and much gazing at a fine array of OS maps the route was decided. We would ride from Forres on the Moray coast over the Cairngorm hills to end up back home in Banchory. 130 miles over 3 days - all off-road with too many steep climbs to

mention, some as high as 2,300 feet. Why would we do that?

Well, it’s all there so why not?

A ride of this size takes some planning. Our training schedule was constantly interrupted by work and child commitments but we happily got some miles under our belt around the local delights of Scolty hill and the Hill o Fare. As the time approached, I felt fully prepared and had packed and repacked my backpack a number of times. I had everything I could

think of down to Jelly Babies and Tangfastics for when we needed a wee lift! Nothing was left to chance. Being a physio I was put in charge of medical safety.

I packed an extensive first aid kit and felt confident I could deal with whatever was required. The morning arrived and we headed off in the car to Forres to find the start of the Dava Way. It was only when we got there that I realised I had left without my helmet!! So much for medical safety!

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FORRES - GLENMORE The Dava Way links the historic town of Forres to Grantown-on-Spey. 24 miles long, this old highland railway line passes through mostly open countryside. Steeped in history with tails of ghostly steam trains, this was our starting point.

through the Abernethy Forest along the Ryvoan pass (9 miles of sheer pleasure). What a view you get of the Lairig Ghru and his comrades as you start to traverse down towards Glenmore after a long steep climb to the Ryvoan bothy - well worth all the effort.

The pedalling was constant and quite hard work as the ground was grassy and grossly uneven at times. Plenty of sheep offered enough unpredictable obstacles to keep us on our toes as the route wound its way up to the Dava summit of 1,050ft (320m) before descending into Grantown itself. After a short pit stop to buy a new helmet we set off along the Speyside way to Nethy Bridge before cycling up

From here it just gets better. The path continues with rideable rocky fire track traversing between the impressive Meall a’ Bhuachaille and Stac na h-lolaire past the incredibly beautiful and tranquil Green Loch (An Lochan Uaine) down into Glenmore. A picturesque end to a tiring first day. We checked into the friendly Glenmore YHA which offered a welcome rest for four tired legs.

The Dava Way

The Green Loch (An Lochan Uaine)

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GLENMORE - BALLATER After two bowls of cornflakes, some toast and a quick glance at a favourable forecast we set off early to tackle the formidable Lairig an Laoigh. In truth, this is what we came for. Twenty miles of arduous single track (some unrideable), notorious river crossings, steep and long ascents and descents and some of the most breathtaking scenery you can imagine.

The Lairig an Laoigh links Speyside to Deeside and is often seen as the more rideable alternative for bikers to the Lairig Ghru. From Glenmore you head back up past the Green Loch and fork right at the handy sign for ‘Braemar’!

The initial ascent is endless taking us up alongside the impressive Bynach More. The climb was tough and required ample bike pushing due to the loose path and steepness. The sweat was pouring and between us we managed to drink a good portion of our day’s water within the first hour! The downhill reward was short and sweet and it wasn’t long before we were counting out the steps before our calves were bursting once more. Slowly we made our way across the rocky path downward towards the infamous Fords of Avon. The scenery here is panoramic. Hills, water and the odd walker/biker to boot. A few selfies later we glanced down at the task ahead - crossing the river.

During spate this river can become impassable due to snow melt. Snorkels in hand, we approached the river to find that due to the exceptional summer we were having it was nothing more than a steppingstone challenge. Not a wet foot in sight! With some disappointment (easily solved with Jelly Babies) we negotiated our way up a relentless boulder field for two to three miles. More pushing and carrying was required as we headed up to the plateau at the top of Glen Derry. As the heavens opened, our morale sunk to an all time low prompting lots of expletives and shouting particularly as we reached the summit of the climb.

The reward after a well-earned rest was worth every penny of effort. The rain had stopped as we skipped off down some excellent single track, technically difficult in places but flowing and welcome. With the impressive view of Ben Macdui on our right (second highest mountain in the Cairngorms) we made our way smiling to Derry Lodge. From here to Braemar was straightforward pleasant riding via the Linn of Dee giving you a good chance to relax and eat some miles. Fast, well-maintained fire track sees to this and before you know it you are coming into the village of

Braemar. After a short rest and cold drink we were back on the road again making our way on the final leg of this mammoth day’s ride.

From Braemar, we rode to Ballater via the Balmoral estate - a real must if you are able. You leave Braemar on the main road and enter into the Ballochbuie Forest after you have crossed the old Invercauld Bridge. The tracks through the forest are royally maintained and we jokingly commented on hoping that the Queen wasn’t out walking the corgis or we would probably be in big trouble! We had bumped into a fellow cyclist two days earlier who had assured us that using the tracks at Balmoral was allowed even when the royals were in residence. He said he had made it through earlier this year without being shot at so that seemed good enough for us!

The Ballochbuie route takes you up towards the gated internal perimeter of Balmoral Castle where you are encouraged (with subtle, very clear signs) to skirt the grounds via Prince Albert’s Cairn sitting at 448m - a killer of a climb at the end of the day bringing you out at Easter Balmoral gates. Having made it through without so much as a sniff of a sniper bullet, we completed the last 10 miles into Ballater happy to finally arrive at The Habitat youth hostel and our bed for the night. After a romantic meal for two discussing degrees of saddle soreness we glanced at the maps for the final days route and hit the sack happy and contented.

Fords of Avon crossing

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BALLATER - BANCHORY Having completed a recce mission on a previous trip to Ballater we had planned a slight detour on the way home to Banchory. It seemed like a great idea to base our route back via the impressive estate of Glen Tanar however this meant heading over to Mount Keen in order to get there. So after copious amounts of Cornflakes and toast we packed up, got onto our bikes with a saddle sore groan and headed away from the direction of Banchory for the House of Muick where our hard work started.

The weather was great which helped as the initial climb is long and steep. As you climb, the path takes you up the Pannanich hill passed Knockie Branar and Craig Vallich both around 600m in height. After about three miles, the path descends then peters out into a hardly visible grass track upwards traversing the moorland through the odd bog and eventually, as you reach the plateau, Mount Keen appears on the horizon.

The track from here down to the foot of Mount Keen is incredible. Steeply descending in places, this rocky, heather covered track is unforgiving - especially if you lose concentration! Luckily a backpack and helmet helped cushion the frequent falls and we safely joined the path leading back along the waters of Tanar. After a quick snack, we pedalled along the waterside track into the impressive forests of Glen Tanar. The scenery here is magic with dense pine forests and rocky fastflowing river beds - just beautiful.

The path to Mount Keen

As we arrived close to Glen Tanar house we glanced at the map and agreed on the route up the Firmounth Road to allow us to traverse over towards Aboyne.

The path here is very steep and climbs up towards Baudy Meg for what seems an eternity. With the sun blazing, the sweat and swear words flowing, we reached the path and pedalled over to the top of the Fungle Road - a legendary decent into Aboyne. This path is steep and fast and is well worth any climb. We set off down the path at lightening speed, grinning like kids until an abrupt emergency stop was required to avoid a head-on collision with a horse! Slightly more carefully we completed the Fungle and arrived in Aboyne for a quick break to laugh about our close encounter and cool down with some cool water.

From here we took the South Deeside Road for a few miles and at Ballogie turned off in search of the very familiar Deeside Way. This path is our home turf and we were soon speeding down the path and along the River Dee towards Banchory.

Tired, quiet and happy we were allowed to contemplate the adventures spanning the many miles we had ridden. What a fantastic adventure we had had - 130 miles of immense effort and pleasure.

To top it all off we had made it back with no injuries or mechanical bike issues. Such a good trip and it won’t be long before we are sitting round Wayne’s table again drinking beer and planning to outdo ourselves once again.

Riding for the Disabled Deeside (Scotland) Group RDA Deeside Group (Scotland) is a small friendly group, that with the aid of 8 dependable ponies and a huge number of volunteers, enable 24 adults and children to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of riding.

For further information please contact : jill.randalls@btinternet.com If you would like to make a donation please visit :

www.btplc.com/mydonate (type Disabled Deeside Group and you will be taken to the charity’s page) Scottish Charity No. 028681 Dee n’ Do has pledged to donate a page to highlight and promote a local charity. Contact us if you would like to be featured in our next issue.

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Pushing the boat out Dee n’ Do chats to Eileen Haywood from The Boat Inn, Aboyne, about buying the Boat and their plans for it…

How long have you owned The Boat Inn? Since July 2013.

Did you know the area before buying The Boat?

We have spent many happy days on Deeside messing around on the river, dragging relentlessly moaning children across various stunning local landscapes, and skiing on rocks in the partially snow covered mountains!

What changes have you made to The Boat so far?

We have refurbished the bar and renamed it ‘The Shed’, and we have re-painted the entrance and hallways. The Pine Loft Function Suite and the Restaurant are next to be refurbished. The rooms will be done one at a time over the coming year.

What are your hopes for the future of The Boat?

We hope to build on The Boat's reputation as a great British pub - great food, fine ales, lively atmosphere and cool rooms. We have already started music nights the first Thursday of the month - everyone is welcome whether playing or spectating. We have various local bands playing - free entry, and regular charity quiz nights. We hope to be able to host more local events as well as various ‘tasting evenings’ and improve our links with local estates and producers to

have more locally sourced fayre on the menu. Please check out our new website for regular updates on events at the pub at www.theboatinnaboyne.co.uk What do you love most about running The Boat?

I love chatting to customers - the feedback has been amazing and even when the we get criticism it helps us to focus on what needs to be done better - there is always something!

What are your top recommendations for visitors?

1

Walk, ride or cycle in Glen Tanar - it's stunning

2

Skim stones and paddle in the River Dee (on our doorstep) followed by a pint or hot chocolate and cake for the kids!

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Visit Crathes Castle - a fascinating castle, beautiful gardens and walks and "Go Ape" for the kids.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

With four kids we don't have a lot of spare time. As a family we walk, run or ski in the local hills.

