September 8, 1857.

At half-past one o’clock we started in “Highland state,” Albert in a royal Stuart plaid, and I and the girls in skirts of the same, with the ladies (who had only returned at five in the morning from the ball at Mar Lodge) and gentlemen, for the Linn of Dee, to open the new bridge there. The valley looked beautiful. A triumphal arch was erected, at which Lord Fife and Mr. Brooke received us, and walked near the carriage, pipers playing, the road lined with Duff men. On the bridge Lady Fife received us, and we all drank in whisky “prosperity to the bridge.” The view of the Linn is very fine from it.

Linn O' Dee to Corrour Bothy
A walk from Linn O' Dee car park to Corrour Bothy.

All the company and a band were outside a tent on the bank overlooking the bridge. Here we took some tea, talked with the company, and then drove back by Mar Lodge, the Fifes preceding us to the end of the grounds. The same people were there as at the Gatherings, the Campdens, Errolls, Airlies, old Lady Dulf, and Mr. and Lady L. Brooke, and others. We were home at half-past five, not without having some rain by the way.