Hered, What Is Now and Mountain Air Have Attracted Mountainous Upland and Where the Visitors Who Come to Enjoy Walking, Rivers Meander
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Braemar Community Action Plan February 2017 Introduction Community Action Plan Welcome Back! Braemar is on the tourist route This document brings together an from Perth to Aberdeen, which update on a wide range of actions climbs over the Cairnwell Pass, the and projects, which the Braemar highest through-road in the country, community believes are achievable (now dubbed the ‘Snow Road’) and would deliver short and/or long- and follows the River Dee along term benefits for the village. It builds its picturesque valley. Surrounded on (and replaces) the original CAP by unspoilt and unpopulated document of 2013. countryside, it is nevertheless within Braemar School c. 1896 an hour and a half’s drive from three Following a further consultation major cities: Perth, Dundee and programme, all the proposed Aberdeen. actions and projects are grouped under five themes: Almost all of Braemar is now • Visitor Experience designated as a conservation area. • Active Braemar The village is compact, with a mix • Youth and Learning of grand Victorian houses, modest • Community Capability cottages, narrow roads and lanes, • Housing and Economic retaining a unique character. Development The village, treasured by many, has so much going for it and is ideally Braemar In Context placed to work with others to seek Castleton Terrace c. 1880 Braemar lies at the heart of the funding for a host of projects to Cairngorms National Park in the secure a prosperous future. highest and wildest landscape in the UK. Surrounded by mountains, Braemar In The Past heather moorland, pine and The geology of the area – a series of birchwood, the village spans the granite intrusions, metamorphosed rocky gorge of the Clunie Water. sedimentary sequences and glacial erosion – have defined the way the For generations, the scenery land has weathered, what is now and mountain air have attracted mountainous upland and where the visitors who come to enjoy walking, rivers meander. climbing, wildlife-watching, cycling, hang-gliding, canoeing, fishing, Braemar (which was originally two Corriefergie Curlers c. 1890s stalking, golf and skiing. villages) built up at a bridging point of the Clunie. Braemar has been Within close proximity to over a strategically important since early quarter of Scotland’s Munros, the times. Hill passes – from the north, area has been the inspiration for south, east and west – converge a number of writers, artists and where the modern village now photographers, and many visitors stands at the intersection of the will return again and again. Clunie and Dee. A cohesive and supportive The earliest settlement is believed community of around 450 to have been near the raised mound inhabitants, the village is known where Braemar Castle is now around the world for the annual situated. The first church dedicated to Saint Andrew in Scotland was Hunting and Fishing Parties c. 1880 Braemar Gathering. The event attracts around 15,000 people on built here and the area came to be the first Saturday in September each known as St Andrews or Doldencha. year and has the patronage of Her Fine hunting first brought royal Majesty the Queen. patronage. In the 10th century, King 2 Introduction Community Action Plan Kenneth MacAlpin enjoyed sport Braemar Today here. The rocky hill which forms Today Braemar is a vibrant the backdrop to the village bears community with a raft of different his name: Kenneth’s Crag or Creag projects under way. The economy Choinnnich. In the 11th century, of the village is heavily dependent King Malcolm Canmore built a on tourism. Helping to keep visitors hunting lodge on the banks of the informed about all the activities Clunie and is credited with being the available, the Visitor Information first to use a competitive hill race to Centre provides a year-round find his fittest, strongest and fastest service. Now there is a real desire Braemar Gathering messengers, a tradition which lives to extend further both summer on in the annual Braemar Gathering. and winter seasons by creating additional attractions to bring more Kindrochit Castle is known to have visitors to Braemar, persuading been in regular use by Scottish kings them to stay longer and establishing until the 16th century. Around the a more robust economy. castle grew the village of Castleton on Invercauld Estate which, along Braemar continues to be an with Auchendryne (field of the internationally renowned area for thorns) on Mar Estate, forms the shooting, fishing and stalking, with modern Braemar. Invercauld and sporting visitors to Invercauld, Mar Mar estates continued to play and Mar Lodge estates injecting influential roles in Braemar’s history, valuable income into the local Braemar Castle investment and evolution over economy. The stunning natural hundreds of years. environment also attracts hundreds of thousands each year