The Boat Inn, Charleston Road, Aboyne, AB34 5EL +44 (0)1339 886137, enquiries@theboatinnaboyne.co.uk, www.theboatinnaboyne.co.uk

If you have a business that you want to feature in the next issue of Dee n’ Do, please quote ‘Business Q & A’ when you drop us a line at hello@deendo.com or find us at www.facebook.com/deendomagazine and send us a message. We’d love to hear from you!

by Dr Lewis Mackie

Keepin the watch on a winter’s nicht, Heedin the rin o the sea.

See the blinkin o trawlers’ lichts Slinkin oot frae the Dee. ~ Stealin’ awa tae the fishin gruns Secret among their �in.

Lookin sair for good clear runs Tae bring the harvest in. ~ Gone are the days o the hidden shoals Handed fae faither �ae son.

Noo its the new fangled fancy gear That searches the fis�in grun. ~ Bit sometimes I winner if we’ve got it richt.

We’re clearin the grun too faist.

Are we oor ain worst enemies The stocks will niver laist. ~ So think again my fisher freens.

Tak thoc�t tae fit ye dee.

If ye keep �n catc�in heedlessly, Ye’ll hae a barren sea.

a taster sensation Where: Blair’s Restaurant, Ardoe House Hotel Who: Richard Yearnshire, Executive Chef Why: New menu What: 7 course set taster menu with wines

Blair’s Restaurant, set within the 19th century mansion house, has undergone some recent changes to its gourmet menu.

But does it live up to the grandeur of its surroundings? One lucky Dee n’ Diner went along to find out.

“From the minute we walked in we were made to feel special by the warm, friendly and very professional staff. We loved that we were served canapés with our drinks before we were taken through to sit for dinner; they were so tasty and gave us an inkling of what to expect from the rest of the evening.

“Dinner was, quite simply, excellent. Each course was beautifully presented and very flavoursome.

Our waiters were very knowledgeable on each of the dishes and the accompanying wines. I particularly enjoyed the wood pigeon course; it was so unusual and the taste combinations were wonderful. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience but particularly loved the Cullen Skink surprise course and the scallops. Personally, the banana dessert was my favourite, and even though I was full to bursting I still managed to eat every bit – testament to a fabulous pud!

“The surprise courses were a superb addition, as mentioned the Cullen Skink was a winner but I loved the little pop sticks at the very end too, so light and tasty and a lovely way to end a wonderful meal.”

South Deeside Road, Blairs, Aberdeen AB12 5YP +44(0)1224 398801 | www.mercure.com

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Unusual and interesting is our speciality and passion

Deeside Drinks are an independent off-licence, with equal enthusiasm for wine, whisky and craft, artisan beers.

We provide a professional customer service within a welcoming place and hold regular tastings of wine, spirits and beers.

Deeside Drinks Emporium 22 High Street, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB31 5ST t +44(0)1330 822650 e deesidedrinks@live.co.uk

www.facebook.com/DeesideDrinksEmporium twitter.com/deesidedrinks

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Pride is a word so often associated with the people of Scotland. Pride in their heritage. Pride in their identity. Pride in their contribution. And in one particular corner of Deeside, the pride is spilling out from every wall of the Raemoir House Hotel thanks to the culinary achievements of Executive Head Chef Alexandria (Alex) Hay. Last December, Alex participated in the critically acclaimed BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals.

She was one of only five chefs from Scotland to have been selected from thousands of applicants to take part in the 2013 series.

Alex, from Fettercairn, was accepted after a phone interview and filmed audition. Before being selected to compete she had to provide her own sample menu and the current menu at Raemoir so organisers could assess her cooking style and standards.

Her initial lack of self-belief certainly did not hold her back from the early rounds where the pressure to perform in unfamiliar surroundings was intense.

Competition was stiff and the challenges were tough, as expected. Yet, Alex managed to produce some interesting and attractive dishes. Reaching quarter final status was an incredible achievement; the experiences and challenges certainly elevated not only her confidence but her standards too. This is very evident in her dishes that she carefully crafts and delivers at Raemoir. The menus are well balanced and thought

out with most of the ingredients being sourced locally, in fact the Angus Beef served is from a farm less than three miles from Raemoir House.

Neil and Julie Rae bought Raemoir House a little over three years ago and made it their mission to focus on the restaurant and food whilst progressively working on the accommodation. The couple had previously owned the Milton Restaurant before selling it on to their manager Jay Emmerson and when they moved to Raemoir, Alex came with them. With an impressive array of culinary talent in place, including Alex as Sous Chef, the hotel quickly earned itself two AA Rosettes and Michelin recommendation. Alex is now in charge of the kitchen and has recently retained both the AA and Michelin accreditation, testimony to her commitment and skills.

In a short space of time Raemoir has collected many prestigious awards, particularly Scotland’s Country House Hotel of the Year both in 2011 and 2012. The award winning restaurant is open to non-residents 7 days a week as is the hotel’s Big Fish Bar which offers less formal, although equally impressive dining.

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The Doric Dictionary is a humorous illustrated guide to the dialect of the North East, designed by Karen Barrett-Ayres, Marketing Officer at Robert Gordon University. Pick up your copy from Trinity Centre branch of Waterstones, Aberdeen, with all donations going to The National Literacy Trust.

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Deeside Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic is proud to announce the opening of its new and exclusive Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic situated in Aboyne, the heart of Royal Deeside.

Together with our Banchory and Aberdeen clinics we offer the highest quality physiotherapy assessment and treatment of all types of muscle and joint problems throughout the whole of the Deeside Valley.

Visit us at any of our clinics for an assesment. Mention this advert and get 50% off your initial consultation.

Call us today to book your consultation or visit our website.

ABERDEEN CLINIC

489 Great Western Road, Aberdeen T: 01224 325354 BANCHORY CLINIC

Banchory Business Centre, Banchory T: 01330 820999 ABOYNE CLINIC

Unit 3 Charleston Gardens, Ballater Road, Aboyne T: 01339 886959 www.deeside-physiotherapy.co.uk.

The best

IN

Royal Deeside and The Cairngorms

Falls of Feugh
 The Water of Feugh is the largest tributary of the River Dee, which it joins at Banchory. Just before it joins the river, it cascades down a series of falls and pools where you can sometimes spot leaping salmon. The Bridge of Feugh crosses the river at the falls giving great viewpoints and the Falls of Feugh Restaurant and Tearoom is a local landmark much favoured by the many visitors who enjoy the easy stroll out from Banchory town centre. www.visitroyaldeeside.com

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Going with the flow...

By Suzi Mitchell

Deeside artist Mel Shand currently longs for more hours in a day. Orchestrating the balance between creating art work while raising three boys and tending to a menagerie of animals, proves a daily challenge for the wife of Finzean’s head gamekeeper.

Aside from her famed renderings of Scottish wildlife, this inspirational being is beguiled to productions involving her entire community. Mel has been drawing, painting and mastering photography her whole life. Growing up in the Cairngorms National Park on the Rothiemurchus Estate, it is befitting wildlife became her chosen subject. Settling eventually in Finzean she became immersed in her rural community fascinated by the everyday lives of those around her.

In 2007 a life threatening illness literally stopped Mel in her tracks. It would prove to be a turning point in her career. During a lengthy recovery she felt compelled to create a visual legacy called Portrait of Our Time for the benefit of future generations. It would be a record of their cultural heritage within the surrounding parishes. Coinciding with the North East Open Studio (NEOS) week in September 2009, Birse and Feughside Parish Church showcased Portrait of Our Time, or POOT as it became known. A photographic exhibition of 252 portraits taken on their doorsteps, POOT evolved into a book, a play, music and theatrical events.

Fast forward four years and Mel is back at the helm of another cultural venture. The subject this time is the 150th Anniversary of Dee District Salmon Fishery Board. Approached by Board Director Mark Bilsby to produce something of historical interest, Mel suggested photographing and interviewing the ghillies that work along the course of the River Dee and producing a book similar in style to POOT. Chronicling one of the world’s most famous rivers, it was important that whatever she created would appeal to an international audience.

A Portrait of River Dee showcases the river through the eyes of the ghillies and riparian owners on their own stretch of water. Speaking to Mel about the

project she believes “it is an opportunity to create a beautiful and celebratory commemorative collection of photographs, with lively text, warmth and humour to celebrate North East culture and rural life”.

Throughout the 2013 season she covered over 800 miles up and down the 87 mile length of the river conducting 60 interviews. When asked to share her experience this summer Mel recalled, “Everyone I spoke to was asked the same 15 questions and photographed near the river, either at their favourite pool or fishing hut. They are a tremendously interesting group of people, and have a wealth of interesting stories and anecdotes. When I went to meet the ghillie at Abergeldie he asked me where I wanted to take his picture, I said 'how about down by the fishing hut'- he said - 'sorry Mel the boss is having a picnic there today' -'ok, what about down by the river? - 'nope, the boss is down by the river" - I said "Who is your boss?" - he said "it's the Queen!" I knew quite a few of the ghillies already as my husband was the ghillie at Dess for 10 years before we came to Finzean - they were all very generous with their time and sharing their knowledge and allowing me access to their beats. I hope I have done them justice in giving a snapshot of what their job entails and in the bigger picture - what an amazing place the river is. I have lived here most of my life and continue to be was amazed at the value of what lies on the doorstep” Now in its final stages of development, A Portrait of River Dee will be launched next spring.

As the publishing deadline draws near the lure of awaiting endeavours are turning her attention.

Currently artist in residence for the Birse Community Trust (BCT) she has been working on developing the creative aspects of their archive by involving pupils of Finzean Primary School. During NEOS (North East

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Open Studios) this year Mel spent nine days exhibiting her recent work from the Old Soup Kitchen, where BCT is based while running workshops daily for the children. Asked about future plans she added “we are working towards producing a hand drawn walking map and display boards for the school using a combination of the Trust’s heritage sites, the children’s experience and some of my illustrations”.

Not content with purely creating works of art, Mel is unstinting in encouraging the efforts of others in all artistic mediums. As a network promoter for North East Arts Touring (NEAT) she is instrumental in transforming Finzean Hall into a community theatre from time to time, sourcing productions travelling the country. Everything from puppet shows to Shakespeare, film and curry nights has taken place at this local village hall.

