Walk 11 of 2018 - Braemar - Queen's Drive & Lions Face

A good turnout on Friday for monthly walk 11 this year. Despite enforced cancellations from Ian (Sh) and Nigel, the late additions of Ken and Jeb to our core squad meant we still had a healthy quorum of 7 travelling to Braemar on a beautiful autumn Friday afternoon. Four of us - Jeb, Colin, Dave and I - who met the eligibility criteria, travelled for free on the bus, whilst youngsters Ken and Andy hitched a ride with Stewart who had to bring his car over from Westhill.

The bus was a tad late, but still made it to Braemar not too long after Stewart's car, so we were on our way before 2:30 pm - up the hill and past a familiar watering hole where we intended to quench our collective thirsts at the end of the walk:

The directions told us to start on the "Morrone Birkwood Circular Walk" but this soon looped back to the main Morrone hill walk that some of us completed on a glorious day last year. Further on, after a short climb, we diverted off the marked trail up to a viewpoint for the first team photo:

From there it was back down the hill, past a small caravan park and then the first tee at Braemar golf club. Turning left along the road for half a kilometre, we then crossed a pedestrian bridge over the Cluny:

The walk then headed back towards the golf course again and up across the A93 to start what was known as the Queen's Drive (Victoria, that is). A modest climb with one zig-zag led to wonderful views of the various paps:

We were told to look out for information on the limestone outcrop known as the Lion's Face, but even the geologists among us struggled to be sure about its location - although we suspect this may have been it:

We came across the occasional Information Board, but they only seemed to be about the local wildlife:

Queen's Drive did prove to be a pleasant tranquil spot. Soon we were heading back downhill again:

There were some fine views of the grand house on Invercauld estate:

The trail eventually led us down beside the A93 again and we walked virtually parallel to the road for a while before emerging on the roadside grass verge near Braemar Castle, where we came upon this sign:

and the castle itself:

From there it was on the pavement back to the village and up the hill again to get our rewards in the Moorfield House Hotel - pints from the Sentinel Brewery in Sheffield - their American Red was particularly popular, although a little dangerous at 5.2%.

Three pints was just about right and we comfortably caught the 6:20 pm bus back to Banchory for an earlier than usual Friday night.

The distance covered was just under 11 kms, with climbing of just 314 metres - a comfortable afternoon's stroll. Here's the full stats and the route:

11 walks in 10 months with an average distance of 13.5 kms and climbing of 377 m. 11 of us have taken part in at least one, with Colin and I each having done 10 of them.