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We packed up before breakfast and checked out of Ravenscraig BnB by 9AM. Once on the road we followed a slow procession of trucks and lorries towards Grantown-on-Spey. (The lorry in front of me shredded a tire too!) I drove us into Grantown to look around but we didn't stop. Soon we were off into the hills on the A939. Nice to be driving a fun road again and with no traffic too! Soon we reached Tomintoul, the highest village in the Highlands at 345m (1132ft).
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| Traveling Eastbound along the A95 alongside the Strathspey steam railway. | Grantown on Spey. | Time for some fun driving as we hit the A939 from Speyside to Deeside. | ||
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| Winding our way through the hills in nice weather. | Tomintoul. | |||
Once past Tomintoul we drove over the Lecht ski area. Soon we descended like a roller coaster down a long downhill run. On the way down we stopped at a view point above Corgarff Castle where we could also see the 'rollercoaster' on the mountain high above us. Then we continued and dropped down to the A93 near Ballater.
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| Heading from Tomintoul to Lecht the road continues to be a joy to drive. | A house nestled in the hills. | Climbing up onto the Lecht ski area. | ||
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| Lecht ski area. | Descending the 'rollercoaster' from Lecht to Corgarff. | ||
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| On the way down we stopped at a lovely viewpoint above Corgarff. | Corgarff castle. | Passing through Corgarff. | Looking back up at the 'rollercoaster' high up on the hillside. |
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| Descending into Deeside. | Crossing the River Gairn at Gairnshiel Lodge. | Following the River Gairn towards Ballater where it empties into the Dee. | |
In Ballater I parked up at the old royal station and we had a look around. Then we went over the bridge over the River Dee and set off Westwards along South Deeside on the B976. This was a lovely windy narrow road through the woods, which took us to the gates of Balmoral Castle. Then we rejoined the A93 and pushed on to Braemar. Since it was only 11:30 we went straight through Braemar and carried on further west along a minor road to the Linn of Dee, a pretty gorge under the road. We got out for a short while to look and take pictures before returning the way we came to Braemar. We stopped at the Taste Café for some expensive lemonades and then had a look inside a couple of gift shops while we were there.
Clips of the Linn of Dee are compiled into a You Tube video. Click here to view the video.
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| The royal connection in evidence at Deeside with the Royal Charter seals above some of the shops. | Renée at the Old Royal Station. | Looking around at the Old Royal Station. | The Old Royal Station platform. | The Old Royal Station from another angle. | The Baker that produces Balmoral Bread. |
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| The Baker's Royal Charter. | Looking Northwest along the street to Craigendarroch. | The River Dee from the South side. | The gates of Balmoral. | Heading West along the A93 past Braemar Castle. | |
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| Looking Northwest across the River Dee from a view point opposite the Linn of Quoich. | The bridge at the Linn of Dee, built over a gorge, from the upstream side. This is as far upstream as we can drive. | Looking upstream from the bridge. | The water entering the gorge under the bridge. |
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| The bridge at the Linn of Dee from the downstream side. | Panorama of the gorge, including an eddie forming a whirlpool. | Renée on the Linn of Dee bridge. | A collage style panorama of the gorge downstream of the bridge. | |
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| Looking downstream from the gorge. | Driving East back towards Braemar, looking over the Dee en route. | Looking into Braemar from the Taste café. | Panorama in the centre of Braemar. | |
Then We decided we wanted to push on to Edinburgh so got back on the A93 and headed for the Cairnwell Pass, the highest main road pass in the UK at 670m (2199ft). It was raining up on the pass so the view wasn't great but as soon as we descended the other side into Glen Shee conditions improved again. Ahh it was so nice to drive past Glen Shee again. A nice roller coaster ride of a route and no traffic. The few cars we did catch up with were easily overtaken and soon enough we passed Blairgowrie and then Perth. We then hit the M90 motorway which took us directly to the Forth Bridge.
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| Heading South from Braemar into Glen Clunie. | As we follow Clunie Water upstream, the weather closes in up ahead on the Cairnwell Pass. | Approaching the top of the Cairnwell Pass. | ||
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| The Glenshee Ski Area at the top of the Cairnwell Pass. | Heading down the other side into Glen Shee. | Green hills line the pass. | ||
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| Down and down and down. It was a long way to the bottom. | Traversing Glen Shee. The skies, road and scenery were spectacular. | |||
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| Onwards and Southwards. | Passing a biker heading towards the pass. | Passing Loch Leven (a different one to the one near Fort William) on the M90 en route to Edinburgh. | |
As we closed in on Edinburgh it was nice to pick up 3G again. We had to wait for about 10 minutes though as they closed the Forth Bridge for an oversize escort to cross. Then we got going over the bridge. I stayed in the left lane so Renée could get the best view of the famous rail bridge. Then it was a straight forward following of directions to get into town and to Number 38 BnB. After a couple of passes we found it. Renée and the BnB owner took the cases in while I drove the car to a nearby NCP car park and walked back (only 5 mins). That took care of the car until parking restrictions end tomorrow evening.
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| Crossing the Forth Road Bridge with the Forth Rail Bridge running alongside. | ||
After settling in at the BnB we made a beeline for Princes Street. We walked along from one end to the other. Then back along Rose Street where more obscure shops, bars and restaurants are. We looked in a few shops and restaurants en route. By now I was hungry and bought a chocolate bar. Then soon after (5:15'ish) we ended up in St Andrew's Square. Nearby was Saigon Saigon chinese restaurant where we decided to eat. We had a nice filling meal indeed and were finished by 6:20. We then had a quick look in Princes Mall but not much there. So out we went and walked to Broughton Street. This is where a 'village' is but we didn't find much of interest and we were tired so we escaped along Albany Street to return to Dublin Street and the BnB to retire just before 7pm.
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| Looking downhill along Dublin Street from near the BnB. In the distance is the Firth of Forth with Fife beyond. | The entrance to the BnB. | Uphill is Queen Street. | A large terrace along Abercromby Place. | St Andrew's Square. | |
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| Princes Mall and one of many nice gothic style buildings. | Looking East to Carlton Hill. | Inside Jenners, a large department store. | The Scott Monument. | The Scottish National Gallery with Old Town beyond. | |
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| A closer view of The Scottish National Gallery. | Looking West and East along Princes Street from near the middle. | I knew there must be a Kilt shop somewhere... | Edinburgh Castle stands prominently above us to the South. | |
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| Another view of Old Town to the South, with Princes Street Gardens in front. | Rose Street. | The start of the A1. The longest road in the country, and the opposite end to home. | A bridge over Leith Street as we head for Broughton. | A gothic looking cathedral on the corner of Broughton and Queen Streets. |
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