On 13th-15th June 2014 she will find herself back at the heart of The Banchory River Festival, taking part in demonstrations, classes and exhibitions following last year’s inaugural success. Always on the cards is her participation in North East Open Studios (NEOS), each September. Whether the focus is sculpture, sketches, portraits or photography, it will depend upon this year’s creative journey. Whatever direction or medium Mel chooses to immerse in, capturing the essence of Deeside’s rural surroundings will be at the heart of her decision.

For more information on Mel Shand please visit: www.melshand.com

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Lochnagar and the other big hills in Deeside have the profile and the footfall, however some of the smaller hills should be part of every walker’s itinerary. ~ By Dave Shand, Co-owner Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing ~

One of my favourite small hills is Geallaig; some may call it a non-descript 743 feet high lump, but this lump has some of the best views in Deeside.

For those keen on collecting hills, Geallaig is a Graham, defined as a hill in Scotland between 2,000 and 2,500 feet high, with at least 500 feet of descent on all sides.

Among the small Deeside hills, Geallaig has a lot going for it. It is easy to reach and has well defined tracks - in fact it is perfect for a short winter’s day.

Navigation is not a big issue due to a Land Rover track which takes you to the summit and, if you are an experienced walker, it is a hill you can do whatever the weather. I must admit to liking it in whiteout conditions with winter storms sweeping down the Dee. The best approach to Geallaig is to take the picturesque road A939 from Ballater to Corgarf and turn off at Gairnshiel on the B976 towards Crathie, just before the Wade Bridge at Bridge of Gairn. There is an excellent parking spot just opposite the Braenaloin

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Photograph courtesy of Dave Shand

croft which is very near to the start of the track. Head up the track in a southerly direction past grouse shooting butts to reach the summit plateau. Behind you the view opens out to Glengairn and Ben Avon.

Looking towards the River Gairn there are many ruins scattered around. Until the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Glengairn was a well populated, fiercely Catholic and Gaelic speaking community with a chapel and school.

Alas, today there are only sheep, the occasional Land Rover, the odd walker and mountain biker to be seen.

It is a wonderful area to explore and if you are fit you can extend the walk over Geallaig along a part of Glengairn. Meanwhile continuing on our walk on the summit plateau, take the track on the left towards the summit cairn noting the right fork which we will take on the return.

The summit cairn is a substantial structure surrounding an OS trig point. It is a great shelter in poor weather where you can eat your sandwich and sip your coffee contentedly while the winds whistle over your head.

On a good day Geallig has the best views in Deeside.

To the south the majestic cliffs of Lochnagar tower above the moorland. Beneath you, the River Dee flows through Scots Pine woodlands and green pastures

from Braemar to the west past the grey towers of Balmoral on towards Ballater and further to the North Sea. You are surrounded by hills. To the east is Morven which translates to big mountain and even from this point you can see why the Gaelic speaking inhabitants of Deeside were impressed.

Retracing our steps and heading west, the snow covered Cairngorm plateau rising to 4,000 feet now dominates the skyline stretching from Ben Avon in the north towards Ben Macdhui in the north west with another excellent small hill Cullardoch in the foreground. Walking down the good track you may be very lucky and catch a glimpse of a ptarmigan or a mountain hare in their white winter coats, they are quite rare on this hill.

The path takes you down to the B976 past several small hillocks with excellent views opening up towards Balmoral. On one of the hillocks there are a series of small cairns all apparently pointing in the direction of Balmoral. Is this a coincidence or was this the site of a Jubilee bonfire in Queen Victoria’s time?

From here you can walk down the tarmac road to the car past ancient ‘hut circles’ an indication of even early settlement in Glengairn. An alternative route is to walk towards Crathie and take the first track to your right into Glen Gairn but maybe that is for another day.

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HIT THE TRAIL ...ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAIRNGORMS ~ By Daniel Mintz, iBikeRide ~

If mountain biking is your cup of tea and you're prepared to travel a little further from the Deeside area, head to the challenging trails on the stunning Glenlivet Estate.

Glenlivet Mountain Bike Trail Centre is a new exciting trail centre that opened in November 2013. It is located in the Carn Daimh forest, near Tomintoul in Moray, Scotland. There is a red and a blue grade trail as well as great facilities including a car park, visitor centre, cafĂŠ and toilets.

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GlenlivetBlue

Other Waymarked Trails

GlenlivetBlue is a 9km blue grade route suitable for all the family but exciting to ride with its twists and turns and great flow. The Blue is 'swoopy', sort of like a bobsleigh run-stroke-roller coaster ride. But it is blue so no deliberate jumps on it, however, if you try hard and you know the trail there are jump opportunities to be had. It's pretty rad (mountain bike term for awesome) for a blue.

There is also an existing network of six popular waymarked trails ranging from 12km to 28km long that attract mountain bikers today. These offer rides appealing to more moderate technical ability rides along tracks and farm roads and so offer a good base to build the community from as well as offering diversity. The new trails being proposed will therefore complement these to attract the more enthusiast and sports segments of mountain bikers.

GlenlivetRed GlenlivetRed is a 22km red grade route with black grade technical features to keep the expert mountain biker entertained all year long!

GlenlivetRed climbs to the summit of Carn Daimh, offering breathtaking views of the Cairngorms before plunging into the Glenlivet descent; 6.5km of single track downhill packed with features and jumps. The red is tight and twisty, described as sort of 'Welsh' in places (think narrow full bench cut on a steep sideslope).

Natural Trails There are many miles of epic natural trail riding available and with Scotland's relaxed Outdoor Access Code you get quite a bit of freedom to piece together epic rides.

Clubs and Groups Moray Mountain Bike Club is based locally and there is potential for a Glenlivet based club to develop in the future.

Other Stuff The project is driven by The Crown Estate in conjunction with the Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Moray Council, the Cairngorms National Park and Scottish Natural Heritage. Russell Burton carried out the initial feasibility study in 2009 with Paul Masson at 'Cycletherapy' taking over more recently as trail builder/designer.

BikeGlenlivet is located off the B9136 road, 4.5 miles from Tomintoul. Website: www.glenlivetestate.co.uk/things-to-see-do/activities/biking/glenlivet-mountain-bike-trails.

For more news and reviews on Glenlivet trails and to find more trails you will love in the UK then please visit www.ibikeride.com or call 01479 870070.

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EST.

1892

Picture a corner of Scotland with a delightful warmth of welcome, together with breathtaking scenery and an interesting and challenging golf course and you've discovered Ballater. ~ By Tim Gray, PGA Professional ~

Having played a fair bit of golf around the world, there are very few courses I would recall as being fun but every time I come to Ballater, I know I am going to enjoy it. I’m not sure why; perhaps it’s the stunning location nestled in a wee fertile valley by the Dee surrounded by Lochnagar, or it is the blended variety of parkland and heathland characteristics, or the simple fact that it’s a great challenge for all golfers.

Founded in 1892, the course was originally designed as a ninehole layout on land owned by the Laird of Invercauld. Additional land was purchased in the early 1900s and in 1906 the course was extended to 18 holes. Pioneering course designer and five times Open Champion James Braid had a hand in the extension work

and in the same year staged an exhibition match between himself and his great friend and rival Harry Vardon to celebrate the construction of a pavilion and the new layout.

When playing Ballater you will not have to battle with waist high rough or a howling gale; the holes are not too exacting nor is the length an issue but you’ll use every club in your bag. The whole essence of the course is geared towards helping the golfer to enjoy the challenge of playing golf, from shot-making to course management.

The first six holes are the toughest on the layout and if one can navigate round these without any major catastrophes, then it is possible to compile a good score.

Picking out the most challenging of the first six can be difficult, but for me the 6th is the one that sticks in the memory. At only 370 yards and straight, it doesn’t sound too frightening but it is tight, and the statistics prove it!

With the Dee to your left, heather and a lonely bunker all down the right, an accurate but not long tee shot is required, not always easy, leaving you a mid iron to the green. Once safely through 6, you can then start to relax a little and open the shoulders, maybe even pick up a few shots on the way.

With superb course conditions, especially the greens, and the fantastic scenery and surrounding environment, Ballater is sure to make it onto your shortlist of favourite golf courses to play.

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Shedding some light on this fantastic brasserie When it comes to selecting a restaurant to visit, how do you decide where to go? Do you make your selection on past experiences? Personal recommendations? Or do you go online and search various advice sites and make your selection based on the number of stars or chef hats or smiley faces? But when you do read another person’s review, is it always about the food? And should we take any notice of such reviews? I guess it depends on what you care about.

So why do we care so much about the The Cow Shed Brasserie? Quite simply because they produce high quality dishes using locally sourced produce, the chefs are dedicated to training their staff to the high standards they themselves display, they have tailored their menu to suit local tastes, and they dare to explore new avenues to compliment their restaurant.

We were fortunate enough to meet Joy and Graham Buchan, the owners, who talk very enthusiastically and honestly about what it is they enjoy and expect of their restaurant. Originally, they opened the restaurant as a fine dining experience but the focus later shifted towards a high quality menu in a relaxed environment, and so the brasserie concept was developed. The chefs absolutely pride themselves on the consistency and standards of what they offer their diners. After all, they have over 30 years’ experience and a number of industry accolades each. Graham is a former member of the British Culinary Olympic Team, has trained under renowned chefs and worked in some of the finest Michelin restaurants in Europe, including two 3-Michelin star restaurants in France.

He also joined the Academy of Culinary Arts where members are committed to raising standards and awareness of food, food provenance, cooking and service. Perhaps one of his most personal ongoing achievements is working closely with the local primary schools to encourage the next generation of food lovers. David Mutter trained in one of the best 5* hotels in Scotland, worked in a variety of top quality restaurants in England, and consistently achieved highest rated restaurant in Aberdeenshire as Head Chef at the Darroch Learg in Ballater. Voted Scottish Hotel Chef of the Year, he still holds the record as the longest 3 AA rosette holder. He was made a Fellow in the Institute of Master Chefs of Great Britain as recognition of excellence and longevity in the trade and is therefore dedicated to furthering the

profession through training and guidance to young chefs. But back to the food…the dishes are very reasonably priced compared with other brasseries and restaurants, but the difference is your palate can expect something a little bit special. They believe that everyone should share in this wonderful and affordable dining experience. Oh, and we didn’t even mention that the restaurant nestles nicely in the countryside overlooking a picture perfect landscape!