to the village By the 17th century Kindrochit was and surrounding area, generating ruinous and a new Castle of Mar significant income through tourism. was built by the Earl of Mar, near the site of the original St Andrews Braemar already has much to attract Church. In 1715, the Earl of Mar visitors as well as new residents. gave the village a lasting place in Although the population of around the history of Scotland when he 450 is small, the school roll is rising raised the standard to start the 1715 and new houses are being built. Jacobite uprising. Children are well served by the Primary School, with a head teacher Red Squirrel Up until the 19th century, Gaelic and a staff of three. For secondary was the language spoken by the education, youngsters attend inhabitants of Braemar, evidenced Aboyne Academy (27 miles away). by local place names. The arrival of Queen Victoria on Deeside in A resident doctor is on call 24 1848 brought an influx of English hours a day and there is a sheltered visitors, as well as stalking and housing complex with 12 residents. grouse shooting guests, and created An emergency service is provided the new industry of tourism for the by a team of First Responders, all village. The Gaelic language was locally retained members of the laid aside and Braemar embraced Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. new opportunities. Hotels and A highly experienced volunteer businesses, designed to serve the Mountain Rescue Team, which Mar Lodge new wave of visitors, sprang up and operates in partnership with Police the village, as we know it today, Scotland, also has a training base in began. the village. 3 Introduction Community Action Plan The community and visitors are A variety of clubs and societies well served by local services and operate in the village. There is a shops with a garage and service long-established WRI, a Scout group, station, pharmacist and newsagent, bowling club, local newspaper high class butcher, Co-operative group, country dance group, book store, art gallery, sporran maker, groups, local history group, choir, mountain sports shop, several cafes traditional music group, lunch club, and around seven other shops knitting group, pantomime group, offering a wide range of gifts, food yoga, keep fit and walking groups as Menzies Butchers and clothing. There is also an 18- well as fiddle, bagpipe and highland hole golf course, reputed to be the dancing classes. highest in Scotland, and the UK’s largest skiing area, Glenshee Ski St Margaret’s and the Village Hall Centre, is just 10 miles away. are venues for a number of both local and visiting musical groups and A large coaching hotel provides events. The Castleton Hall offers accommodation for around 200. bookable facilities including snooker, There are also three smaller private as well as hosting popular Beaver, hotels, five guest houses, around Cub Scouts and a Youth Club. six B&Bs, two bunkhouses and the Explorer Scouts meet at a separate Youth Hostel, as well as over a dozen hall, The Shieling. self-catering properties. There is a Gordon’s Tearoom caravan site with accommodation There is an active Community for 100 caravans and 30 tents. Council, a tourism group and Nearby, too, is the National Braemar Community Ltd (BCL), Trust for Scotland’s Mar Lodge, a charity set up to help deliver which operates as self-catering projects. Since 2007, BCL has accommodation and as a popular operated Braemar Castle as a wedding venue. visitor attraction on behalf of the community on a 50-year improving Development is under way of the lease from Invercauld Estate. central Fife Arms hotel. The plans are to establish this as a 5-star hotel The recently formed Braemar Hydro and spa in the village, opening in Limited has built and manages 2018. the micro-hydroelectric scheme Braemar Mountain Sports at Corriemulzie on Mar Estate Three churches operate in the delivering up to 100 kWh daily into village: Church of Scotland, St the grid. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church and an Episcopalian congregation Annual Events at Mar Lodge. Each has an active Annual events are an important following, welcoming many visitors, element in the life of Braemar, especially in the summer months. with the Junior Highland Games attracting crowds of over 1,000 and There is a choice of eating the Braemar Gathering in excess establishments offering a range of 15,000. To capitalise on the of services from coffee shops and popularity of highland gatherings, casual bar meals to restaurants, Braemar Royal Highland Society is serving locally-sourced quality now looking at building a Highland The Speciality Shop and Antique Shop meals. There is also a take-away Games Discovery Centre for the providing fish and chips. village to help turn Braemar into a “must see” tourist destination. The Jacobite Day at Braemar Castle 4 Introduction Community Action Plan accounts for over 700, supporting on offer the case for a dedicated Visitor - A new Playpark has been designed, Centre.