The River Dee provides the land of Scotland with some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the entire United Kingdom. Nearly every inch that stretches from either side of this glorious body of water is endowed with lush pastures and idyllic horizons. Ballater, in particular, seems to have been blessed with an abundance of beautiful scenery and its popularity among hikers helps to enhance the town's reputation for stunning views.
Much of Ballater's reputation for great hiking has to do with the fact that the city is over seven hundred feet above sea level. Taking a walk around the countryside offers some truly breathtaking photo opportunities and evidence shows that people have been taking advantage of this pristine view for many centuries. The spring water in and around Ballater is also considered to be among the best anywhere and this water was once thought to be a cure for scrofula. Though scrofula is kind of a broad term that covers several skin disorders, the scrofula in question is a kind of tuberculosis that affected the lymph glands of the neck. This disorder was far more prevalent in the Middle Ages and it was known as the "King's Evil". The comparatively superstitious people of those days thought that touching the hand of a king or queen would cure this disease and this practice continued as late as the 1700s. Scrofula still exists and many AIDS patients end up with the trademark swelling of the lymph nodes that accompanies the disease. Either way, the spring water of Ballater was by no means magical and it definitely didn't cure any cases of the King's Evil. All the same, the poor sufferers who made the trek to Ballater in the old days certainly did help build the early economy of Ballater despite not being cured in the process.
Ballater is surrounded by the Royal Deesides and so its main income is of course the tourism that the River Dee brings in the way of hikers and explorers. Shops that rent bikes can be found all over in order to accommodate the more sedentary tourists but there are countless walks all over the town that allow you privacy no matter how you choose to get about. This of course goes out the window every May, however, when the Ballater Walking Festival comes to town. Countless tourists flock into Ballater for this annual event wherein hikers of all skill levels are led through the gorgeous terrain and into the Cairngorms, where dreams are created or destroyed depending on the will of the individual. There is a smaller event held every August known as the Victoria Week but this has more to do with reverence for the town's history rather than walking. As such, it draws less fanfare but is still in keeping with the austere nature of the town. Whether you come for the history or for the sights you can be sure that Ballaster will offer you thrills beyond your wildest dreams. You may even get some exercise in while you're at it.
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