In addition to the restaurant, The Cow Shed also offers many cookery and drinks classes. A few are scheduled throughout the year, such as the popular Follow the Chef Day, which involves helping out with the preparation of dishes. More intriguingly, they can accommodate cookery classes to almost anything you ask. From bringing in your ‘kill’ from a day’s hunting to preparing seafood delights to bread making, they can tailor a class to suit your parties’ needs. They also have wine, beer and whisky tastings as well as cocktail making classes. More seasonally, they offer an exclusive Weber Grill Academy where they demonstrate to groups the different outcomes of the Weber equipment. All classes are ideally suited to corporate groups as well as smaller, more intimate groups. Now, if you’re still not convinced of this local gem having read our ‘review’ with a pinch of the proverbial salt, please go and visit and see what it’s like for yourself.

Graham Buchan & David Mutter

For more information visit their website at www.cowshedrestaurantbanchory.com or call them on 01330 820813.

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Braemar Gallery Braemar Gallery, Marr Road, Braemar www.braemargallery.co.uk

No visit to the beautiful highland village of Braemar would be complete without popping in to see what’s exhibiting at the Braemar Gallery.

Under the ownership of Andrew and Kirsty Braidwood, the Braemar Gallery has been promoting and selling some of the best new Scottish painting, printmaking, sculpture and photography in the heart of the Cairngorms since 1991. “Having a Gallery is a fantastic way for us to express our interest in arts and crafts. Not only do we get a chance to exhibit artists both new and established, but we can showcase our own wares too!”

Andrew’s interest lies in print and sound. After being awarded a Masters with Distinction in Fine Art from Gray’s School of Art, Andrew has continued to develop his own style of working. He was influenced greatly by his time spent at Peacocks Print Studio in Aberdeen and after purchasing his very own etching press in 2010 he is able to pursue his love of the printing process.

Kirsty has a background in printed textiles and after graduating

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has worked in many different realms of art and design. She has exhibited artwork in Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow and several pieces purchased by ‘Art in Hospitals’.

From 2001 – 2007, Kirsty ran her own busy and successful flower shop in Glasgow’s west end. After selling the business, she embarked on an illustration course at Glasgow School of Art and soon after that met Andrew (and his lovely dog, Woody) and set up home in the beautiful village of Braemar.

Over the last 14 years, the gallery has been running many and varied solo and group exhibitions. These exhibitions include such artists as the highly sought after Pam Carter, landscape artist Colin Robertson, Jim Wylie, Dronma, Jane Duckfield to name but a few.

In October 2013, the Gallery was involved with the organisation of the Braemar Arts Festival, a

now annual festival for music, literature, arts and crafts that began the year before. The variety of classes on offer were both varied and popular; arts and crafts workshops included painting in acrylics with Colin Robertson, printmaking with Freya Cumming (teaching different silk screen techniques), birch bark beaker making and wood carving; music classes included chanter, drums, percussion, mandolin and many more; literature and drama courses saw students learn about creative writing and theatre skills. Other workshops involved cooking demonstrations and sewing/handicraft classes.

In addition to the workshops, other ‘fringe’ activities were organised as well as offering some evening entertainment by way of a concert and quiz night.

With such an amazing and impressive line up of activities, we can’t wait to see what’s on offer at the 2014 Festival.

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A piece of work from one of our Screen printing classes

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The gallery

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Hand built ceramics

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Birch bark beaker making

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Braemar Arts Festival poster

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Willow weaving

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External gallery signage

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Elmer the multi-coloured stag

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Silk Screen printing

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On that beautiful October day, the sky was blue, the sun

was shining, and Ballater

very nearly sparkled in the sunlight below me. ~ By Laura Moore ~

Photograph courtesy of Jim Henderson

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Air travel today is challenging at best, but when you’re trying to get from a tiny, rural town in Australia, to Aberdeen, Scotland, this journey can only be described as a marathon. I recently undertook this marathon when I attempted to return home to Vancouver from Australia via Scotland.

Not the most direct route I grant you, but sometimes life works out the way it does and you just have to go with it. And so it was that I arrived in Scotland, 44 hours after starting my day, several continents and a hemisphere away.

Dead exhausted and slightly incoherent, but I had made it, and I had just one day to enjoy my time in Scotland before heading back to the airport for the rest of my journey home. While my first instinct may have been to find a nice pub and relax on this blissful day off, I chose instead a more drastic option. I decided to climb a mountain.

This may not have been the wisest decision, but I figured I could always blame the jet lag if things didn’t work out, and because my time was short and the weather was beautiful, I decided to take advantage of the time I had in this beautiful country. My destination for the day was the town of Ballater in Aberdeenshire, approximately 40 miles west of Aberdeen and just 8 miles east of Balmoral Castle.

The first thing I noticed upon my arrival in this picturesque town was the many Royal Warrants that adorned the entrances to many of the town’s shops and retailers; a symbol of their royal patronage. The second thing that I noticed was the inherent beauty of this town. As a Canadian hailing from a city where buildings approaching 100 years old are considered ancient, the energy from the centuries of history in this town was palpable, and after marveling at the church in the centre of town, not to mention some very inviting looking pubs, I headed off in search of the visitor’s centre, located in Station Square.

I had been told that Ballater was home to many beautiful trails and hiking paths, and that in particular, the trail of Craigendarroch Hill was worth a look. After making my way to Station Square, two very pleasant and helpful clerks sent me on my way, armed with a map, directions, and a sense of adventure. The entrance to the trail is just outside the centre of town, off the A93 on a road appropriately named

Craigendarroch Walk, and after finding the gate to the trailhead, I was off. While this hike is not particularly strenuous, my jet lag did weigh on my mind, and therefore I took my time heading up the trail, pausing to take pictures and to take in my surroundings. It only took about half an hour to get to the top, and it wasn’t until I had reached the peak that I allowed myself to turn around and take in the view. And what a view! The whole of Ballater lay before me, with vistas of rolling green hills and the River Dee heading off into the horizon. On that beautiful October day, the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and Ballater very nearly sparkled in the sunlight below me. The view took my breath away, and I stood in silence for several minutes just taking it all in. I could have stood there forever, but as always, time was short, and I still wanted to have time to explore more of the area, and in particular, I wanted to cross the ancient bridge on the other side of town to get a close up look at the River Dee. So after cementing the view to memory, and taking more than a few pictures for when my memory fails me, I set off back down the trail and headed back into town.

Ballater is a key region of the tourism industry in Royal Deeside, hosting an estimated one thousand visitors at any given point during the summer, and it is easy to see why. Craigendarroch Hill is just one of the many trails and walks around the town, many of which take several hours to fully explore.Additional outdoor activities include cycling, golf, bowling, salmon fishing, and 4x4 driving tours, and Ballater keeps busy with year round festivals and events. However, I didn’t exactly need convincing that this beautiful place was worthy of a return trip, for it only took about five minutes for me to fall in love with this gorgeous little village nestled among the mountains of the Scottish highlands. So for now, I will treasure my time spent in Ballater, thankful for the respite it gave to a road weary traveler, and I look forward to the day that I can return, hopefully fully rested and ready to explore once more.

A great meeting place for families, colleagues or friends.

Relaxed dining with a menu that showcases great Scottish food in a welcoming setting. With superb views out over the Hill of Fayre, the Cow Shed Brasserie is hard to beat.

Restaurant is open: Dinner Wed – Sat 6pm – 9pm Lunch Saturday & Sunday from noon - Booking recommended -

The Cow Shed Brasserie & Cook School Raemoir Road, Banchory Kincardineshire AB31 5QBT +44 (0)1330 820813

www.cowshedrestaurant.co.uk

TAKE YOUR GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Expert Tuition Three highly qualified and experienced PGA Teaching Professionals all offering a 6 for 5 Lesson Package

At our spacious 27 bay driving range All bays fitted with ‘Powertees’, full length mirrors and distance markers Complemented perfectly by a fantastic fully stocked golf shop, custom fit studio and challenging but fun 9 hole golf course.

Paul Lawrie Golf Centre South Deeside Road, Haugh of Ardoe, Aberdeen AB12 5YN T +44(0)1224 865750 E info@paullawriegolfcentre.co.uk Golf Centre Opening Times Mon - Fri 9.00am - 9.00pm Sat & Sun 9.00am - 6.00pm

www.paullawriegolfcentre.co.uk

Circles at Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Coffee shop open 7 days Offering golfers and non-golfers a warm and friendly welcome.

Home bakes a speciality

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The Foundations of a Champion?

The Paul Lawrie Foundation was created to give every young person in the North East the opportunity to play golf; one day, we hope to create a Major Champion.

The Paul Lawrie Foundation (PLF) was launched in 2001, two years after Paul famously won the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, as a way of putting something back into the game that had given so much to Paul and his family. The aim of the Foundation was (and still is) to provide opportunities for juniors of any age to start playing golf, compete at golf and improve their capabilities to the highest level. With the success of the whole programme so far, the Foundation would be so proud to help someone who started out or developed his or her golf with the Foundation winning on Tour, or ultimately, winning a Major Championship.

With guidance from Paul and the Foundation team, including PGA professionals, juniors receive the benefit of their wisdom as well as a wider appreciation of the nuances and etiquette that governs the game of golf.

More than anything, the Foundation offers access to clubs, games, support and a network of other players.

Throughout each season, the Foundation hosts close to 50 events at clubs across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire – Flag, Stableford, Match Play, Junior Open (Strokeplay) – to give juniors of many age ranges a chance to experience all the fantastic courses that are on our doorstep. It Is important to ensure that each new player gets a chance to experience what golf has to offer whilst allowing more experienced players the chance to develop their game.

course of 9 holes (ranging between 90 – 200 yards in length). The kids are given a flag that is colour-coded to their age group and this is left at the spot where their 36th shot comes to rest. The rules are modified to enable competitors to escape bunkers after three failed attempts and to allow drops from water hazards on the green side, which helps them to navigate around trickier courses but in all other respects the Rules of Golf are in place.

It’s great to see the kids progressing, both in terms of their confidence and in their ability from the beginning to the end of just one season playing Flag events. We held our season-ending Flag Finals Day at Deeside Golf Club where we were joined by kids from as far afield as Machrihanish and Kent.

