 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(February 2022) |
Corgarff (Scottish Gaelic : Corr Garaidh) is a hamlet in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in the Grampian Mountains. The nearby Corgarff Castle was used as a military barracks in the 18th century. [1] The hamlet's primary school closed in 1998. [1]
Most of the heather moors around Corgarff are managed for grouse. Narrow strips of heather, Ideally about half an hectare, are burned on a 7-10 year cycle creating a distinctive mosaic pattern on the hills. The burnt heather quickly sprouts forming fresh young shoots, the main food for the red grouse. The taller heather offers the grouse nesting sites and protection from predators such as foxes and carrion crow. [2]
The mountain hare is a feature of the moorlands of Scotland, Its white coat in winter making it very distinctive on land without snow. In summer there is a blue tinge to its coat, hence its alternative name, the blue hare. The farmland around the River Don provides a breeding ground for waders such as redshank and lapwing. The redshank can be identified by its red legs. In flight it has a white triangular rump patch and white triangles on the tailing edges of the wings. The hysterical calls of the redshank at the approach of man has earned it the name "sentinel of the marshes". Lapwing are easily recognisable by their long crests, black and white under-markings and loud pee-wit call.
Orchids are present around Corgarff. between June and July, the pale lilac flowers of the heath-spotted orchid can be seen. The distinctive spotted leaves make this orchid easy to identify. [2]
Corgarff lies in the upper valley of the River Don. The Don rises to the south-west at the Wells of Don, flows east to Mossat where Strathdon meets Strathbogie, then on to Inverurle to meet the River Urle and finally on to the North Sea at Aberdeen. The open character of the valley is a result of changes during and after glaciation over 10,000 years ago.
The waters of the River Avon used to feed the River Don and this large river carved out the well developed valley. However during glaciation the course of the River Avon was diverted northwards and in now feeds the Spey, this process is known as watershed breaching. The force of the ice has also left areas of bare rock on the upper slopes and hilltops. Following the retreat of the Ice the whole land surface was barren of growth, however the action of the ice on rocks had produced soils, which were later held in balance by deciduous trees. The first impact of man recognised by archacology was around 3000BCE when with primitive tools they started creating clearings for settlements. Traces of their Neolithic places can still be found, such as Cairns, Cists and Stone Circles. The clearing of trees combined with reduction in average temperature resulted in soil deterioration. This led to the formation of the peaty, moors seen at Corgarff today.
Corgarff is in the Parish Of Upper Donside.
The parish used to be part of the great Celtic province of Mar, the most important of seven Pictish provinces which in 843 unified to become Scotland. The unification of Scotiand under a monarchy ended Upper Donside's isolation and began its role in national attairs. Unification brought with it the feudal system, where land was granted to important people in return for loyalty and military service. This dispersed power to the lairds who in turn had powers over e subordinate population. Tenants were expected to fight for the landowners. The feudal system differed from the clann system in that the tenants were linked to the laird by land rather than kinshlp. Although there were a number of smaller estates in the area, ultimately was dominated by two rival families, the Forbes and the Gordons. Many skirmishes occurred.
Castles were a major part of the feudal system and many survive from this medieval period. At first the feudal aristocracy built Norman style motte and balley castles such as the Doune of Invernochty. This was the centre of power for the Earl or Mar until the 13th century, when Klidrummy Castle, a typical medieval castle was built. From the 14th century onwards social changes and the development of weapons resulted in castles being bulit to withstand casual raids rather than major sieges.
Corgarff Castle was one such example of a typical Scottish tower house with very little decoration. Defence was effected simply by shutting the entry and tiring from the many loopholes. There was no moat or curtain wall. Few castles were built after the 17th century and the relatively peaceful state of the country resulted In castes deslgned for comfort and architectural style rather than defence. [2]
Corgarff Church was built in the 1830s by Sir Charles Forbes and closed in 2005. The church is rectangular, has windows on only one side and a bellcote. [3]
Corgarff Community Hall was built in 1893. It houses an art exhibition featuring local artists and is used for polling. [4]
The Corgarff War Memorial is between the Village Hall and Church. It is a grey granite cairn and was unveiled in 1920 by The Right Honourable Harold Tennant of Edinglassie. [5]
“A Moment In Time” by Louise Gardiner is a large stone installation with a poem carved into the stone, which was designed to frame telescopic views of Corgarff Castle by looking through the spy holes. One looks towards the vast landscape, the other looks towards the castle. The A Moment In Time poem in full is “Take a moment to behold as still skies or storms unfold, warm your soul before you go, in sun, rain, sleet or snow.”
“The Watchers” by John Kennedy are four sculptural iron seats that are reminiscent of a stone circle, of which there are over 150 stone circles in Aberdeenshire alone. “The Watchers” overlook Corgarff Castle and the Cairngorms whilst providing shelter from the winds. [6]
The Cairngorms Scenic Photo Posts Project was devised as a voluntary citizen science initiative, to gather and submit photographic records to better understand and track wildlife and habitat change in the National Park. This is post 16 out of 24 spread across the Cairngorms, which looks over the Corgarff View Point which frames Corgarff Castle within the vast landscape. It sits next to the two art installations. [7]
Areas and primary settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City) | ||
|---|---|---|
| in Banff and Buchan |  | |
| in Buchan | ||
| in Formartine | ||
| in Garioch | ||
| in Kincardine and Mearns | ||
| in Marr | ||
57°9′39″N3°11′33″W / 57.16083°N 3.19250°W
| Authority control: National |
|---|
 | This Aberdeenshire location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and a residence of the British royal family. It is near the village of Crathie, 9 miles (14 km) west of Ballater and 50 miles (80 km) west of Aberdeen.
