It’s no wonder Aberdeenshire is known as Scotland’s ‘Castle Country’ with over 260 castles in the area. It can be a little overwhelming to decide which to visit and therefore we want to share with you what in our opinion are the 7 best castles to visit in Aberdeenshire.
1. Dunnottar Castle
Dunnottar Castle is a ruined fortress located on a dramatic cliff top near Stonehaven. The setting of the medieval fortress is mesmerising with the sound of the seabirds and the waves crashing off the rocks. We’d recommend visiting early to beat the crowds. Please note: you can only fly a drone here outwith the opening hours.
2. Craigievar Castle
This pink 17th century castle looks straight out of a storybook surrounded by the rolling hills of Aberdeenshire. The fairytale castle really is this pink and is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
3. Crathes Castle
Crathes castle is a classic 16th century tower house with a fantastic walled garden. The grounds are lovely for a walk and are especially beautiful in Spring and Autumn.
4. Fyvie Castle
Another PINK CASTLE! Interestingly, a local told us the pink is actually the natural colour of the stone from the local quarry and this is the reason so many castles in the area are pink. The castle is a perfect example of Scottish Baronial architecture and is 800 years old. The impressive fortress has many legends and even ghost stories associated with it.
5. Castle Fraser
Castle Fraser is a very striking 15th century castle located in Inverurie. The castle has some quirky features including secret staircases, trapdoors and even a spy hole. In our opinion this castle is underrated and we would highly recommend you visit.
6. Braemar Castle
Braemar Castle is located near the charming village of Braemar in the Cairngorms. We’d also recommend checking out the village and the cute Braemar Railway station whilst in the area.
7. Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is the Scottish holiday home to the Royal family and has been in the family since 1852. Prince Albert’s Cairn, also known as the Balmoral pyramid (shown above), on the estate was built in memory of Queen Victoria’s late husband in 1862. You can visit the pyramid via the cairn walk on the estate.
We hope you enjoyed reading our recommendations on the best castles to visit in Aberdeenshire. For more castles inspiration check out our fairytale castles in Scotland blog Please note these castles may have seasonal opening times and it is best to check their website prior to organising a trip.
Want to save this to Pinterest?
Hover over the image below to save it!