U15s Stableford Events We staged ten Under 15s Stableford Competitions, averaging 37 competitors per event.

In 2013, approximately 460 children played in our Flag events throughout the summer months (about 35 kids per event). On average, the percentage of boys to girls per event was 75%:25%.

Our Stableford events provide a stepping-stone for the kids moving from Flag towards Junior Open competitions and the like. The friendly environment encourages best practice in etiquette and the variety of courses we play as we move around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire means that those taking part experience different playing conditions and course types, challenging them to adapt their games to suit.

The Flag events provide an introduction to the game for beginners as they are played over a shortened

An Order of Merit running throughout the season sees the leading 27 players invited to attend our Season

Flag Events

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Finale Pro-Am at Newmachar, where a number of top Scottish PGA Professionals as well as our own Foundation supported Pros are teamed-up with three of the qualifying kids. This is a great opportunity for them to learn more about course management and other aspects of the game at first hand from experienced golf professionals.

Junior Jug & Junior Opens In addition to directly overseeing two Junior Opens for the Under 18s age category – Cruden Bay & the Paul Lawrie Junior Open at Deeside G.C. – the Junior Jug event at Blairgowrie’s Rosemount Course, which forms part of the SGU Order of Merit diet, was also wholly run by the Foundation.

With 129 entries for the Junior Jug, which is limited to a starting field of just 72 (due to the need to play 36 holes in one day and daylight constraints), a handicap ballot was required to whittle the number of competitors down. The quality of the starting field was very high with 4.4 being the highest handicap to gain entry.

Competitors came from across the length and breadth of the country – in all, 57 different golf clubs were represented.

Charity Events & Coaching The Foundation worked in conjunction with ClubGolf at their skill activity zone at Castle Stuart for the 2013 Scottish Open and will do so again in 2014 when this event comes to Royal Aberdeen. We provided four PGA Professionals for each of the four days of the event in July who gave free ten-minute lessons to children.

Everyone who received a lesson was also given a Foundation hat as a memento. More than 600 lessons were delivered over the four competition days!

For the last several years we have invited kids along to the Aberdeen Sports Village complex to take part in a golf festival. Working in conjunction with the Active Schools project, this involves bussing-in kids from across the city to try their hand at golf through a variety of innovative starter activities.

Through projects like these the Foundation aims to allow as many children as possible to experience the game and to hopefully encourage them to try it time and again…more than 250 kids from a number of citycentre schools were involved.

We have recently established a relationship with an Aberdeen charity – Streetsport – with the aim of taking the game to some of the more troubled communities within the city. Our mobile golf nets and golf equipment that we supply are deployed in conjunction with other pop-up sports (mini football pitches etc) in areas susceptible to high incidences of anti-social behaviour.

The charity aims to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour whilst promoting health and well-being and inclusivity through, amongst other things, sport. And

has at its heart many of the same principles key to the Foundation’s activities.

Foundation Supported Professionals There are eight Professionals who receive support – financial, equipment, clothing, mentoring, coaching - from the Foundation. Paul also makes himself accessible for one-to-one mentoring and advice.

David Law, Kris Nicol, Jordan Findlay, Laura Murray, Ross Cameron, Malcolm Isaacs, Duncan Stewart and Philip McLean all benefitted from this kind of support and are making their way in the professional game with hopes of success at the highest level of the sport.

David Law recently graduated from the EDP Tour circuit with playing rights on Challenge Tour for 2014 after finishing as one of the top 5 players on the Germanbased feeder tour. His progress in the game is testament to his own hard work and commitment as well as the support the Foundation is pleased to be able to give him.

In 2014, Paul wants to begin the process of bringing through the next group of talented golfers and he will offer the same kind of mentoring support to a small number of the area’s most promising golfers. The intention is to create the second Foundation Golf Team of elite players to follow in the footsteps of the current crop.

Football We currently have four football teams playing in the Aberdeen and District Juvenile Football Association leagues. The Under 15's and Under 14's PLF sides are both doing very well in their respective A-leagues whilst the PLF Eagles are doing well in the Under 14's B League after gaining promotion last season. The Under 12's PLF team are still playing development football before entering the 'competitive' environment next season at Under 13's, but are doing well and playing some very attractive football.

The focus for all the teams remains on player development and this is underlined by the fact that all the squads have access to the excellent Player Development Academy in order to ensure they get the best available levels of coaching.

Other Sports From time to time we will offer support to talented young sportspeople from other sports – at present we assist a swimmer, a tennis player, a snooker player and a table-tennis player.

For more information please contact: Michael MacDougall – Foundation Manager 07919 330130 www.paullawriefoundation.co.uk

Scottesque offers beautiful clothes, designed and made in Scotland, using traditional tartans and tweeds with a modern twist. They draw on traditional ways of wearing tartan whilst adding something new to the mix so that the result is fresh and contemporary. In addition to their design collection they offer a bespoke service including full bridal design service.

Amy Singer, Artist/Illustrator, is also the owner of the homeware and gift shop CloudyBlue in the heart of Rosemount, Aberdeen. On offer is a lovely selection of colourful art, selected gifts, cards, stationery, children's creative things and lots more! Amy takes commissions and is perhaps making her name for the beautiful wildlife artwork that she loves to paint.

Rosie’s Social Enterprises is part of the charity Turning Point Scotland. They provide vocational training, support and work experience for people recovering from acquired brain injuries, mental health and a range of other conditions.

They specialise in providing high quality bespoke picture framing and handmade crafts, include cards and gifts made with Scottish textiles.

Scottesque Workshop & Boutique 197 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB25 2XP 01224 622522 info@scottesque.co.uk www.scottesque.co.uk

CloudyBlue 165 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen 07714291662 / 01224 630409 ajsinger83@googlemail.com www.facebook.com/amysingerart

Rosie’s Social Enterprises 45-49 Holburn Street, Aberdeen 01224 575196

Special thanks to Angie Barnett, co-owner of Peapod Vintage Shop, for coordinating this photoshoot.

Rosie’s Café and Takeaway 137 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen 01224 626214 Rosie’s Framers & Crafts 45-49 Holburn Street, Aberdeen 01224 577325/577323 Rosie’s Wedding Stationery 45-49 Holburn Street, Aberdeen 01224 577323

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Room at the Inn ~ By Joanna Whysall, General Manager ~

I arrived at The Deeside Inn in Ballater at the beginning of December 2012 with a remit to get the place ready for an early spring opening. My enthusiasm for taking on a new project dwindled with the realisation that I would be living alone in an empty hotel with over 55 wardrobe doors for the bogeyman to hide behind!

The snow came, the temperature dropped below zero and the decorators arrived - leaving all the doors and windows open in their wake. Meanwhile, I started working on recruiting my new team wearing two sets of thermals and a woolly hat.

I have an aversion to the thoughtless and lethargic service commonly found in hotels in this country so I have been very fortunate to have mustered a team who are committed to the basic tenets of hospitality and who understand the importance of it being heartfelt.

So, we spring cleaned, stocked the cellar, topped up the wood shed and unlocked the front door. Without customers a hotel is just a space and it was interesting to see this space transformed into something vibrant and bustling through the energy of others. Our first customers were a wedding party up from London. As we didn’t know whether they would be eating with us I was concerned about wasting food at such a quiet time of year. I instructed our chef to make the best beef and ale pie he’d ever made.

Photograph courtesy of Aboyne Photographics

When the party arrived I asked them whether they would be dining with us. When they all replied, “yes”, I suggested that they might like the steak pie which was made with the best Highland beef from the Queen’s butcher and which had been simmering on a low heat all day. Fortunately, they all chose it - not knowing that, quite honestly, there was nothing else at all to offer them. The power of persuasion is something I try and teach my team!

The hotel fridges soon filled up – as did the hotel itself … with Munro Baggers, mountain bikers, stalkers, walkers, game keepers, grouse shooters, anglers, stranded oil workers, Royalty Protection Officers, paparazzi, Up Helle Aa Vikings, a wolfhound called Rodney … and a man who rested here for the night whilst running from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Then eight of the Dalai Lama’s most senior Gyoto monks arrived in Ballater. Offering these very special men food and shelter was a reminder to us of the origins of our industry and in return they gave us a private blessing which, mid season by now, was much needed.

We could not have had a better first year. We have had many happy customers and have enjoyed the most generous support from the local community, for which we are very grateful. Next year we will continue to work hard towards our goal of making The Crerar Deeside Inn one of the best authentic inns in Scotland.

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The River Dee and the importance of salmon angling

By Ken Reid, Fisheries Development Officer DDSFB & River Dee Trust Office

Iconic of the River Dee are the salmon which migrate annually to Deeside to spawn a future generation of salmon.

Adult

Eggs

Eyed Eggs Smolt

Atlantic Salmon Life Cycle Alevin

Fry

Parr

The salmon are born in the river and spend up to three years in the river before migrating to sea to feed as there is insufficient food in the river to support an adult population of salmon.

The salmon migrate northwards in the Atlantic Ocean to the Faroe Islands and coast of Iceland where they feed for one to two years before returning. Nature being as clever as ever, to mitigate against loss from any potential natural catastrophe in the Dee, ensures a number of salmon don’t migrate home after this time at sea; some migrate to

the eastern seaboard of North America for another year to two years before returning home to spawn. So to go fishing trying to catch a fish which doesn’t eat in the river seems a bit illogical when you think about it. The salmon has built up sufficient body weight to survive up to a full year in the river without requiring nourishment.

Salmon migrate up the River Dee to their spawning grounds and will spawn in very close proximity to the river bed they were born in some 3-7 years earlier. How they navigate from river to sea and back again without Sat-Nav, shows how clever they are really.

Anglers come to the river to fish for them where perhaps there can be up to 250 anglers on any given day from Monday to Saturday, February to mid October. And the salmon is a prize well worth catching where anglers on Deeside can pay up to £350 per day to fish for them.

The good news is that salmon are highly respected by anglers these days and they no longer kill them for the pot. The River Dee in 1994 introduced a voluntary conservation code which sees anglers return 99% of all salmon back to the river to produce the next generation of salmon. The

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River Dee Conservation Code is seen by our Scottish Government as the conservation role model for all rivers to follow. The River Dee is the world’s top spring salmon river and is heavily marketed internationally ensuring it is a top draw for global salmon anglers.

