No comments to the history Tanja provided in her very good review., quick remark, toilets are…read moreavailable now. The ruin is very nice, lot´s of descriptions about the various rooms/places available. Reaching late in the afternoon is a really good timing as we were alone there and could enjoy the calm at this place

Kildrummy Castle is a 13th century stronghold surrounded by hills and woodland just off the A97 not…read morefar from Alford. Nowadays there is not much left and you can walk around the ruins of once a formidable fortress. Climb up the walls of the great hall, walk inside the snow tower (oldest tower of the castle) where you can still see the remains of a well that supplied the 7 storay tower, walk over to the Elphinstone tower, which was the most recent addition containing the lords chambers. You will need some imagination to see the potential it once held. I sat on a wall, listened to the hummingbirds and enjoyed the warmth of the sun rest on my face. Did I mention I was the only person there at that time :-) ? Kildrummy has a wild and bloody history. It was once owned by the Earls of Mar ( Stewarts, Erskins, Elphinstones) and nowadays in the possession of Historic Scotland. It housed Robert the Bruce during the Independence wars and fell into decay after the failed Jacobite rising in the 18th Century. In the early 15th century it was subject to a rough wooing by Alexander Stewart who killed the Earl to marry his widow Isobel only to become the next powerful Earl. Entry fee £4.50. Commissions apply. There are no toilets at the moment, but they are being build. You can get souvenirs in the newly build shop. Nearby you can also visit Kildrummy Castle gardens (separate from Historic Scotland) or stay in the Kildrummy Castle hotel. Enjoy the amazing surrounding views, sitting on the wall, eating ice cream :-)!

Huntly Castle ranked as my number one family site to visit as part of my heritage travel trip to…read moreScotland in July 2019 and it did not disappoint. The castle, now of the Gordon Clan same as my Grandma Rosemary Gordon who died in February 2023, is located inland from the Eastern coast of Scotland in the town of Huntly. I arrived at the castle a little before 4:00 p.m. on Monday 8 July 2019 and spent over an hour exploring. Parking was available in a lot past the building where I paid the entrance fee and bought a copy of the official souvenir guide to the castle. The castle is part of the Historic Scotland network of sites. Since Huntly Castle was the only site in the network on my list for my trip I opted for the just-Huntly Castle fee, a Historic Scotland pass was also available for purchase here. The entrance fee goes towards the preservation of the castle and lands. Per the informational placards on the grounds of the castle (Tower House placard specifically), the first stone castle at this site was built in the early 1500s by the Gordon Clan, of which foundations remain intact. Each of the areas of the castle came with informational placards providing background about the utility of the room in the past and how it wove into a broader Scotland context. Navigating through the premises was straightforward and the different rooms and hallways did not get clogged even when there were more visitors in a given area. The weather on my visit was clear and sunny, which made exploring the outdoor parts less cumbersome than if it had been rainy. All around thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

We visited here on a grey and a bit rainy day. Not many visitors on that day. Surprising, because…read morethis is a wonderful castle to visit. The earls of Fife built the original castle, the Peel of Strathbogie, around 1190, to guard the crossing-point where the rivers Bogie and Deveron meet. It became a stronghold in the 1300s. The stately palace, begun about 1450 by the newly ennobled Earl of Huntly, is one of Scotland's most impressive late medieval buildings. A lot of the castle is still standing today. In the back of the castle there is a lot more to explore (like the old kitchens). A lot of rooms to visit and lots of ruins to see. A very exciting place to explore and lots to learn about its history. A lot of information is provided everywhere. We did stay here a lot longer than expected. You also can climb up to a certain point. And don't miss out on the prison (and its two mannequin-prisoners that look quite life-like from a distance). Staff in the visitors centre was friendly and helpful. Some good souvenirs can be found here as well. And our Bulldog was also welcome on the grounds. Parking was right next to the castle - for visitors only of course. Since we are members, the entrance was free. A fantastic visit. Surely not to be missed and worth a (longer) drive. Highly recommended!

