Crathes Castle
A 16th-century tower castle with painted ceilings and famous walled gardens. It is the highlight of the castle trail along Deeside.
Crathes Castle stands in the Dee valley, east of Banchory. It was built in the 16th century by the Burnett family and is a fine example of the Scottish tower house. It is managed by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). The castle preserves rare 16th-century painted ceilings and is said to be haunted by the 'Green Lady'. The walled garden outside covers about 1.6 hectares and is divided into eight themed gardens. Its clipped yew hedges are about 300 years old, and the summer flower borders are spectacular. The estate has several woodland trails and the Go Ape high-ropes adventure park, which suits families. Admission to the castle and gardens costs about 15 pounds. Opening times vary by season, so check the NTS website. Crathes is about 25 kilometres from Aberdeen. It takes about 30 minutes to drive, or you can take the 201 bus.
Opening hours
About 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (seasonal changes; check website)
Nearby sights
- Drum Castle
- Castle Fraser
- Stonehaven
- Bennachie
- Dunnottar Castle
- Fowlsheugh RSPB Reserve
- Craigievar Castle
- Gordon Highlanders Museum