The North York Moors is an upland area in north-eastern Yorkshire, England. It contains one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. The area was designated as a National Park in 1952, through the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Covering an area of 554 sq mi (1,430 km2), the National Park has a population of 23,380. It is administered by the North York Moors National Park Authority, whose head office is based in Helmsley.
The River Don is a river in north-east Scotland. It rises in the Grampians and flows eastwards, through Aberdeenshire, to the North Sea at Aberdeen. The Don passes through Alford, Kemnay, Inverurie, Kintore, and Dyce. Its main tributary, the River Ury, joins at Inverurie.
Ballater is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains. Situated at an elevation of 213 metres, Ballater is a centre for hikers and known for its spring water, once said to cure scrofula. It is home to more than 1400 inhabitants and has had a long connection with the British royal family.
The River Dee is a river in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It rises in the Cairngorms and flows through southern Aberdeenshire to reach the North Sea at Aberdeen. The area it passes through is known as Deeside, or Royal Deeside in the region between Braemar and Banchory because Queen Victoria came for a visit there in 1848 and greatly enjoyed herself. She and her husband, Prince Albert, built Balmoral Castle there which replaced an older castle.
The Cairngorms are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain Cairn Gorm. The Cairngorms became part of Scotland's second national park on 1 September 2003. Although the Cairngorms give their name to, and are at the heart of, the Cairngorms National Park, they only form one part of the national park, alongside other hill ranges such as the Angus Glens and the Monadhliath, and lower areas like Strathspey.
Cairngorms National Park is a national park in northeast Scotland, established in 2003. It was the second of two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament, after Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was set up in 2002. The park covers the Cairngorms range of mountains, and surrounding hills. Already the largest national park in the United Kingdom, in 2010 it was expanded into Perth and Kinross.
Castle Fraser is the most elaborate Z-plan castle in Scotland and one of the grandest 'Castles of Mar'. It is located near Kemnay in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. The castle stands in over 300 acres (1.2 km2) of landscaped grounds, woodland and farmland which includes a walled kitchen garden of the 19th century. There is archaeological evidence of an older square tower dating from around 1400 or 1500 within the current construction. The castle is a Category A listed building and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
The Lairig Ghru is one of the mountain passes through the Cairngorms of Scotland. The route and mountain pass partially lies on the Mar Lodge Estate.
Aberdeenshire or the County of Aberdeen is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. The area of the county, excluding the city of Aberdeen itself, is also a lieutenancy area. The county borders Kincardineshire, Angus and Perthshire to the south, Inverness-shire and Banffshire to the west, and the North Sea to the north and east. It has a coast-line of 65 miles (105 km). The county gives its name to the modern Aberdeenshire council area, which covers a larger area than the historic county.
The Doune of Invernochty is a 12th-century castle in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, of which only earthworks survive. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) note that it is "one of the finest examples of Norman earthwork castles in Scotland, and appears to be the sole Scottish example of a motte with Norman stonework on its summit." It is located at grid reference NJ352129, near Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, near the confluence of the River Don and the Water of Nochty. Doune of Invernochty is a scheduled monument. The name derives from the Gaelic Dùn Inbhir Nochdaidh which means "fort at the confluence of the Nochty."
Mar Lodge Estate is a highland estate in western Aberdeenshire, Scotland, which has been owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) since 1995. Its principal building, Mar Lodge, is about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of the village of Braemar. The estate is recognised as one of the most important nature conservation landscapes in the British Isles and occupies nearly 8% of the Cairngorms National Park, covering 29,340 hectares. The natural heritage value of the estate is reflected by the fact that much of it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). The entire estate has been classified as a national nature reserve since May 2017, and is designated a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The Dunecht Estate is one of the largest private estates in Aberdeenshire, Scotland at 53,000 acres (210 km2). It is owned by The Hon Charles Anthony Pearson, the younger son of the 3rd Viscount Cowdray. Dunecht's business interests include farming, forestry, field sports, minerals, let houses, commercial lets and tourism.
Mar Lodge Estate is the largest remnant of the ancient Earldom of Mar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Driven grouse shooting is the shooting of the red grouse and a field sport in the United Kingdom. The grouse-shooting season begins on 12 August, often called the "Glorious Twelfth", ending on 10 December each year.
Aberdeenshire West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Aberdeenshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. Also, however, it is one of ten constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.
The Lairig an Laoigh is a mountain pass through the Highlands of Scotland. In speech and sometimes in writing the name is reduced to "Lairig Laoigh". It is of glacial origin, dissecting the Cairngorm plateau, and it runs roughly north–south from Speyside to Deeside at one time being used as a drove road. Between the public road in the Abernethy Forest and the one at Linn of Dee the trekking distance is 31 kilometres (19 mi).
Towie Castle was a 17th-century tower house, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south-west Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, south of the river Don.
Invereshie and Inshriach is a national nature reserve on the western flank of the Cairngorms in the Highland council area of Scotland. The reserve covers habitats at a range of different altitudes, ranging from Caledonian Forest beside the River Feshie in the west, via bog and open moorland, to an arctic-alpine environment on the Cairngorm plateau. The Munro summit of Sgòr Gaoith (1118 m) lies on the eastern boundary of the reserve. The forested areas of the reserve form part of an expanse of Caledonian pinewood that stretches from Glen Feshie to Abernethy, and which as a whole forms the largest single area of this habitat remaining in Scotland. The reserve is owned and managed jointly by NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS): NatureScot own the Invereshie portion of the reserve and FLS the Inshriach area.
