Royal Deeside and The Mearns
The Mearns is a largely agricultural area that stretches inland from the Kincardine coast to the hills. Royal Deeside follows the River Dee into the heart of the Grampian Mountains, with some right royal sights along the way, including Royal Family favourite Balmoral Castle.
The Mearns is a sparsely-populated area characterised by agriculture, forestry and empty hills that rise as you head inland towards the peaks of the Grampians. The Kincardine coast is indented with small bays and coves, with cliffs that provide a good home for stacks of seabirds at Fowlsheugh. Bustling, seaside Stonehaven is the main town in the area; its pretty harbour setting makes it very popular with tourists. Stonehaven parties on Hogmanay for its ancient Fireballs ceremony. Nearby is clifftop Dunnottar Castle - one of the finest in Scotland.
Royal Deeside is a fine-looking area that captivated Queen Victoria with its characteristic Scottish blend of moody mountains, lofty crags, tumbling rivers and moors and forests. The rarefied Royal air still pervades the neat chocolate box towns and villages of Deeside, such as Ballater and Braemar, which are unsurprisingly thronged with tourists in season. Braemar is famous for its Highland Gathering - one of Scotland's best. Deeside offers excellent opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, biking and wildlife watching, and many accommodation options.
