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Castles
in Aberdeenshire.

It’s 20:58 in Aberdeenshire.
Aberdeenshire

Towers, ruins and royal homes.

Aberdeenshire has more castles for its size than anywhere else in Scotland, and they come in every shape. There are pink and white tower houses with fairytale turrets, a clifftop ruin on a rock above the sea south of Stonehaven, the royal family's Highland home on the Dee, and the roofless shells of the great medieval earls. Many have walled gardens and woodland walks, so a visit easily fills a morning. Several close over the winter, so check before you set off.

Edzell Castle→
Kildrummy Castle→
Crathes Castle→
Huntly Castle→
Craigievar Castle→
Castle Fraser→
Kinnaird Head Castle and The Wine Tower→
Drum Castle Walk→
Fyvie Castle→
Dunnottar Castle→
Corgarff Castle→
Knock Castle→
Castle of the day20 hours ago

Delgatie Castle.

The tower house of the Hays near Turriff, with painted ceilings of the 1570s and Queen Mary's room, restored from ruin by Captain John Hay and now home of the...

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From our guide19 hours ago

Craigievar Castle.

Did this rosy-pink, multi-turreted citadel serve as inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle? That’s the claim, but regardless of its veracity, this towering castle remains a truly impressive visitor attraction, with rich collections of art, armour and weaponry.

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From Issue 9 of Hidden Scotland magazineIssue 918 hours ago

Braemar Castle

How the people of Braemar saved their castle, built by the Earl of Mar in 1628, taking it on in 2007 and reopening it in 2024 after a £1.6 million restoration.

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Lunch17 hours agoAberdeenshireThe Mains of Drum0.6 milesAberdeenshireBorsalino2.4 milesAberdeenshireMaryculter House3.0 miles

Lunch near Drum Castle.

The three good places closest to it: The Mains of Drum, Borsalino and Maryculter House.

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From our guide17 hours ago

Crathes Castle.

With its lofty turrets, rounded walls and neatly tended grounds, Crathes Castle is the very picture of a storybook castle. The sense of splendour continues in the labyrinthine interior, where oak panels and painted ceilings still conjure up a sense of noble life in the 16th century. The gardens are stunning, with yew hedges in place for more than 300 years.

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Stay16 hours agoAberdeenshireNorth Lodge and River Cabin16.9 milesAberdeenshireCuttieshillock16.9 milesAberdeenshireGamekeeper’s Cottage16.9 miles

Stay near Castle Fraser.

The three good places closest to it: North Lodge and River Cabin, Cuttieshillock and Gamekeeper’s Cottage.

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From our guide15 hours ago

Kildrummy Castle.

Ruins don’t come much more evocative than those of Kildrummy Castle, which was once one of the largest and most commanding fortresses in the country. Visiting its 13th-century remains today, which look out from a forested scarp, is the best way to bring to life its long and layered history.

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From our guide13 hours ago

Braemar Castle.

A recent restoration marks a new chapter in the castle’s absorbing 400-year-old history. The Earl of Mar built its soaring battlements way back in 1628, and since then it’s spent time as everything from a garrison to a family home.

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From our guide12 hours ago

New Slains Castle.

This ruined clifftop castle has been in situ for some 400 years, and in the 19th century found an admirer in the form of Dracula author Bram Stoker, who alluded to its moody remains in his work. Roofless, and ravaged by time, it’s still a special spot.

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From our guide11 hours ago

Haddo House.

An elegant stately home found around 20 miles from Aberdeen, Haddo House still showcases the Palladian luxury of its heyday, with a large art collection and a prim terraced garden. It was designed back in 1732 by architect William Adam, then remodelled – to tremendous effect – in the 1880s.

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Somewhere to go11 hours ago

Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire.

The clifftop ruin of the Earls Marischal on a 160-foot rock south of Stonehaven, surrounded on three sides by the sea, where the Honours of Scotland were hidden from Cromwell's army.

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Did you know10 hours ago

The names of George Gordon and Henrietta Stewart are carved across its front.

Huntly Castle, in the town of Huntly in Aberdeenshire, was the seat of the Gordons. Around 1602 the 1st Marquis gave it a new south front in the French style. His wife, Henrietta Stewart, was a favourite of the queen, Anne of Denmark. Historic Environment Scotland looks after the ruin.

Find out more about Huntly Castle