The square medieval tower of Drum beside its Jacobean house, across the lawn under an oak.

Aberdeenshire

Drum Castle

One of Scotland's oldest tower houses, at Drumoak on Deeside, given with the Royal Forest of Drum to the Irvines by Robert the Bruce in 1323, with a Jacobean mansion, a library and a garden of historic roses.

Welcome

At Drumoak, on the wooded slopes above the Dee, a plain square tower of granite has stood for more than 700 years.

It is one of the oldest tower houses in Scotland. In 1323 Robert the Bruce gave the tower and the Royal Forest of Drum to William de Irwyn, his armour-bearer, and the Irvines kept it for the next 650 years.

The family added a Jacobean mansion alongside the old tower, and in Victorian times turned its vaulted lower hall into a library, now holding some 4,000 books. A little chapel, built in the 1500s, stands in the grounds, and tales of the Jacobites run through the house.

Outside, the walled garden is laid out in four quarters that trace the story of the rose from the 17th century to the 20th, heavy with scent in June and July. Beyond it lies the Old Wood of Drum, the last of the ancient oak forest the king gave away, where red kites, red squirrels and badgers live among trees three centuries old.

A little further outCastle FraserOne of the largest tower houses in Scotland.27 min by roadSee it

Turreted grey castle with steep roofs beside a wooden farm gate

Before you go

Castle, walled garden, shop and tearoom open Thursday to Monday, 10.30am to 4pm, until 1 November, then Thursday to Sunday through the winter.

The castle is seen by guided tour, last entry 3.15pm. The grounds and the Old Wood are open dawn to dusk. Adults £18, parking £5; free for National Trust for Scotland members.

Where: Drumoak, half a mile off the A93, AB31 5EY.
Tours: Guided, through the day; last entry 3.15pm.
Grounds: Dawn to dusk, every day.

Opening hours