The parish of Braemar and Crathie has been a playground of kings, nobles and the great ones of the land since the dawn of Scottish history. In the heart of the village lie the ruins of the great castle of Kindrochit (“The Head of the Bridge ”). Nearly a thousand years ago it commanded all the glens leading in and out of the area - Glenshee to the south, Aberdeen to the east, Lairig Ghru and Lairig an Laoigh to the north and Glen Tilt and Glen Feshie to the west. It was around this strategic bridgehead that the little village grew.

Over a hundred years ago Queen Victoria chose Deeside as her holiday centre, and successive generations of the Royal Family have followed her example. So too have generations of holiday makers, discovering for themselves the health - giving air, the majestic scenery of mountain and river, and the many and varied sporting activities for today’s visitors all year round.