Balmoral Castle |
Crathie Kirk in winter with Moon |
Crathie Opportunity Holidays Superb facilities for disabled people, their families and friends |
Crathie Tourist Information Centre Click for larger images  Roof Detail - A Hare |
| Crathie Parish | The Parish
of Crathie is situated mid way between Ballater and Braemar on the banks
of the River Dee. The Royal Estate of Balmoral,
Abergeldie Estate and a large part of the Invercauld
Estate all lie within the Parish Boundaries. Crathie is largely a rural community with Hill Farming, Forestry and Estate Management as the main employment sources for the area. There is also a Whisky Distillery at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery on the edge of the Balmoral Estate. The area is a well established feature of the Tourist's Itinerary with a number of world famous places to see and visit. Balmoral Castle is perhaps the most famous of the local attractions and home to the Royal Family since 1848 when Queen Victoria purchased the estate. |
| Crathie Kirk | About
¼ of a mile east of Balmoral Castle lies Crathie Kirk, another world
famous attraction for the tourist to visit. The present Church was built
in 1895 and overlooks the old Kirkyard where the remains of the original
14th Century church can still be seen. John Brown, Queen Victoria's personal
servant is buried here within the old walled cemetery.
The Architect, A. Marshall from Elgin, was responsible for the plans of this simple Gothic style church whose elegance blends naturally with the surrounding tree covered hillside. The Tourist standing at the entrance to the church is able to take in the splendour of the fine views across the River Dee. Sitting high on Creag-an-Lurachain is Prince Alberts memorial cairn, the largest of a number of cairns erected by Queen Victoria on the Balmoral Estate. Beyond the cairn is the majestic peak of Lochnagar, snow topped even as late as June on occasion. Many of the features of this local church from the plain granite walls to the impressive Scots Pine roof and stained glass windows in the chancel and transepts and equally the many gifts donated by individual member of the Royal Family over the years are well worth seeing. The church is open to visitors daily from 09.30-17.00 from Easter to 31st October. Sunday Worship is at 11.30 to which everyone is warmly welcomed. |
| Exhibition
& Tourist Information |
Balmoral
Estates Exhibition and Grounds are open to visitors also from Easter
to the end of July each year.
There is a Tourist Information Office beside Crathie Kirk to help visitors to this Beautiful part of Scotland to fully enjoy their vacation. |