Knock Castle – A Gordon Tower and Lunch at the Station
A few hours.
The route
Knock Castle is a roofless Gordon tower on a knoll just west of Ballater, ringed by larches, with Lochnagar on the skyline and one of the darkest tales on Deeside behind it.
It's a ten-minute climb up a farm track, and free to visit. Lunch is in Ballater at the Rothesay Rooms, the café in the Old Royal Station where Queen Victoria stepped off the train.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Darroch Learg in Ballater.
Book a table at the Rothesay Rooms on 01339 753816 for lunch, Wednesday to Sunday between noon and 3.30pm; it's shut on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The day
Knock
A stile and a farm track up to a ruined tower in the larches on the south bank of the Dee, and into Ballater for lunch at the station.
About two and a half hoursAbout 1 mile on foot
Knock Castle
An attraction
Knock Castle is on the B976 on the south side of the Dee, just west of the Bridge of Muick. Park in the layby opposite the cottages, never on the farm track, and walk up: just under a kilometre, climbing about 50 metres, with a stile to cross. The four-storey tower of the Gordons stands roofless but whole to the wallhead, with a vaulted basement and a spiral stair. The story goes that the laird's seven sons were killed by the Forbes while out cutting peat, and that their father died of the shock. It's free and open in daylight; livestock may graze the field, so keep a dog on a lead, and stay back from the high walls. Then it's 5 minutes' drive over the Royal Bridge into Ballater.
About 5 min by car
The Rothesay Rooms
Lunch
Lunch is in the Old Royal Station on Station Square, where the Rothesay Rooms café sits among the restored waiting rooms Queen Victoria knew, open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Mains run from noon to 3.30pm: a venison burger, Isle of Mull mac and cheese, a Scottish platter or Eggs Royale, with a children's menu too. It's level from the square. Ring 01339 753816 for a table at the weekend. If it's full, the Ghillies Bar at the Balmoral Arms, a minute's walk away, serves lunch from noon to 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
If it rains
Knock Castle is out on an open knoll, so in heavy rain keep the walk short and make more of lunch: the Rothesay Rooms is indoors, in the station.