Ballindalloch is intriguing and referred as the Pearl of the North. When we dropped in, the family…read morewas readying the grounds for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. This was another interesting aspect of Ballindalloch - the castle is open to the public, but it seems that the Macpherson-Grant family still reside there. If you are planning on going to this castle, I recommend budgeting about 2 or more hours. In addition to the castle exterior and interior, there are extensive trails and grounds to look at. Unfortunately, we were short on time and did not really take in all the sights. Which caused me to bristle a little at the 10 pound per adult entry fee. We did a brief, self guided tour of the interior and spent extra time photographing and taking in the exterior. The great weather and detailed exterior made the this diversion from our Speyside travels worth it.

Just off the A95 south and not far from Aberlour you will find the entrance to Ballindalloch. The…read moreentrance fee is £10 and being paid at a kiosk before you start your long way down the drive towards the castle car park. Best you have the cash ready. They also accept cards, but it might hold up the queue on busy days. It is a massive estate and offers lots of different activities to do during the day. I think it is a dreamland for kids due to the entertaining playground and flowery garden, massive grounds for running around, walking along the river, explore the walled garden, enjoy the little station with a train model that can be operated by young and old children and the coffee shop with all the cakes. Besides all the outdoor activities we should not forget the castle tour. It seems that the Mac McPherson-Grant family still lives there and during the summer open up their wonderful bright castle to the public. You have the chance to see their drawing room, library, various bedrooms and nursery. On the ground floor there is a long hallway with many pictures of the queen and the Grant family and the many events that took place at Ballindalloch or nearby. Seems they have close links to the royal family. The rooms are very bright and elegantly decorated. A real lived in castle since 1546. Don't miss out and have a rest at the castle coffee shop before you head off again. Toilets are available.

Balvenie Castle is a pleasant place to visit. There isn't much to do except admire the view. There…read morewas a pack of placid cows who seemed to be admiring the view and it seemed like a nice life for those cows. There is no "tour" as such, as the castle is really a ruin but for some exterior walls. It's easy to imagine it was once home to a busy population but when we were there, it was just us and the cows. Seems like it would be a great place for a picnic lunch!

On my way to Aberdeen I got off the junction at Brechin in the North of Angus. The castle is hidden…read moreaway from the main streets and is surrounded by nature and a few hills ready for occasional walking trips. BUT beware of cows :-) The property is under Historic Scotland care. Entry £5.50. Commissions apply. Toilets avialble. The lady behind the counter is very nice. She is also able to hand you the keys to the Lindsay ruined church and burial grounds nearby. The church and graveyard are a 2 min drive from the castle. You can also walk there. Once the castle and surrounding area were owned by the Lindsays Earls of Crawford and its origins goes back to the 14th Century or even more. Around 1604 the beautiful walled flower garden with its amazing crests was added to display power and wealth. Along the garden wall you can see carved panels containing imprints of gods and virtues. The castle itself is a ruin and still you can climb some floors and admire various towers and add on buildings over the years. There are ghostly stories about a white woman and a chipsy curse. Mary Queen of Scots held a Privy Council in 1562. Cromwell garrisoned Edzell in 1651. Sadly the Lindsays got into serious debt when one son of an Earl killed his cousin accidentally during a drunken brawl. The castle was sold and nowadays is accessible to the public.

We had a wonderful visit to Braemar Castle in Braemar Scotland. The staff at the castle were…read morewonderful! Kind, informative and very professional. It was such a nice visit to such a beautiful place! Thank you for making our visit memorable :)

This place is really cool, i've been a few times. We had to…read moremeet at the reindeer centre for 11 oclock, the centre has displays and information on the reindeers as well as a small gift shop. Once everyone arrived we jumped in our vehicles and took a short drive into the hills, dont worry if you dont have transport theres been a few occassions when I've given someone a lift, then you take a 30 walk up to the paddock where hopefully the reindeer are waiting. When you're at the paddock you can hand feed, stroke and even take photos, Its great being able to get so close to these animals. The reindeer are free roaming and with only around 50 in the whole of the cairngorms there could be some days when you dont see any but I've never been disappointed. The trip costs £8 per adult and £6 per child or you can pick up a family ticket which is well worth the money.

Great hall for all types of occasions. It is used alot for weddings, birthday parties etc. It has a…read morestage too, so if you want to have a band playing at your wedding or party then this is the place to book. It is avaliable for a reasonable price too.