Swimming in the Clunie

We swam in Clunie Water in Braemar yesterday in the same spot we swam over the summer last year. It was a lot colder this year. Absolutely freezing in fact so we used our wetsuits. It was still lovely and clear and we could see fish in it which is always reassuring. The colder temperatures will make the fish happy as salmon in particular suffer when the temperature rises.

This is the Clunie Water as it passes through the centre of Braemar. I never tire of this view. It’s just so beautiful.

We saw lots of ducks and this sign.

Next to the games park they’ve put in a little putting green with an honesty box alongside lots of golf clubs. You can just help yourself and play for 50p for adults and 20p for children. What a lovely idea!

Ben looking regal in front of the Queen’s hut. This is where she sits during the Braemar Highland Games. I’ve got a photo of it all done up from when we went in 2017. See Sack racing in front of the Queen.

The banner quotes the start of the famous Robert Burns’ poem, My heart is in the Highlands.

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth ;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Farewell to the mountains, high-cover’d with snow,
Farewell to the straths and green vallies below;
Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods,
Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart’s in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,
My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Last Sunday was reasonably warm in Aberdeen (22C) so we went for a dip in the Dee.