In reply to KMC:
> no excuses, it is a quiet place and there's nothing wrong with that, I'm very glad it's not like Aviemore, perhaps that's where you need to go next time to have your Apris ski party.
I never really understand why so many people to think that every argument has to be an either/or, with in this case the options being the crap bits of Aviemore vs the fact that Braemar is asleep much of the year. Astonishingly enough, there might be scope for something inbetween. There are other villages in the Highlands which have more going for them when compared with Braemar, and which don't have the glitz and tawdry bling of the bad bits of Aviemore.
For its location, Braemar could be buzzing with good stuff, but in all the years I've been going there, it's rarely seemed to have much life to it. It's a bit like Dalwhinnie - given its location, it could be a terrific base for visitors, but there's next-to-nothing there.