Ballater History
Ballater Scottish Highlands
Ballater
did not exist until after 1760 when an
woman claimed that she had cured herself of a skin disease
by immersing in a bog; to which she had been 'guided'
by dreams. The fame of her cure was spread abroad by the Laird
of Monaltrie. Col, Francis Farquharson who had returned
from twenty years' exile after his capture at Culloden and narrow escape from execution.
At the hamlet of Cobbletown of Dalmuchie
he built an inn and created
a spa which soon became fashionable.
Modern Ballater grew naturally after Queen
Victoria and
Prince Albert made Balmoral
their Scottish holiday home.
It is possibly the most
the most picturesque golf course in the world with its panoramic views of the
Cairngorms and Grampians. The Ballater Highland Games, held in August,
are a feature of the Deeside season.
Ballater’s famous salmon river the DEE can become a real Highland
torrent that is illustrated by
a plaque on the present Ballater Bridge, which states:
A
bridge of stone was
built 100 yards east of this site in 1783 and was swept away
by a flood in1789. A second bridge of' stone
was built by Telford
60 f'eet east of this site in 1809 and was swept away by flood in 1829.
It was replaced by a wooden bridge in 1834 which lasted
till 6 November I885 when this bridge built
by
County Road Trustees was opened by H.M. Queen Victoria who named
it 'The Royal Bridge'. Long may she stand?
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