A93 road
Encyclopedia
The A93 is a major road
in Scotland
and the highest public road in the United Kingdom
. It runs north from Perth
through Blairgowrie and Rattray
, then through the Grampian Mountains
by way of Glenshee, the Cairnwell Pass
and Glen Clunie to Braemar
in Aberdeenshire
. At Braemar, the road then switches east down the strath
of the River Dee
before crossing the A90 and terminating in Aberdeen
.
Leaving Perth it passes Scone Palace, ancient coronation site of Scottish kings and now home to Britain's most northerly racecourse, continues through the planned 19th-century village of Guildtown before crossing the River Isla and passing the famous Meikleour Beech Hedge, planted to commemorate the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion and now the tallest and longest hedge in the world. Five miles north lies Blairgowrie and Rattray, the second largest town in Perthshire, where the road crosses the River Ericht. 6 miles up Glenericht it reaches the little village of Bridge of Cally and begins the long climb up into Glenshee, eventually passing the historic Spittal of Glenshee hotel which was originally a shelter for travellers run by monks from Coupar Angus abbey. At this point it climbs from the inhabited green valley of Glenshee onto the bleak desolate moors of Glenbeg and the snow gates at Spittal of Glenshee are regularly closed in winter, which here can be from October to April, to prevent motorists becoming stranded overnight. At the Cairnwell Pass
, the road reaches its maximum altitude of 670 metres (2199 feet) above sea level and passes the Glenshee Ski Centre
, Scotland's largest ski centre. At this point it is the highest public road in the United Kingdom. The southern approach to the Cairnwell Pass used to include a notorious double hairpin bend with steep gradients known as the Devil's Elbow. This was bypassed by a new stretch of road in the 1960s but the old hairpin bends and World War 2 gun emplacements can be accessed on foot from a layby part way up the hill.
Over the summit of the Cairnwell Pass the road enters Aberdeenshire and the standard of the carriageway improves considerably, wider and better surfaced than the 42 miles in Perthshire. Descending now, it runs along Glen Clunie alongside the Clunie Water for 8 miles to Braemar, a pretty village 1110 feet above sea level at the west end of Royal Deeside. So far the road has been running roughly north but here it turns east for the 60-mile descent to the North Sea at Aberdeen. 10 miles from Braemar it passes Balmoral Castle, holiday home of the Royal Family, then continues through Ballater, where many small local shops proudly display the Royal Warrant, Aboyne, Kincardine O'Neil, Banchory and Peterculter before entering Aberdeen city.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the highest public road in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It runs north from Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
through Blairgowrie and Rattray
Blairgowrie and Rattray
Blairgowrie and Rattray and Raitear is possibly from an English language cognate of Gaelic ràth, meaning fortress + a Pictish term cognate with Welsh tref, meaning settlement) is a twin burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Amongst locals, the town is colloquially known simply as "Blair"...
, then through the Grampian Mountains
Grampian Mountains (Scotland)
The Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland, occupying a considerable portion of the Scottish Highlands in northeast Scotland.-Extent:...
by way of Glenshee, the Cairnwell Pass
Cairnwell Pass
The Cairnwell Pass is a mountain pass on the A93 road between Glen Shee, Perthshire, and Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in the Scottish Highlands. The border between the two counties crosses the summit of the pass...
and Glen Clunie to Braemar
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an altitude of ....
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. At Braemar, the road then switches east down the strath
Strath
A strath is a large valley, typically a river valley that is wide and shallow .An anglicisation of the Gaelic word srath, it is one of many that have been absorbed into common use in the English language...
of the River Dee
River Dee, Aberdeenshire
The River Dee is a river in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It rises in the Cairngorms and flows through Strathdee to reach the North Sea at Aberdeen...
before crossing the A90 and terminating in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
Leaving Perth it passes Scone Palace, ancient coronation site of Scottish kings and now home to Britain's most northerly racecourse, continues through the planned 19th-century village of Guildtown before crossing the River Isla and passing the famous Meikleour Beech Hedge, planted to commemorate the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion and now the tallest and longest hedge in the world. Five miles north lies Blairgowrie and Rattray, the second largest town in Perthshire, where the road crosses the River Ericht. 6 miles up Glenericht it reaches the little village of Bridge of Cally and begins the long climb up into Glenshee, eventually passing the historic Spittal of Glenshee hotel which was originally a shelter for travellers run by monks from Coupar Angus abbey. At this point it climbs from the inhabited green valley of Glenshee onto the bleak desolate moors of Glenbeg and the snow gates at Spittal of Glenshee are regularly closed in winter, which here can be from October to April, to prevent motorists becoming stranded overnight. At the Cairnwell Pass
Cairnwell Pass
The Cairnwell Pass is a mountain pass on the A93 road between Glen Shee, Perthshire, and Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in the Scottish Highlands. The border between the two counties crosses the summit of the pass...
, the road reaches its maximum altitude of 670 metres (2199 feet) above sea level and passes the Glenshee Ski Centre
Glenshee Ski Centre
Glenshee Ski Centre is the largest ski resort in Scotland and is sometimes referred to as the Scottish three valleys. It is located in Aberdeenshire and to the north of Spittal of Glenshee, on the A93 road between Blairgowrie and Braemar in the southern Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland's largest ski centre. At this point it is the highest public road in the United Kingdom. The southern approach to the Cairnwell Pass used to include a notorious double hairpin bend with steep gradients known as the Devil's Elbow. This was bypassed by a new stretch of road in the 1960s but the old hairpin bends and World War 2 gun emplacements can be accessed on foot from a layby part way up the hill.
Over the summit of the Cairnwell Pass the road enters Aberdeenshire and the standard of the carriageway improves considerably, wider and better surfaced than the 42 miles in Perthshire. Descending now, it runs along Glen Clunie alongside the Clunie Water for 8 miles to Braemar, a pretty village 1110 feet above sea level at the west end of Royal Deeside. So far the road has been running roughly north but here it turns east for the 60-mile descent to the North Sea at Aberdeen. 10 miles from Braemar it passes Balmoral Castle, holiday home of the Royal Family, then continues through Ballater, where many small local shops proudly display the Royal Warrant, Aboyne, Kincardine O'Neil, Banchory and Peterculter before entering Aberdeen city.