The website that promotes the river attracts over 2.5 million visitors per year, visit it at www. fishdee.co.uk. This marvellous resource provides information about the salmon, fishing beats, all types of other fishing available in Deeside, current weather, web cameras and river conditions, daily catches, accommodation providers, restaurants, tackle shops, local attractions and information on how to travel to Deeside.

The infrastructure which supports angling ensures the ÂŁ12 million generated annually by angling tourism is widely distributed through the valley supporting many hundreds of local jobs.

This is very important during the shoulder periods of spring and

autumn when Deeside relies on visitors to the valley.

What makes Deeside so special for our visiting anglers?

The outstanding scenery, our wonderful service providers the length of the valley, the terrific value for money on offer from many of our accommodation providers who provide Fishermans rates for groups of visiting anglers for as little as ÂŁ60 per night for bed & breakfast, a warm welcome into the community from residents of Deeside, and of course our esteemed River Ghillies who go out of their way to help anglers catch a salmon.

The last three years has seen the best catches from the River Dee in the last 30 years and everyone has had their part to play in ensuring that the River Dee valley remains the benchmark for many other River Valleys to emulate.

Long may this continue.

All photographs reproduced by kind permission of Fishdee

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DEE�IDE �ALKS:

Area: Banchory

Scolty Hill

Distance Return: 6km (4 miles) with 220m ascent Terrain: Mostly good track, rougher on final climb to the summit. Boots recommended.

Start & Finish: Bridge Street, Banchory - parking available

To the Hill of Fare

A93

ee

Invercannie Waterworks

N

Rive rD

BANCHORY

A9

River

W

3

Dee

E

START

S

Bridge of Dee

Parking Area

Falls of Feugh

Blackhall Forest Auchattie

Tower Hill of Goauch

(299m)

0 0

1

Miles Kilometres

General Burnett’s Monument

Wa ter of Feu g

SCOLTY HILL

h

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B9

1

Scolty Hill is a small hill south of Banchory. Its best known feature is the 20m tall tower monument, built in 1840 as a memorial to General Burnett who fought alongside Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars.

If you are walking from the town centre, head down Dee Street and cross the Bridge of Dee, bearing left turn sharp right up the Auchattie Road. About 500m up this road, turn left at the junction signposted Scolty Hill and look for a rough road branching off about 150m ahead.

There is also a car park at the entrance to Scolty Woodland Park. The route is clearly marked and from the car park it takes about 45 minutes to reach Scolty Hill summit and the Tower.

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The walk starts off fairly level through coniferous woodland and then begins to climb as the woodland gives way to open moor. The track gets steeper and stonier the higher you climb. The tower can be seen over the brow of the hill, the trees are left behind, and you are up on the bare Scolty plateau.

The tower is built on a large circular area of ground, almost 300m high and the views from the top of the Tower are superb in every direction: eastwards down the Dee Valley towards Aberdeen and the sea, westwards to Morven, Mount Keen and Lochnagar, northwards towards Hill of Fare and Bennachie and southwards to Kerloch, Clachnaben and Mount Battock.

Scolty Tower looks down on the vast expanse of Blackhall Forest, which covers some 1,200 hectares.

There are many paths in Blackhall that can be

explored, but the only one of consequence to Scolty walkers, apart from the climb up the hill, is one which drops down the west side and circles round it to join the main path at the wooden gate. The return route opens up a striking view of the country to the north of the River Dee, and particularly the long ridge of the Hill of Fare.

Di� �ou know?

Until recently, Scolty Tower had no staircase.

Thanks to flying power, a helicopter lowered a metal staircase to allow visitors an even more elevated bird’s-eye view of the surrounding countryside.

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Baxter

Hudson

Lucy Millar is the founder of Little Gundogs, a puppy training business based on the techniques that are used to train working gundogs and where obedience is paramount.

After an incredible first experience of puppy training, Lucy was keen to learn how to become a trainer herself. She spent almost a year working as an assistant learning and observing the various techniques. Now living in Aberdeen with husband Dave and two little gundogs Murphy and Ripley, Lucy admits that she “never would have known it was possible to get so much pure joy from owning and training an animal. Sharing that joy and knowledge with other puppy owners is the best job in the whole world.�

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Lucy tells us more about her life as a trainer and what good habits can mean for both dog and owner.

“When people ask me what I do for a living, I’m often tempted to tell them that I’m a motivational speaker, inspiring groups of adults to lower their inhibitions and find their inner cheerleader.

It sounds rather grand and important, far more impressive than my actual job description. But that’s exactly what I do. I’m a puppy trainer, running small classes that are structured around positive rewards and the biggest of those is enthusiasm.

Being super-enthusiastic in front of a group of relative strangers is actually a surprisingly difficult thing to do though and something that the majority of my clients really struggle with at first. Thinking back to my own introduction to the world of puppy classes I was once one of those worried ‘parents’, standing at one end of a field, calling my pup and then standing there in stiff (nervous) silence whilst I watched him potter towards me. It wasn’t until I found my exciting, encouraging voice, that he really found his speed... and it’s quite a speed!

Little puppies respond incredibly well to being told they are very, very clever.

Timing is incredibly important in this, as we certainly don’t want to be building up a fuzzy little ego, if the pup is in fact attempting something rather naughty, such as running straight past their owner, or wandering off in the wrong direction! Many novice dog owners fall into the trap of using ‘Good Dog!’ as a bit of wishful thinking. “Maybe if I tell him he’s a good boy, it might inspire something deep within and he’ll change his mind about stealing the tv remote and burying it in a hole...maybe...”. Maybe, but unlikely and if he does, it will be a happy coincidence, rather than a guilty conscience. “Good Dog” is a very important mantra The more excited you are, the more excited they will be to come and investigate what all the fuss is about.

Toby & Lucy

and one to be used whenever the little pup is doing the right thing. A perfect example of when to use it is during recall, when you have called your little pup and they’re stumbling towards you with a curious look on their face. This is the time to tell them how absolutely wonderful and gifted they are.

I tell clients that this has to be the time to act as though your little toddler is taking their very first steps - cheer them on, clap your hands, tell them they’re the most incredible little thing you have ever seen, in your most excited voice! Grab the video camera, bring out the banners and balloons, where are the cheerleaders and the parade?!...Maybe a bit much,

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Getting into position for recall.

but puppies really do thrive on this sort of encouragement.

The more excited (read exciting) you are, the more excited they will be to come and investigate what all the fuss is about.

Dogs learn through habit, so the more times that they do a certain action, the more likely they are to do it again.

Recall is without doubt the most important tool in a dog-owner’s kit, so build that habit right from the very beginning. Be your pup’s own personal cheerleader and make coming to you the best game in their little world, then practice, practice, practice!!

Find somewhere safe where you can let your pup off-lead without cars nearby, and have fun with them. One of my first clients, a lovely little

Cocker Spaniel, came to me with the habit of bolting and running as fast as her legs would carry her. With careful training and a lot of dedication from her owner, she became the absolute star of the class when it came to coming when she was called. Her owner learned to be someone who was fun and exciting to come to, and her pup loved the new game. When I’m out in the park training a new puppy, I probably look a little strange... jumping in the air, making silly noises, rolling around on the ground, building that little pup’s ego as they zoom towards me. I do get some funny looks. But I don’t care one bit, because the puppy I’m with thinks I’m incredible and that’s the only ego boost I need.”

Lucy

Nancy

For more information on positive training visit www.littlegundogs.com

Helping local children and their families who have disabled children or children with additional needs If you would like to make a donation please visit:

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/1QMXf Dee n’ Do has pledged to donate a page to highlight and promote a local charity. Contact us if you would like to be featured in our next issue.

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Grab your pens kids, it’s time to start doodling!

Can you find some of the place names in the wordsearch below? You might drive through these places quicker than you can find them! Also see how many of our wildlife that you can spot…mark them off as you go along. Or why not try our Code Breaker if you really want a challenge!

WORD SEARCH Can you find all the place names below in the word search?

Drumoak Crathes Strachan Glassel Finzean Lumphanan Tarland Dinnet Tullich

YOUR DOODLES

Far’s the kilt?

Somewhere hidden in this magazine is oor Amelie’s kilt. Can you find it?

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CODE BREAKER A B C D E F G 1 2 3 4 5 9 10

H I J K L M N 11 15 16 23 24 25 6 O P Q R S T U 7 8 12 13 14 22 21

SPOT THE WILDLIFE 1

Deer

Look out the car window and see how many of the following animals and birds you can spot on your journey.

2

2 Rabbit 3 Pheasant

1

4 Horse 5 Turkey

8

6 Heron

5

7 Badger

V W X Y Z 20 26 17 18 19

8 Squirrel 9 Duck

2, 1, 24, 24, 1, 22, 5, 13

6 3

10, 13, 7, 21, 14, 5

7

23, 1, 18, 1, 23, 15, 6, 10 10, 24, 5, 6, 14, 11, 5, 5 25, 7, 13, 20, 5, 6

4 9

26, 1, 24, 23, 15, 6, 10 24, 7, 3, 11, 6, 1, 10, 1, 13

Hint: A Deeside village

JOKES Q. What did th e farmer call the cow with no milk?

A. An udder fa ilure!

CALLING ALL KIDS! Got a favourite picture you want published in our next issue?

Have the most fabulous idea for a puzzle we can share?

Got the funniest joke to split our sides?

If you think so, please send us your pictures or ideas and you might just see your contribution in the next Dee n’ Doodles!

Email: hello@deendo.com or mail to: Room 2, 2nd Floor, 46a Union Street, Aberdeen AB10 1BD

Q. What do yo u call a fish w ith no eye?

A. Fsh! Q. What do fis h and maps have in comm on?

A. They both ha ve scales!

Q. Why did th e owl say "tweet, twee t"?

A. Because it didn't give a ho

ot!

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Birdwatchers

birdwatching is fun - enjoy it in deeside

WHICH OF OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS WILL YOU SEE? from the garden Chiffchaff

Greenfinch

Blue Tit

A small olive-brown warbler which actively flits through trees and shrubs picking insects from trees. Readily distinguished by its song, from where it gets its name.

