Life's Breeze: Royal Deeside & Falls of Feugh

Royal Deeside & Falls of Feugh

This morning was cold & a bit wet as we left our motel to tour the area. A good morning as we were not checking out & so were able to have a little sleep in. We love two night stays they have let us catch up with washing & sleep.

We drove along Royal Deeside an area that came into favor with Queen Victoria during the 19^th century. The Scottish highland games are held there each year & the Queen attends. We drove past Balmoral Castle but it is pretty well hidden by the trees. We were also on the wrong side of the bus so no photo of a castle peeking out of the trees today.

Where the Highland Games are played.

Another beautiful Celtic Cross

I cannot remember the name of this castle that the local town have adopted

Crathie Church

The first stop was the lovely Crathie Church near the village of Banchory the church that the royal family attend when staying at Balmoral Castle. No photo's in this church only of the outside.

The little local town restored railway shops

My new friends

We stopped for lunch in the light rain & found a lovely cafe but best of all on return to the bus I found the above Springer Spaniels sitting on the park bench with not a sole in site. I am missing Gemma-Rose & Lily a lot so have taken to accosting any dog or cat that stands still long enough & could not resist these cute little angels. Well despite the fact that they were in training & not supposed to talk to anyone it seems they could not resist my attention either. They were wet & a bit sad looking in the rain but loved a pat & chat. The owner quickly appeared behind me & told me they were not meant to respond to anything & had been told to sit & stay as they were in training. One of them the mum was a fully fledged search & rescue dog & had worked in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake & the pups were being trained for the same kind if work. They use them in disasters & more often however in the highlands to find hikers.

Tea shop at Falls of Feugh

After lunch we stoped at the Falls of Feugh tea shop to sample afternoon tea of delicious freshly baked scones & to listen to a local storytellers tale about local fishing for salmon & the salmons mating habits in the river outside the cafe. We are both amazed to find that these fishermen pay Pounds-2,000 to fish for salmon for one day.If they catch a salmon they do not get to keep it or eat it but only fish for the sport. I am still dumbfounded at the money they pay for this sport especially when it involves such personal discomfort in the freezing water.