PatrickLondon

Erm.. (some swearing in this, btw):

Conndog

Hi, it looks like we will be changing dates of trip from May/June to September 2024. We are doing a house remodel and won't be finished in time to do the May/June. Going in September will allow us to go to Braemar Gathering Highland Games the first Saturday in September (Sept. 7). We'll have to start looking for accommodation now as the villages in & around Braemar will surely have lots of people wanting to stay then.

Has anyone stayed in Ballater? Or in one of the villages nearby? We will look at Braemar too but there is something about Ballater that is really appealing to us.

janisj

I've stayed in Ballater several times. Nice village (and if you play golf there is a sweet course along the river right in town).

I'd probably stay in Ballater over Braemar simply because it would be more convenient/closer to other sites than would be Braemar. Lots of B&Bs but if you are staying more than a couple of days maybe look into Craigendarroch. It is now a Hilton Grand Vacations resort (when I stayed there is was a MacDonald property). Beautiful lodges and regular hotel rooms just north of the village. (I think they have a 3 night minimum for the lodges)

bvlenci

I've often thought that the best way to meet people is to search out events related to one of your own interests or hobbies.

I've found helpful and friendly people everywhere I've been. However I must say Scotland particularly stands out in that respect. We asked directions at a hotel in Glasgow, and the receptionist insisted on walking with us to the intersection so he could point the way, leaving the desk unattended for a few minutes. We asked someone where a bus stop was, and she took us there. It's maybe the friendliest place we've ever been.

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ChgoGal

On multiple occasions, I find the Japanese and especially Okinawan people do this as well, often going very much out of their way. The language barrier may explain a bit of that, but I've not found that to be the case necessarily in other non-English-speaking countries.

ChgoGal

LOL! The accent still makes 'em all cuties.

dfourh

Whenever the world gets me down (this is unavoidable lately) I listen to BBC Radio Scotland. The morning shows are mostly talk, where they often have a theme question, and people call in. One fascinating thing is that everybody, from the presenters to the callers, has a different accent. There are no two identical Scottish accents.

But what they all do have in common, is the kindness, the acceptance, the graciousness, the decency, the humanity. It makes the rest of the world look like a vast cesspit of attitude and argumentation. Listening to the morning programming (afternoon/evening is mostly fairly decent pop music) restores your faith in humanity. Actually, not really. But it at least lets you feel like there is some humanity still live and breathing amidst all the inhumanity.