A regular garden visitor, able to take advantage of food in rural and urban gardens.

Distinctive for its twittering and wheezing song, and flash of yellow and green as it flies.

One of our most attractive and most recognisable garden visitors. Family flocks join up with other Tits as they search for food.

You can help the birds in all sorts of ways

Winter

Spring

Clear snow from ground feeding areas and remove ice from birdbaths.

Help with nest making by leaving bunches of twigs and moss near your bird feeders.

Trim hedges after birds have eaten the berries ahead of nesting season.

One of the most important things you can do for your garden is not to use slug pellets, which kill parents and their chicks.

Encourage robins to breed by putting up an open nest box.

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from field and farm Lapwing

Yellowhammer

Fieldfares

Also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls, its proper name describes its wavering flight. Its black and white appearance and round-winged shape in flight make it distinctive, even without its splendid crest.

This familiar farmland bird has suffered significant declines recently.

Males are unmistakeable with a bright yellow head and underparts, brown back streaked with black, and chestnut rump. In flight it shows white outer tail feathers. Often seen perched on top of a hedge or bush, singing. Again population in decline.

Large, colourful thrushes, they stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong. These straggling, chuckling flocks that roam are a delightful part of the winter scene.

from the moors and mountains Golden Eagle

Golden Plover

Ptarmigan

Only the white-tailed eagle is larger in the UK. With its long broad wings and longish tail, it has a different outline to the smaller buzzard. It likes to soar and glide on air currents, holding its wings in a shallow 'V'. Eagles have traditional territories and nesting places which may be used by generations.

A medium-sized plover with a distinctive gold and black summer plumage. In winter the black is replaced by buff and white. They typically stand upright, run in short bursts and are wary on breeding grounds. In winter they form large flocks which fly in fairly tight formation with rapid, twinkling wingbeats.

The ptarmigan is a plump gamebird, slightly larger than a grey partridge. In summer it is a mixture of grey, brown and black above with white bellies and wings. In winter, it becomes totally white except for its tail and eye-patch. It breeds in the highest mountains of the Highlands of Scotland.

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Not your typical garden variety In the days of yesteryear, a visit to the garden centre usually meant a trip to a cold, outdoor oversized garden where you browsed the plants, piled them in the car and left. However, these days a trip to the garden centre is a much more family friendly affair and usually not one filled with the inevitable “humph” noises that come with accompanying children!

On the contrary, on arrival to the Mains of Drum Garden Centre, you cannot fail to be impressed by the grounds and building, with my little toddler even proclaiming: “it’s like a fairytale castle”.

Once inside, you are greeted by a double height entrance, usually impressively dressed with a seasonal display. For the keener eye, you will also notice the trophy cabinet adorned with various accolades for industry awards. The main ground floor has a large selection of gifts, clothes, toys and homewares, as well as some locally produced food. To the rear, the garden section is large and contains pretty much everything you could want for our north-east climate (and more). The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable, so if like me you’re not so green fingered, don’t be afraid to ask. On the first floor, there is a large restaurant which sits around 200 so you would be really unlucky to not get a seat! Relaxed and friendly is the atmosphere up there, which is complimented by views of Deeside from the windows. The food is all homemade and the menu is routinely changed throughout the seasons to take advantage of the local produce. Seniors get a good deal here with a discounted menu Monday – Thursday.

They also offer themed dining evenings occasionally which are listed on their website www.mainsofdrum.co.uk So next time you fancy a cuppa and cake, or need a special gift for that special someone or you do in fact need some new plants for the garden, head down to the Mains of Drum as you’ll probably find what you’re looking for there.

N E

W S

A magazine for Royal Deeside

Look out for our competitions running on our Facebook page over the next few months, courtesy of our advertisers and contributors.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply subscribe and like our page at facebook.com/ deendomagazine and look out for the promotions.

unique ceramic pieces mags gray by

~

Locally handcrafted To arrange a commission or visit the studio please contact: magsgrayceramics@hotmail.co.uk 07790 721681 To view more images please visit: www.magsgray.com

Open all day every day ...to residents and visitors.

Join us for cooked breakfasts, fireside coffees, cakes, scones, soups, lunches and dinners.

+44 (0)1339 886137 www.theboatinnaboyne.co.uk Charleston Road, Aboyne Royal Deeside, AB34 5EL

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Having spent the last 20 years travelling up and down from Aberdeen to our second home in Braemar with my husband, and often with my grandchildren, I feel that I have tried and tested a fair few coffee shops and eateries that allow me to share my finds with you!

Milton of Crathes ~ C R AT H E S ~

Coffee with my friends is a regular past time and is often spent at the Milton of Crathes. Here we enjoy their filter coffee (free top ups are available!) along with one of Mary’s very tasty scones; plain, cheese, fruit, cherry or one of her specials such as pecan or white chocolate. Whatever you choose you won’t be disappointed, as they are absolutely delicious.

Specialist coffees and teas are on offer to suit whatever mood you’re in.

The staff are very friendly and welcoming and are on hand to serve breakfast, light lunches and dinner.

Although it is not the most child-friendly in terms of atmosphere, children are most welcome. One standout meal I have had is their lunchtime soup and fishcakes – most delicious.

The restaurant has recently come under new management but I am glad that we can still enjoy Mary’s scones!

At The Sign Of The Black Faced Sheep ~ ABOYNE ~

A special favourite of mine is The Sign of the Black Faced Sheep in Aboyne, tucked away just off the main road on a one-way street. With delicious coffee, specially roasted for them, a cafetière of their coffee is a must! If you go in the morning, fresh fruit scones are on offer and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they have tomato and mozzarella – not very large but mouth wateringly delicious that you will be tempted to have another. They have a large selection of freshly made cakes, which can be served with cream, and take it from me they are good!

If it is lunch you are after, then I definitely recommend you come here. As regular visitors, we usually have one of their freshly made soups served with a bread roll. My husband’s likes the

roast beef petit pain (creature of habit I suppose!) which is served with a lovely salad, while my favourite is the smoked chicken salad which is served with olives, pecans and a beautiful dressing. They also do lovely cheesy toast as well as a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon – both favourites with the grandkids. Which is just as well as they do not have a children’s menu but you can always bribe them with one of the signature hot chocolates which usually keep them quiet for a while! Be warned, this place can be busy and at times difficult to find a seat.

In addition to the café, they offer a nice selection of cards, china, lamps, glass and lots of other unusual home wares and gifts.

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Finzean Estate Farm Shop and Tearoom ~ FINZEAN ~

Although a little off the beaten track, Finzean Estate Farm and Tearoom is definitely well worth a visit. They offer delicious scones, not quite as large as Mary’s at the Milton, but just as good which you can take home either fresh or frozen. They also have a great selection of produce to buy including fish, meat, vegetables and homemade bread, as well as some unusual pantry goodies.

Personally, I love the salad leaves grown by a lady at the Forest of Birse and the hot smoked salmon.

In addition to food they also have a large selection of cards, books and gifts. They also offer a range of artwork, displayed throughout the gallery. But back to the job in hand, they do unusual and delicious lunches; yummy homemade soups and sandwiches (made with homemade bread). Reading through the menu, there are some unexpected combinations

which I found so refreshing and different to see. Not afraid to push the boundaries, the Tearoom excels at finding combinations that simply work as well as sticking to some tried and tested recipes. Recently my husband selected the leek and vegetable soup with a roast beef sandwich, which was served with some crisps and salad. Everything tasted so fresh and looked so appetising. I liked the sound of roasted beetroot and goats cheese risotto. I was not disappointed. It was delicious.

They have considered their younger visitors too by offering a children’s menu and a small play area outside to keep them amused.

Set in lovely surroundings, and if you’re lucky enough to go on a warm, dry day you can take in the view from their outdoor seating area. Come rain, wind or shine, it is well worth the visit.

The Coffee Bothy ~ B A L L AT E R ~

If I ask my grandchildren where they would like to eat on a day trip to Deeside, I know the answer before any of them open their mouths. The Coffee Bothy in Ballater with its lovely hot chocolate and bacon rolls is always top of their list. They offer soup, sandwiches, paninis and a large selection of homebakes, so there is always plenty for them to

choose from. Most appealingly, they are often open before most of Deeside gets going. In winter, they have a woodburning stove which makes it even more welcoming. Open for breakfast and lunches, they offer great, tasty food some of which you can also take away. This is a very popular and welcome addition on Deeside.

Tearooms featured: Milton of Crathes

At The Sign Of The Black Faced Sheep

Finzean Estate Farm Shop and Tearoom

Ballater Road, Aboyne Aberdeenshire AB34 5HN

Finzean, Royal Deeside Aberdeenshire AB31 6PA

43 Bridge Street Ballater, Aberdeenshire AB35 5QD

01330 844566

01339 887311

01330 850710

01339 755191

www.miltonbrasserie.com

www.blackfacedsheep.co.uk

www.finzean.com

Crathes Aberdeenshire AB31 5QH

The Coffee Bothy

At Your Fingertips

On The Bookshelf

Music & Melody

90

The Little Kicks

IndianRedLopez

Genre Indie Disco Pop

Genre Indie Dance Visual Electronic

Members Steven Milne Andrew Corse Lewis Porter Scott Kelman

The Little Kicks are a four-piece indie pop disco rock band from Aberdeen who have a reputation for a great live show and are known for their distinctly catchy upbeat indie pop songs.

Since their formation, the band have toured across the UK in their own right several times to a great response. The band have also played at festivals such as T in the Park, Belladrum, Insider and several other major Scottish music festivals. Debut album – “Boxing Clever” – was released to critical acclaim in the Scottish and UK music press. The album also won admiration from outside of the UK and has been featured on several European and American blog and online radio sites. Following the LP’s release the band also played shows in both Japan and Germany to a great reception. Over time, the band have shared stages with the likes of Foals, The Vaccines, Frightened Rabbit, Glasvegas, Maximo Park, Mystery Jets, Errors, The Kooks, Editors, The Macabees and many more. The band has recorded live sessions for XFM, BBC Radio and have also been played on national radio by Nemone, Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson. Not to be underestimated as one trick ponies, the band are as comfortable playing live with a couple of acoustics as they are at headlining club nights to a packed dance floor.

