The Crathes Castle is a national landmark on the Royal Deeside (Dee River) that runs inland from the North Sea at Aberdeen to the Royal Residence at Balmoral. I lived in one of two cottages on the property in 1976. The other one was occupied by the groundskeepers. I never tired of the place, though the arrangements were temporary and from there I moved to a place across the street from the Bridge of Dee. I still love Aberdeen, the Granite City and the Deeside is a magical place. The place was never intended as a military fortification - and was used more or less as a hunting lodge.
