Places to visit

Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circle

Loanhead of Daviot Stone Circle the Double Recumbent Stones from the east 1902 by Frederick Coles FSA Scot (1854–1929)

This is a stone circle located close to the village of Daviot, Aberdenshire, Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic: Deimhidh, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). It is off minor roads from the B9001 and A920 north from Inverurie (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Uraidh). The circle is about twenty feet in Diameter with eight stones, two flankers and a recumbent. The circle was constructed in the early Bronze Age (c. 2500 until c. 1500 BC). There is a Bronze Age cemetery to the east. 

Tolquhon Castle

Tolquhon Castle, front and entrance image by Karora and courtesy of wikimedia commons

Tolquhon Castle is located off the A920 northwest of the village of Pitmedden which is about twenty miles northwest of Aberdeen, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain, Alba). The castle was built in the sixteenth century and incorporates the remains of an earlier tower house and particularly noted for it's ornate gatehouse.

Knock Castle Ballater

Knock Castle Ballater © Copyright Camer01 and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Knock Castle is a ruined tower house dating from about 1600 and located a mile west from the town of Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Bealadair, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). Knock Castle is now without a roof,  rectangular and four stories high. It about 27 feet by 22 feet and the falls are some 4 feet thick. A short distance to the west is a motte, with the possible foundations of an earlier 12th-century timber fortress, known as the Old Castle Knock.

Braemar Castle - Caisteal Bràigh Mhàrr

Braemar Castle - Caisteal Bràigh Mhàrr

This is a castle built in 1628 by the earl of Marr and is seat of the Clan Farquharson. The castle is now leased to the local community and has witnessed an ongoing programme of restoration. It is open to the public and located close to the village of Braemar/Braigh Mharr off the A93 about fifty-eight miles west from Aberdeen.

Corgarff Castle

Corgarff Castle

Corgarff Castle is just west of the village of Corgarff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (Scottish Gaelic: Corr Garaidh, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). This is located about 9 miles west of Strathdon (Scottish Gaelic: Srath Dheathain) on the A939. It was built in the sixteenth century by a branch of the Clan Forbes and is surrounded by an eighteenth century perimeter wall. It served as a family home to the Forbes and was the site of an attack by the Gordons in 1571 which resulted in them setting fire to the castle and killing the Laird of Corgarff's wife, her family and servants. After the Battle of Culloden 1746 the British Army used the castle as a barracks to hunt down Jacobite sympathisers. The castle is now open to the public for 1st April to 30th September.

Kindrochit Castle - Caisteal Ceann na Drochaid

Kindrochit Castle - Caisteal Ceann na Drochaid as it was

The remains of Kindrochit Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal Ceann na Drochaid) are in the centre of the village of Braemar (Bràigh Mhàrr). A Castle was built here in the second half of the 11th century by King Malcolm III of Scotland (Malcolm Canmore). Malcolm (Gaelic: Máel Coluim; c. 1031 – 13 November 1093) was King of Scots from 1058 to 1093. The castle's Gaelic name Ceann-drochit can be translated into English as Bridge Head and a bridge was built here across the River Clunie.

Glenbuchat Castle

Glenbucket Castle drawn by Robert William Billings (1814-1874)

Glenbuchat Castle is located above the River Don (Scottish Gaelic: Deathan)  and is near to the village of Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cionn Droma, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). Built in 1590 for John Gordon of Glenbuchat and his wife Helen Carnegie, it is a Z plan Scottish castle with round and square corbelled turrets. Although roofless it remains in relatively good condition and the building and grounds are open to the public and under the care of  Historic Environment Scotland - Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba. 

Kildrummy Castle

Kildrummy Castle © Copyright Van de Beek and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Kildrummy Castle is a ruined castle located off the A97 southwest from the village of Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Cionn Droma, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). This thirteenth century castle was the stronghold of the Earls of Marr and has been the site of several sieges. The ruins comprise of the remains of a hall and chapel with a curtain wall and four round towers. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland - Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba and is open to the public daily from the 1st April to 30th September.

Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle in Autumn © Copyright MichaelMaggs and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Craigievar Castle is located off the A980 road about 6 miles south of the village of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Athfort, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). This early seventeenth century harled castle and grounds is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The seven storey castle is a fine example of Scottish Baronial architecture and is known for it's plasterwork ceilings. The grounds are open to the public throughout the year and the castle open for tours during the summer months. 

Crathes Castle

Crathes Castle from garden © Copyright Oyoyoy and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

Crathes Castle is a 16th-century castle with eighteenth century added wing and located off the A93 west from the town of Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (Scottish Gaelic: Beannchar, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain, Alba). This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys family on land that was given to them by King Robert the Bruce in 1323. It was held in that family for almost 400 years and served as the ancestral seat of the Burnetts of Leys. In 1951 Sir James Burnett, 13th Baronet, gave it to the National Trust for Scotland who own and manage the castle and grounds. The castle is noted for it's painted ceilings, portrait collection and extensive walled gardens.

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