Members Scott Maskame Darren Forsyth Dave Cherry Danny Forsyth Michael Chang

This Aberdeenshire five-piece have had a sharp rise to prominence since they formed the band in 2008. After the release of their debut EP Castles Incomplete, IndianRedLopez have gained a steady following amongst the Scottish music fraternity who have been impressed by their polished, yet diverse sound.

Their debut album, Empty Your Lungs and Breathe, was released in 2011 and grabbed the attention of many music reviewers for all the right reasons. PanicDots wrote “It’s not often I hear a debut album that sounds this accomplished – the production is impeccable, and every track could easily be released as a standalone single. I’d suggest you keep a close eye on these guys, as I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up making a lot of noise on the UK music scene over the coming months.” The Skinny praised IRL saying “Empty Your Lungs and Breathe stands as a solid debut from a group gleefully exploring the space between the bedroom and the studio to promising effect. Breathe it in.”

The band are currently working on their second album but you can follow their movements meanwhile on their facebook page www. facebook.com/IndianRedLopez.

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The Hazey Janes

Paul Anderson

Genre Indie Pop

Land of the Standing Stones

Members Andrew Mitchell Liam Brennan Alice Marra Matthew Marra

Review

By Steve Whyte

Genre: Traditional Scottish Fiddle

The Hazey Janes have undergone their fair share of globetrotting since their first release, some eight years ago.

After recording LPs ‘Hotel Radio’ and ‘Hands Around The City’ in Spain and the USA respectively, the band headlined throughout the UK, played support to the likes of Elbow, Idlewild and Snow Patrol, and made two trips to the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

2011′s ‘The Winter That Was’ (Armellodie Records) found the band refining their zigzag path from country to psych to powerpop, with chunky chords, wistful lyrics and lush harmonies.

Autumn 2012 saw The Hazey Janes playing some of their most prestigious shows to date, opening for Wilco as guests on their European tour, as well as playing selected headline gigs across the UK and Spain.

The band are currently preparing for the imminent release of their fourth full-length album, recorded in the south of Spain in July 2013. It promises to be The Hazey Janes’ most striking and assured collection of songs to date.

This latest release from Tarland’s finest, further enhances his reputation. A masterful work from a man at the top of his craft, this release has 29 tracks deeply rooted in traditional fiddle music yet sounding fresh and vibrant with some songs in a more contemporary style too – most notably with a fine contribution from Hollywood star and Elgin loon Kevin McKidd.

There is a strong north east flavour throughout with themes from the Warlock Stone of Craiglash to Grassic Gibbon’s Sunset Song and Blawearie.

This is Scottish fiddle music at its finest - the whole album is wonderful and has been heavily listened to in our house with three songs being the crème de la crème – “The beauty of Cromar before me” and title track “The land of the standing stones” are beautiful slow airs and would bring a tear to a gless een.

The ballad of “Bonnie Henry Gordon” is a masterful contribution from Kevin McKidd who has a fine baritone voice and isnae too shabby on the guitar either – this one is a favourite with our children who call it “The Murder Song”!

VERDICT: Highly recommended, 10/10 for the Tarland maestro.

Other artists to look out for: Seas, Starry - Lush, effects driven soundscapes for shoegazers (www.seasstarry.bandcamp.com) Min Diesel - Guitar-led three-piece from the north east of Scotland (www.mindiesel.bandcamp.com) Carson Wells - Noisy math-rock trio who selfreleased a brilliant debut album. (www.carsonwells.bandcamp.com)

At Your Fingertips

On The Bookshelf

Music & Melody

92

The Munros A Walk Highlands Guide

The Living Mountain

The Dee

Nan Shepherd

K R Fergus

The Living Mountain is a poetic and philosophical account of the author’s decades of wandering in the Cairngorms.

Bounded by the highest mountains in Britain, the majestic River Dee winds its way through some of Scotland’s most celebrated scenery.

Paul & Helen Webster

The Munros are mountains in Scotland with a height of over 3000ft and take their name from the first list of such hills published in 1891

by Victorian mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet of Lindertis. Revised several times in the years since, most recently in 2012, the official list now features 282 peaks.

This guide is for anyone who wants to climb these mountains and aims to provide reliable routes and tips for ascending them safely. The Munros will ensure you reach parts of Scotland you might otherwise overlook, spend memorable evenings in pubs, bothies and wild camps, and have encounters with other walkers, locals and wildlife that enhance the adventure regardless of whether you get to the top of one Munro or all of them. £12.99

672 pages

It is an intensely lyrical piece of writing and majestic in simplicity. Originally completed in 1944, it was rejected by publishers and remained in a drawer until 1977 when Aberdeen University Press printed a small edition. Robert Macfarlane then read it and “was changed”.

If you read it, you too will feel changed as she achieves it in a language that is almost incantatory. It is a 100 page book, but might as well be 1,000 as you will read it at least ten times over. Like Shepherd’s landscape, you will find something new in it each time: “However often I walk on them, these hills hold astonishment for me. There is no getting accustomed to them.”

105mm x 148mm

£10

100 pages 105mm x 148mm

From its source in the shadow of Ben Macdui and Braeriach high in the Cairngorm mountains, the Dee cascades over waterfalls and meanders through the remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest before making its way to Aberdeen and the North Sea. There is no better way to discover the wildlife, architecture and history of this area of Scotland than to walk. Whatever your ability – walking at high or low level, following tough terrain or level paths – the 25 routes in this guide offer something for everyone. £6.99

160 pages 150mm x 104mm

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The old Man of Lochnagar

You Can’t Play Here

I Want My Hat Back

Angus Corby

Jon Klassen

This tale of a young laddie receiving his first bagpipes is set in familiar surroundings.

Gregor MacDonald is thrilled when he gets a set of bagpipes for his birthday. But each time he plays, he makes an awful sound “HONK-eeyyow!” To which everyone shouts: “you can’t play here!” Gregor MacDonald is your (stereo) typical Scots lad; you know the kind that wears a kilt and owns a wee Scottie dug and likes to roam in the vast Highlands, passing a hunter, fisherman and even some royalty. Quite a novel book for tourists, but not sure how the palace guards ended up this side of the border!?

This gorgeous junior book has no links to Deeside, in fact it is the winner of the Caldecott Medal and a New York Times bestseller, however the woodland characters could almost have a Scottish homeland.

The illustrations and narrative are equally stunning and understated. This picture book delight is told completely in dialogue and has a mischievous ending that will surprise and delight both kids and adults.

H.R.H. The Prince of Wales

The story revolves around an old man who lives in a cave in the cliffs surrounding the corrie loch under the Lochnagar, a mountain which overlooks the royal estate at Balmoral .

It is filled with such characters as a grouse who repels visitors, underwater haggis who revolve as they swim, the miniature green people of Gorm, and the birds and fish who live in the skies and lochs around Balmoral estate.

It is the story Prince Charles had told some years earlier to entertain his younger brothers, Andrew and Edward, when they were young.

£7.99

46 pages 260mm x 200mm

£5.99

£6.99

40 pages 274mm x 196mm

32 pages 203mm x 245mm

Kindle Editions Deeside Walks £0.99

Ballater to Cambus o’ May

The Seven Bridges Trail

A route map, photographs and step by step guide for the walk along the old railway line from Ballater, Royal Deeside in the Cairngorms National Park to Cambus o’ May.

A route map, photographs and step-bystep guide for the walk along The Seven Bridges Trail from Ballater in Royal Deeside, Scotland. Note: At present the Kindle Book does not include the excerpt of the Ordnance Survey.

Music & Melody

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SPOT ON LOCATIONS ‘SCOTTISH BATTLES AND CASTLES’ www.spotonlocations.co.uk/scottish Spot On Locations is a new company developing travel apps that help you to take a journey into the history pages of where famous events took place.

Created by a group of experienced journalists and photographers, the app includes famous and

On The Bookshelf

220 locations from the Highlands and Islands to the Lowlands of Scotland 110 castles and 40 battlefields plus visitor centres, abbeys, palaces and locations of historical interest Practical and useful information for travellers, including museum, visitor centres, opening hours etc.

view the sites by list or map, making selection user

Cut and paste facility to transfer GPS coordinates to in built phone sat nav

friendly. It will make it easier to plan your itinerary

Historical texts and overviews of each location

and give you more time to savour the experiences.

and web links where applicable

not so famous sites of historical interest. You can

At Your Fingertips

900 photographs

*This mobile phone app is currently available on iPhone but being developed for Android and Windows phones.

SCOTLAND MOUNTAIN BIKING AND CYCLING HOLIDAYS, TOURS AND VACATIONS go-where.co.uk Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a firsttime Scotland visitor wanting to connect with Scotland’s best mountain biking and adventure cycling holidays – GO-WHERE do their best to make the most of your riding time in Scotland.

Whether you’re looking for the full package or just enough support to make your own trip a reality – they can provide professional fully qualified guides, the latest GPS equipment

loaded with routes to suit you for selfguided (or mixed) trips, flexible bike and rider transport services, and most importantly tap into their Scotland-wide knowledge.

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Would you like to advertise in the next issue of Dee n’ Do? Please get in touch and see how we can help you promote your business, event, venture or Deeside discovery. Email advertising@deendo.com or call us on 07975 727767 for more info.

creative design + communication

We have the insight, knowledge and experience across a wide variety of disciplines and markets to help you stand out in your chosen field.

Take a closer look at www.grayandwhyte.com T E E

+44 (0) 7771 924103 mairi@grayandwhyte.com kelly@grayandwhyte.com

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Photograph courtesy of Amy Muir

The launch of our first issue coincides with the commencement of Visit Scotland’s Year The launch of our first issue coincides with of Homecoming 2014. the commencement of Visit Scotland’s Year of Homecoming The year-long programme of events2014. invites us to celebrate and reconnect with all that makes The year-long programme of events invites us Scotland truly great; a sentiment that Dee n’ Do to celebrate and reconnect with all that makes also hopes to deliver.

Scotland truly great; a sentiment that Dee n’ Do also hopes to deliver.

See you next time!

See you next time!

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