Evening star., 1927-10-18
SOVERE|GNS' HOME
LURE TO TOURISTS
Summer Castle in Scotland
Draws Visitors Abroad
to Aberdeenshire.

"Balmora1 Castle, Summer residence
of the British royal family, Is one OF
the chief points of interest to tourists
in Aberdeenshire, Scotland" says a
bulletin from the National Geographic
Society. 1.-THE castle is situated in the
heart Of the Grampian Highlands, on
the River Dee, about so miles from
the point at which it enters the North
Sea. The neighborhood Is said to have
the driest Summer climate in the Brit
ish Isles, and 1t is probably for this
reason, as we'll as for the beauty of
the mountain scenery, that English
royalty usually resort there at the end
of the London season in the latter
part Of Juy.
"Balmora1 was favorite retreat of
Queen Victoria, the castle itself having
been constructed under the direction
of her husband, Prince Albert of Sake
Coburg, about the middle of the last
century. The royal pair are said to
have selected this remote highland
spot because Osborne House, in which
they spent their leisure. had become
too easy of access. There was at first
but a small manor house on the prop
erty, which was utilized as a residence
until the present elaborate structure
in the Scotch baronial style could be
completed. From the top Of its cen.
tral 100foot tower the visitor looks out
upon a magnificent panorama OF the
Grampian Hills and the River Dee.
Lacks Glamour of Old.
'While this modern seat of kings
lacks the romantic glamour of ancient
strongholds whose roots so back into
the history Of the Middle Ages, it is,
nevertheless, imposing in appearance.
Its numerous wings and towers of
light-colored stone cover an enormous
area, and the whole is surrounded by
handsome park stretching along the
banks of the Dee.
'At the nearby village of Ballater
are barracks for the Kings bodyguard
which accompanies him while he Is in
residence. Ballater is a we'll known
tourist resort, where Summer visitors
enjoy splendid golf links and excellent
mountain climbing. The vilalge is
also highland terminus Of the Dee
Railway, which follows the stream to
Aberdeen, on the coast.
"The city of Aberdeen, besides being
seat of one of Scotlands most famous
universities, is the most important sea-
port on the north shore. 1t has regu-
lar steamer service to London and
other British ports, and is connected
with England by two lines Of railway.
1t thus forms an accessible gateway
to the highland Fairgrounds which lie
behind it, as we'll as to the rich agri-
cultural province Of Aberdeenshire, Of
which it is the capital. Aberdeen Is
also home port of North Sea fishing
fleet, and is famous for the export Of
granite. These industries, together
with weaving, manufacturing and fruit
canning, have made the old university
town fourth city Of Scotland in wealth
and Importance.
Country Lures Tourists.
commerce takes second place dur.
ing the Summer touring season, how.
ever. Thousands of visitors pour
through Aberdeen to the nearby high
land resorts. Quaint stone cottages
and wild mountain scenery, with golf
and salmon fishing thrown in, draw
foreign as well as English visitors. It
is said that one Of the main attrac-
tions OF the region to Queen Victoria
and her husband was the free and cor.
dial manner Of the highlanders them.
selves, whose hospitable nature is un.
changed to the present day.
The peasantry around Balmoral are
cheerful lot, hard working and in
tensely religious. The whitewashed
interiors Of their cottages, with open
hearth and china-decked dresser, form
an appropriate background for life
among rugged hills, severe yet hos.
pitable. Royal visitors from the castle
have often stopped in such simple sur
roundings when overtaken by storm
or fatigue on some highland journey.
This freedom Of existence was even in
Queen Victoria's day feature OF life
at Balmoral. 1t is one of the charms
which year after year draw Britain's
rulers to their castle in the Scottish
highlands for an August holiday"