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Ruined stone castle façade with crumbling turrets under a heavy grey sky
Aberdeenshire

Tolquhon Castle

The courtyard castle of Sir William Forbes near Pitmedden, a roofless ruin with a showpiece gatehouse, carvings of Forbes and his wife and the mason's initials T.L.

Welcome

In the farmland north of Aberdeen, near the village of Tarves, a grand gatehouse flanked by round towers leads into the grassy courtyard of Tolquhon Castle.

It is one of the most picturesque castles in the North East, and it was built as much to impress as to defend.

Its chief builder was Sir William Forbes, and carvings of him and his wife still look out from the gatehouse. The mason who built it, Thomas Leiper, left his own initials, T.L., carved into the stone, a rare signature from a builder of his time.

Inside, the rooms of the family can be explored, along with the rooms below stairs where the household worked. And somewhere in the walls is Sir William's secret chamber, a hidden strongroom for his valuables. The castle is roofless now, but it keeps its elegance, and Pitmedden Garden is just down the road.

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Before you go

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm, from April to September, closed for lunch from 12.30 to 1.30pm; closed from October to March.

Adults £7.50 booked online.

Where
A mile and a half north-west of Pitmedden, near Tarves.
Look for
The gatehouse carvings and the mason's initials T.L.

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Where it is

Near Tarves, about a mile and a half north-west of Pitmedden, north of Aberdeen.

Close byFormartine.
  1. The parterres of Pitmedden Garden below the wall, clipped yews at the corners.Pitmedden GardenA re-created 17th-century walled garden of intricate parterres.2 miles 6 min by road
  2. The Coffee Apothecary's granite café in Udny at dusk, its windows lit.The Coffee Apothecary Udny3 miles 7 min by road
  3. The tasting bar at Still Spirit, stools along the counter by tall windows onto the fields.Still SpiritA whisky shop and dram bar on the edge of Pitmedden, home also to the Whisky Hammer auctions.3 miles 8 min by road
  4. A drawing room at Haddo House, its ornate ceiling above portraits and blue chairs.Haddo HouseWilliam Adam's Palladian home of the Earls of Aberdeen.4 miles 14 min by road
  5. A great old yew spreading its branches over the lawn of Ellon Castle Gardens.Ellon Castle GardensThe castle's private walled garden in the middle of Ellon, given to the town and restored.7 miles 12 min by road
  6. Fyvie Castle's towered front across the lawn, framed by dark trees.Fyvie CastleAn 800-year-old Baronial castle hung with Raeburn portraits.16 miles 28 min by road
Directions
The Coffee Apothecary's long timber counter in Ellon, a barista at work under pendant lamps.CafeThe Coffee Apothecary Ellon6.6 miles
The whitewashed buildings and tall chimney of Glen Garioch Distillery in Oldmeldrum.AttractionsGlen Garioch Distillery7.4 miles
Meldrum House's turrets seen through trees, heather in the foreground.AttractionsMeldrum House Hotel7.8 miles
Two pink soft-serve cones held up under the neon sign at Barra Berries.CafeBarra Berries7.8 miles
AttractionsTrump International Golf Links Scotland8.9 miles
Halved croissant on a plate beside a wicker bread basketCafeTrellis9.6 miles
Seal's head breaking the surface of calm grey waterAttractionsNewburgh Seal Beach10 miles
Belvoir Farm elderflower, Perelló olives, baguette and salami on a checked tableclothCafeThe Kilted Frog Delicatessen12 miles
The front of the Foghouse on Market Place, Inverurie.BarsThe Foghouse12 miles

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