As the road twists away from Glenshee ski centre and down into the valley that skirts the Cairngorms National Park, ancient trees begin to sprout up along the roadside. We are entering Royal Deeside, a beautiful and heavily wooded landscape that is home to Crathie Kirk, much loved by the late Queen, and Balmoral Castle. Driving deeper into this unspoilt part of the country is like going back through time.
The pace of life seems to slow the farther we go. My two daughters, my niece and I are staying at , a country house hotel set within 17 acres of mature gardens, and, like the ancient trees that surround the property, Douneside has deep roots. What becomes clear is Douneside’s history of providing a place to rest and recuperate cocooned in the natural beauty of the landscape.
First, let’s step back. The main house is a listed building that dates back to 1888 when it was the holiday home of the MacRobert family. During the early 1900s, the family added extra rooms and a tower, transforming the property into a spectacular country house.
It was a bucolic setting for the MacRoberts – Lady Rachel and Sir Alexander, who had three sons, Alasdair, Roderic and Iain. Sadly, disaster struck when, in just three short years between 1938-41, all three sons, two of whom were RAF pilots, died in aircraft accidents. It was a triple tragedy that would have broken many parents but Lady MacRobert’s response gives evidence to her indomitable spirit.
On hearing of the loss of her sons, she.
