Crathie, Aberdeenshire

Crathie (Scottish Gaelic: Craichidh) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It stands on the north bank of the River Dee.

Crathie Scottish Gaelic: Craichidh
Crathie School in 2007
Crathie Location within Aberdeenshire
OS grid reference	NO266946
Council area	Aberdeenshire
Lieutenancy area	Aberdeenshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BALLATER
Postcode district	AB35
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Scottish Parliament	Aberdeenshire West
List of places UK Scotland 57°02′25″N 3°12′55″W / 57.04028°N 3.21528°W / 57.04028; -3.21528

Abergeldie Castle is 1 mile (2 kilometres) away. It was built around 1550 and had 19th century additions. It was garrisoned by General Hugh Mackay in 1689.

Crathie is 7 miles (11 kilometres) west of Ballater, but only 1⁄2 mile (800 metres) east of Balmoral Castle. It is best known for its association with the royal inhabitants of the castle, particularly for their patronage of Crathie Kirk, the parish church. Traditionally many of the estate's workers lived at Crathie. Crathie Bridge is one of the more obscure of Brunel's iron bridges, demonstrating his balloon flange girder.

The hills to the south contain a number of memorial cairns, commemorating Prince Albert and some of his children. John Brown, a favoured acquaintance of Queen Victoria's is also buried here.

The Royal Lochnagar distillery stands on the southern bank of the Dee east of the village. The only producer of a Deeside single malt, it is fed by natural springs rising on the slopes of Lochnagar, a neighbouring Munro.

In local government Ballater and Crathie share a combined Community council of 12 members.^[1] In the UK House of Commons it is represented by the county constituency of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, and in the Scottish Parliament it is represented by the county constituency of Aberdeenshire West.