Braemar
For the former M/S Braemar, see M/S Regina Baltica. For the cruise ship, see Braemar (ship)Braemar (
Scottish Gaelic,
Baile a' Chaisteil Bhràigh Mhàrr) is a village in
Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, around 58 miles west of
Aberdeen in the
Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the
River Dee, and is also the unofficial capital of
Royal Deeside.
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Morrone Birkwood Nature Reserve near Braemar |
Braemar holds an annual
Highland Games Gathering on the first Saturday in September, traditionally attended by the
British Royal Family.
The Gaelic Bràigh Mhàrr properly refers to the area of upper Marr (as it literally means), i.e. the area of
Marr to the west of
Aboyne, the village itself being Castleton of Braemar (
Baile a' Chaisteal Bhràigh Mhàrr)
In the 1891 census, 59.2% of the population of Braemar spoke the
Gaelic language "habitually", the percentage of those actually able to speak the language (despite not having must opportunity to) would have been somewhat higher. The small crofting township of Inverey (
Inbhir Èidh) was 86.3% Gaelic-speaking, most non-speakers being originally from Lower Deeside. The Gaelic spoken in the Aberdeenshire Highlands shared most features in common with the Gaelic of Strathspey and East Perthshire. The last native-speaker of the local Gaelic dialect died in 1984, though there are still surviving native-speakers of the similar Strathspey dialect.
Catholicism has traditionally been strong in the Braemar area, and the bones of Saint Andrew rested in Braemar before being taken to the place now known as St Andrews. The Catholic church in Braemar is dedicated to Saint Andrew.
Braemar has twice recorded the lowest ever
UK temperature of -27.2
oC, on
February 11,
1895 and
January 10,
1982 Met Office article.
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Pictures of Braemar area*
Panorama of the Linn of Dee (QuickTime required)
