Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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ABERDEEN TO BRAEMAR.
down to the margin of the meandering and sparkling Dee,
along which it forms a pleasant park-like meadow. The other,
or opposite section, is a bosky bank, rising abruptly from the
rushing tide of the river in the depth of the dell, and anon
blending with the steep northern battlement of hills. From
the castle, whithersoever the eye is directed, it catches glimpses
of picturesque mountain scenery. Eastward, the view is bounded
by Craigendarroch (the rock of oaks), and by the precipitous
chasm called the Pass of Ballater ; westward, beyond the mili¬
tary road from Braemar to Fort-George, which winds by the
hoary Cairn-na-cuimhne, may be got some glimpses of the
pine-clad haughs of Invercauld ; southward, the eye reposes
on the soft and fragrant foliage of the birks of Craig-an-Gowan,
and, northward, “ Dee’s silver stream rolls his swift waters,”
with a hundred heathery hill-tops—a “ dark ocean of moun¬
tains behind.” *
The property of Balmoral was purchased by the late James
Earl of Fife from the Farquharsons of Inverey, who had long
possessed it. In 1836, the late Sir Robert Gordon, brother to
the Earl of Aberdeen, obtained from the trustees of the Earl of
Fife, a lease of the whole lands, game, fishing, etc., for the period
of 38 years. The present house was erected by Sir Robert as a
shooting-lodge. Here he continued to spend a few months in
autumn, when unemployed in his diplomatic duties, dispensing
a princely hospitality to his friends, until the period of his
death in 1847. The reversion of the lease was purchased in
1848 by His Royal Highness Prince Albert, and in 1852
H. R. H. acquired the fee-simple of the estate from the Fife
Trustees, the purchase price being ,£32,000.
As the old castle did not afford sufficient accommodation for the Royal
Family during their autumnal visit to Scotland, His Royal Highness
resolved to erect the present new and commodious building at his own
expense. The new castle stands on the same level as the old residence,
but is nearer to the margin of the Dee, which here, in a semicircle, sweeps
the base of the mountain range of Craig-an-Gowan, and forms a large
peninsula, the plateau of which affords the most perfect privacy for the
retirement of the Royal Family. The building is of the Scotch baronial
* It is nine miles from the Castleton of Braemar, and may either he visited from
it (along with the Falls of the Garrawalt), or from Inver Inn. There is no admit¬
tance to the grounds or castle without an order from one of the officials. The castle
is tolerably well seen from the top of the coach.