{"id":16622,"date":"2022-06-09T14:56:57","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T12:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=16622"},"modified":"2022-06-09T17:58:56","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T15:58:56","slug":"monarch-of-the-glen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2022\/06\/09\/monarch-of-the-glen\/","title":{"rendered":"Monarch of the glen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JUBILEE WALKS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

WALK: <\/strong>Royal Deeside and Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Monarch of the glen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s Platinum Jubilee with a walk through Scotland\u2019s splendid Balmoral Estate and other nearby locations cherished by the Royal Family, writes Fergal MacErlean <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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T<\/span>he magnificent Balmoral Estate has been the much-loved Scottish residence of the Royal Family since 1852. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the estate after becoming captivated by the landscape of Deeside, noting that all \u201cseemed to breathe freedom and peace\u201d. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Set in Aberdeenshire around the River Dee and between the beautiful villages of Banchory and Braemar, much of Royal Deeside overlaps the mountainous and wildlife-rich Cairngorms National Park. <\/p>\n\n

In June you can see Scotch argus butterflies, red squirrels and fleet-footed pine martens. <\/p>\n\n

Jubilee events taking place at Balmoral include pipe bands, a birds of prey display and a special afternoon tea in the Piper\u2019s Hall, where live coverage of the nation\u2019s celebrations will be shown. <\/p>\n\n

Also on view is a \u2018Life at Balmoral\u2019 exhibition and a selection of the dresses worn by Her Majesty the Queen at her country residence. <\/p>\n\n

BALMORAL BY BOOT <\/span><\/h5>\n\n

The very best way to experience Royal Deeside is on foot, just as the Queen herself does. There are lots of magisterial walking routes to choose from. This one leads by the extensive grounds of the white granite-fa\u00e7aded Balmoral Castle and on through part of the surrounding 20,200-hectare estate. Made up of farmland, lochs, grouse moors and mountains, the purchase of Balmoral by Queen Victoria helped her shape an image of the royal couple as country gentry rather than remote royalty. <\/p>\n\n

Queen Elizabeth II traditionally spends her summers here in this private residence. As a lover of country life, she can often be seen walking the estate grounds clad in a tweed skirt, a practical weather-proof jacket and her trademark headscarf. <\/p>\n\n

The Queen finds Balmoral a haven away from her busy working life down south. It is a place where the Queen\u2019s family and friends can be entertained in peace and privacy. <\/p>\n\n

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1 <\/strong>RIVER AND PINE <\/span><\/h4>\n\n

Start from the Crathie car park (charge in summer season) to cross the mighty River Dee and carry on uphill to take the first right, signed Royal Lochnagar Distillery. This leads to the village of Easter Balmoral. Turn right, then first left to head south-west on an arcing route through dense pine woods. <\/p>\n\n

Look for roe deer bounding through the trees. <\/p>\n\n

2 <\/strong>PURPLE HILLS <\/span><\/h4>\n\n

After a mile, take the track on the left, which, in a few hundred metres, leads out of the woods and into a remote-feeling heather-clad landscape with views towards the Munro of Lochnagar. Red deer may be seen on the hillsides and, from June, the purple hues of heather add a romantic touch to the dramatic scenery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n