The Linn of Dee

Driving through Braemar village and beyond, takes you through some bonny scenery, as we followed the river Dee

 

and encountered a “meeting of the waters” where a tributary or two joins the river.  On the right is the Lui Water joining the Dee.

Looking up into the hills, it was amazing to see what looks like a small patch of snow on the highest hill in the photo.  Snow it most definitely was but it would be a fair sized patch if you were standing beside it!  You can see here that there’s not a big amount of water in the river.

Soon we crossed the bridge over the river and parked in a woodland car park, before walking back through the woodland towards the bridge and the Linn of Dee. 

 

Just had to include this one of Colin standing on the trunk of a tree fallen over the river!  I wouldn’t be able to balance on it!

Here the river has over many centuries channelled its way through the granite barrier, resulting in a wide river being forced through a narrow gorge and down over the rocky falls.   Imagine the river in spate, careering down over the rocks, bringing debris with it.  Perhaps a large boulder was once washed down a raging river and got stuck in a narrow section of the gorge,  Water would carve out a way round the boulder, wearing away both boulder and the edges of the gorge. Eventually in another few 100 years or so, the boulder was dislodged again by high waters and te same thing happened further down the gorge.  You can see in the photo above how the rock has been eroded.

  Here’s the river above the bridge, just arriving at the point when it begins to flow through the gorge.  Incidentally, some of these trees are remnants of an ancient forest that covered much of Scotland several thousands of years ago. 

 

 

 

 

 

The left hand photo is above the bridge and the beginning of the gorge, while the right hand photo is of the river tumbling down under the bridge and away, down to the wide slow river it was (see again the photos near the beginning).  I think we were lucky to see it with so little water in it, as we could see how nature had worked on the rock, but I bet it would be some sight if the river was high!

I let Colin go for a short walk up the Glen Lui path – remember I’m “looking after” him?  He could still walk faster and further than me, so I waited for him in the car.  I had my new Kindle with me – yes, I’ve given in and bought one – but that’s another story! – so I passed a pleasant hour reading till he returned quite pleased with what he had achieved.  Walking is one thing, but I have great difficulty in persuading him he shouldn’t be doing other movements that involve stretching the sternum!  He’s got an excuse and an answer for everything!!!

Anyway finally we turned the car and came back to Braemar, me stopping to take photos of the plants along the grass verges – these were pink and white foxgloves along side a piece of deer fence, and some yellow buttercup-like  flowers and more foxgloves  The foxgloves are beautiful just now.

And this is one last look to the hills on the way back, probably the path that Colin would like to be on.

Talk again soon!