Braemar – the River Dee Path and a Pint at the Flying Stag
About 3 miles on foot.
Braemar's River Dee path is an easy loop of about three miles from the middle of the village, out along the river meadows with the hills of the upper Dee all round.
It finishes back at the Fife Arms, where the Flying Stag, the hotel's public bar, pours a good pint and serves a hearty supper.
- Time
- About two hours for the loop of about three miles (4.8 km).
- The path
- A narrow earthy path with short, moderate slopes and uneven stretches.
- Where to start
- If driving in: the council's Balnellan Road car park, free with a voluntary charge by RingGo or PayByPhone, or the free Mews car park.
- When to go
- The River Dee path is walked in daylight; the Flying Stag opens every day from noon to 11pm, with supper from 5pm and live folk music on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
- Dogs
- Under close control, on a lead near grazing animals.
- Children
- An easy loop for children who can walk three miles.
- Toilets
- Public toilets at the Balnellan Road car park in the village.
- Before you set out
- Muddy after rain: wear boots.
The walk
The River Dee path is one of the waymarked walks in the Cairngorms National Park's Braemar Paths leaflet, which you can download from the Park Authority's website. It's a loop of about three miles that takes about two hours. The loop leaves the village by Chapel Brae and runs down the Dee across the river meadows, with wide views up and down the strath, before coming back into the village from the north.
The path is mostly smooth, narrow and earthy, with some short slopes, and it's uneven in places and muddy after rain. If you're driving in, park at the Balnellan Road car park, where paying by phone is voluntary, or at the free Mews car park. Walk it in daylight.
Set off by 3.45pm until the clocks go back at the end of October, by 2.30pm in the days after, and by 1.30pm from November to January.
If it rains
After heavy rain the path is muddy and the river meadows wet: walk the village instead, down to the bridge over the Clunie Water, and go straight to the Flying Stag.
Afterwards
About 24 min on foot
The Flying Stag
A drink
The last stretch back into the village takes about 24 minutes and brings you out by the Fife Arms. The Flying Stag is its public bar, open every day from noon to 11pm, with local beers and Scottish whiskies under the winged stag that hangs above the bar. Supper is served from 5pm to 8.45pm, and on Wednesday and Friday evenings local folk musicians play from 7.30pm to 9pm. Dogs are welcome. For a quiet dram by the fire instead, Bertie's Whisky Bar in the same hotel opens at 7pm.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Darroch Learg in Ballater, 13 miles away.
Book a table for supper at the Flying Stag on the Fife Arms' website, for after the walk: food is served every day from 5pm to 8.45pm, and on Wednesday and Friday evenings local folk musicians play from 7.30pm to 9pm.
For further reading, before you go.