Around Craig Leek, nr Braemar

We left Melrose at around 8.30 after another hearty breakfast. We drove North, via the Edinburgh bypass and stopped off at the Pillars of Hercules for coffee. We had read about this organic cafe in a book when at Windlestraw Lodge the night before and decided we would visit to see why it had been given such good write up. As well as the coffee we ordered take away sandwiches for our lunch later on in our journey to the Cairngorms. The weather all the way from Galashiels to Braemar was pretty much clagged in with fog so we didn't get to appreciate the views on the drive up.
 
We stopped at Braemar briefly to stretch our legs and reached the destination of our next walk at around 2pm. After a quick lunch we headed off on the well waymarked route around Craig Leek. Although the sun tried to break through, the fog really won the day and we didn't get to marvel at the promised views back to Braemar and over to Lochnagar. Instead, we marvelled at the copious amount of butterflies that fluttered backwards, forwards and around us for most of the walk up through mixed woodland.

Making our descent to the valley floor and whilst looking out for the large green wood shed that was mentioned on Walk Highlands, we spotted some bee hives.  Blair decided to take a picture but hastily made a retreat when he came under attack!  I'm sure those bees were making lovely heather honey! 

We were out for around 2 hours (5.25 miles) and drove on to the B&B in Ballater.  The exertions of the past week were taking their toll on us and we were pretty knackered when we headed across the road to the Station Brasserie for beer battered fish and chips.