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Balmoral Cairns

Photo of Balmoral Cairns, a folly near Crathie in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.

Balmoral Cairns

© David Robinson / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

© David Robinson / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Balmoral Cairns

Local highlight
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Scattered through the woods above Balmoral are eleven cairns raised by Queen Victoria to mark family events — marriages and the deaths she mourned. The largest is a great granite pyramid built for Prince Albert in 1862. You reach them on estate paths from Crathie, though it’s best to stay away in August and September, when the royal household is in residence. The Balmoral grounds lie just below.

More places to visit near Balmoral Cairns

Photo of the Cairngorms, a National Park in Scotland.Iconic

Cairngorms

You’re inside itNational Park near Aviemore

Britain's biggest national park — a high granite plateau of arctic tundra, ancient Caledonian pinewood and free-flowing rivers.

Photo of Deeside and Lochnagar, a National Scenic Area in north east Scotland.Highlight

Deeside and Lochnagar

You’re inside itNational Scenic Area near Braemar

High granite mountains and old pine woods above the River Dee — big, serious hill country

Photo of Balmoral Castle Grounds, a garden near Crathie in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Balmoral Castle Grounds

Garden near Crathie

The royal family's Deeside estate, with gardens, grounds and the castle ballroom open when the family is away.

1.7 km N

Photo of the Cairngorm Mountains, a National Scenic Area in Scotland.Iconic

The Cairngorm Mountains

National Scenic Area near Aviemore

Britain's high sub-Arctic plateau.

10.6 km NW

Photo of Ballater, a village in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Ballater

Village

Victorian planned village on the River Dee, the nearest town to Balmoral with a restored railway station and royal warrant shops.

10.6 km E · Aberdeenshire

Photo of Loch Muick, a loch in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland.Highlight

Loch Muick

Loch

Queen Victoria's retreat of Glas-allt-Shiel stands at the head of this loch on the Balmoral estate below Lochnagar.

10.8 km S · Aberdeenshire