Kintore

Many thanks to Kintore Golf Club for facilitating this camera's location and to The River Don Trust, River Don Salmon Fishery Board and River Don Brown Trout Improvement Association for capitally funding its installation.  Originating in the Cairngorm National Park and spanning 82 miles eastward until it reaches the sea in Aberdeen, the Don River holds the distinction of being Scotland's sixth-largest river. Its diverse ecosystem is home to a wide array of species, with salmon, sea trout, and brown trout sharing their habitat with otters, kingfishers, eagles, and buzzards. Red and roe deer are frequently spotted along the riverbanks. The Don River is renowned for its salmon runs, particularly during the autumn season, but it also experiences spring and summer runs of fish. Tranquil summer evenings witness the shimmering presence of silvery sea trout, keeping anglers guessing as to which species will take their lures since salmon, sea trout, and brown trout thrive in abundance during this period. Additionally, the Don River is inhabited by eels, loaches, lampreys, and pike.Hallforest Castle, located approximately a mile and a half from Kintore, is a keep that dates back to the 14th century, making it one of Scotland's oldest. It is believed to have been constructed by Robert the Bruce as a hunting lodge and later granted to Robert II Keith, Marischal of Scotland, the predecessor of the Earls of Kintore. In 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, visited Hallforest. The castle faced frequent attacks during the wars of the 17th century. While it may have been abandoned shortly thereafter, it remains the property of the Earls of Kintore. Kintore is also the site of Deers Den Roman camp, which is believed to be associated with Agricola's campaigns into Scotland. Archaeological evidence confirms the occupation of the Kintore camp in 120 AD and suggests its use during multiple Scottish campaigns. However, due to resource constraints and pressing matters elsewhere in the Roman Empire, consolidation and retreat eventually took place.The Romans were drawn to Scotland by the belief that it harbored abundant natural resources, including gold, silver, and tin. The Deer's Den camp may have played a role in the preparations for the decisive Battle of Mons Graupius, although many researchers argue that the actual location of Mons Graupius lies further south in Aberdeenshire, possibly near Raedykes at Kempstone Hill or Megray Hill.Approaching from the south, Roman legions traveled from Raedykes to Normandykes Roman Camp through the Durris Forest, seeking higher ground while avoiding the bogs of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls. This march utilized the Elsick Mounth, one of the ancient trackways traversing the Mounth of the Grampian Mountains, situated west of Netherley.