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!

Brodie Castle was one of our Highlights during our Scotland Trip, the castle has so many…read moreinteresting rooms and sights and our guide (nice lady) from the National Trust of Scotland was so amazing, we really enjoyed the visit and tour

A wonderful place, amazing tour guide of the home. So many winders and beautiful art work, portrait…read moreof the family and more, well worth seeing, great history

If you're ever in Cromarty you must go and visit the pirates graveyard.. It's not signposted but if…read moreyou ask any local they will show you the way. It's up a slight hill you can walk to it easily, if you drive you need to just pull in at the side of the road to park. The graves date from the 1600's and each gravestone is uniquely decorated with boats, skull and crossbones, egg timers and bells.. Which are all related to the sea and as many believe pirates. There is also a crypt in the middle, I get a bit freaked out by this, but have peaked in from the doorway.. There is a beautiful erieness about the place, the way the light casts shadows through the trees can lead to some amazing photographs.

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.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the castle and wandering the gardens next to it. We spent at…read moreleast an hour going up and down stairs to see the bedrooms, living quarters, art, and modernized kitchen. The audio tour, available in other languages, was especially helpful. At the end of the tour, when we handed back our audio device, we got our picture next to a Scotsman. He was a little stiff, but that's probably why he let us pose with him!

We toured the gardens first. They're quite beautiful even tho the maze was closed and no longer…read moreaccessible to the public. Then we did the audio tour of the castle. There were many interesting rooms but the most interesting one for me was the dungeon. The areas I visited did not have a lived in feel altho much of the castle is off limits to the public. The gardens are really much better than the interior simply for their stunning masses of color and quirky objects around the corner and down the lanes. We had lunch in the small cafe. There's also a gift shop at the end of the audio tour. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.

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.

What an awesome giant functioning fort!!! I really had low expectations thinking it was going to be…read moreboring but I truly enjoyed the audio guide and being able to see all the historic items throughout the fort. The place was giant and we spent a few hours here so plan accordingly. We didn't get lucky with the dolphins but it was a gorgeous Scottish day and I was thankful for that. Quick breezy at the top.

Google maps originally directed us to drive inside the fort but there was a dedicated visitor…read moreparking lot out in front. Inside the fort we decided to head to the back to start our visit. A small and beautiful chapel was located there and well worth a look inside. The demi-bastions were the highlight with panoramic views of the water, Moray of Firth, and Inverness in the distance. Not all of the buildings in the fort were accessible to visitors and were marked accordingly. Highlights for us included the following: Historic barrack rooms were setup to show conditions and how soldiers (and those lucky enough to have their families) lived. A museum delved into the history of the Seaforth Highlanders and even had a room where one could try on traditional Scottish wear such as kilts. The Lego mini figures with their unique Scottish clothing were a hit with the kids but they were all sold out in the gift shop. The Grand Magazine held a huge display of rifles, satchels and swords. Eventhough it was a little bit of a drive to get there, the fort was in very good condition and accessible to visit.

Climbing Fyrish is a must if you are in the Ross-shire area. It's a short drive from Alness and…read morethere is a small car park at the bottom. The walk isn't that tough, it has a few steep bits at times. The paths are well maintained and the views just get better and better the higher you get. On a clear day from the top you can see to Sutherland and Inverness. The monument at the top is like your prize.. It's great to stand beside and get your photo with the view in the background. There's a few ways down, one goes through the wooded area at the back and the other is the way you came up. It's a must do if you are visiting the area and it is free. For more info on the history of the monument then please look at the tip I have put on the page.

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!