Events planned for gala week include theatre, music, walks, treasure hunts and storytelling sessions. The festivities begin with a with a murder mystery dinner at Mar Lodge, acted out by Braemar's dinner theatre group.

Guests will dine in comfort whilst trying to solve the mystery of the Chieftain's Cairngorm, a fabulous gem, the possession of which results in two murders. It is rumoured the Braemar constabulary may get involved in making the arrests! The murder is re-enacted again on Monday in the Old Bakery, Braemar.

This year's gala week sees several new initiatives. A walker's passport, which can be collected free from Braemar Mountain Sports shop, gives directions and grid references to seven points of interest within five miles of Braemar. Walkers who visit every point can punch their passports and collect a special certificate. The places to visit have all been chosen either because or their superb views or because of their historical interest and all are a little off the usual walking tracks.

Also new for this year is a cooking for kids session (Monday, July 6) which, if popular, will be developed into cooking for men later on.

Skalder Ceilidh Band will play a special concert in the village hall on Tuesday and bat detectors will be out in force, led by the Aberdeenshire Ranger service, in the castle grounds on Thursday night.

All the events are either free or with a small charge to cover costs.

Liz Robertson, chairwoman of the Braemar News Group which co-ordinates the week, said: "We have been anxious to ensure that the programme has something for everyone, from the very young to our most senior citizens with of course, lots of interest for all ages in between! We are really grateful to the help and support of so many local organisations to make what promises to be one of the best gala weeks yet."

The full programme can be viewed on line at www.braemarscotland.co.uk or by picking up a printed programme in Braemar at the newsagent, garage or at the tourist information centre.

The fun culminates on Saturday, July 11, with the Braemar Junior Highland Games.