Crathie
Crathie Kirk
Introduction
The present Crathie Kirk was completed in 1895, after Queen Victoria laid its foundation stone in 1893. Designed by Elgin architect A. Marshall Mackenzie, the granite Church of Scotland kirk overlooks the River Dee and the ruins of an earlier church nearby. Its royal connection began in 1848, when Queen Victoria worshipped there during visits to Balmoral, starting a tradition followed by every British monarch since. For visitors, it remains a modest but significant stop in Royal Deeside, close to Balmoral Castle, with local history, royal memory and parish life still closely linked.
Location
What's nearby
Crathie Kirk sits close to Balmoral Castle, with the River Dee, Crathie village and the wider Royal Deeside road all nearby. Ballater is around 20 minutes away by car, while Braemar lies further west towards the Cairngorms, making the kirk an easy stop between castle visits, riverside walks and Deeside villages.
Where to stay nearby
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