Enjoy a Running Holiday at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle
Perhaps the most famous castle in Scotland is Balmoral, the private residence of the British Royal family. The property in Scotland was bought by Queen Victoria and the present Castle built by Prince Albert, her consort. It is the favorite summer home of the present Queen and her family who spent several weeks there every year. At other times the grounds, garden and castle ballroom are open to the public.
The Balmoral Estate covers 50,000 acres and includes heather covered hills in the shade of Lochanagar. The picturesque river Dee runs nearby. The estate is home to the 2,500 acre Ballochbuie Forest, the largest reserve of native Caledonian Pine in Scotland. The area was regenerated gradually as an ecological experiment by the Royal family. Another 5,000 acres are planted with trees and this wooded area provides shelter for red deer.
Another important part of the estate is the 6350 acres area around Loch Muick and Lochnagar that has been converted into a wildlife reserve. The Cairngorms National Park, the largest in Britain was established in 2003. There are now several activities on the Balmoral Estate open to the public to enjoy the beauty of this lovely countryside. There are also several cottages that can be rented on a weekly basis on the Estate.
The ranger service provides guided walking tours and safaris on land rovers. One can even live on the estate and participate in a walking holiday. This is a wonderful way to experience the life on the estate and see the beautiful Royal Deeside area. Other exciting activities at certain times of the year at Balmoral include a car rally and road races. Salmon fishing is open to anglers in the River Dee and so is golf course for golfers. You can also take a residential painting holiday here with an artist to guide you.
Running the Highlands is a local company that organizes running holidays in the Cairngorms and Royal Deeside for people of all levels of fitness. You can choose the duration you want to run in the Balmoral Estate and there are several packages through the year. You can run, walk, cycle and in winter perhaps participate in cross country skiing. The team has experts in massage and can even teach you Pilates.
