Castles Near Aberdeen

If you visit Aberdeen, you need to visit the castles near the Scottish city. It’s somewhat inevitable that you’ll end up stumbling upon a castle or two in your Aberdeen visit: Aberdeenshire has the highest concentration of castles in the UK. Cliff-top ruins where armies clashed dot the coastline. Tower houses that have sheltered the same families for 700 years stand inland. Fairy-tale Scottish baronial mansions rise from ancient forests. The region offers Balmoral, the Royal Family's Highland retreat, and Dunnottar, the dramatic clifftop fortress where Scotland's Crown Jewels were hidden.

Most castles sit within an hour's drive of Aberdeen, so several are reachable in one trip. Here are the best castles to visit from Aberdeen, grouped by travel time.

Castles Within 30 Minutes

These castles are close to the city and easy to reach by car.

1. Drum Castle

Drum Castle is one of Scotland's oldest tower houses, and it has stood since Robert the Bruce granted it to the Irvine family in 1323. The building combines a massive 13th-century stone tower with a graceful Jacobean mansion, spanning 700 years of architecture. Guided tours take visitors through rooms filled with portraits, antique furniture, and centuries of family history. The medieval High Tower remains unaltered and offers a glimpse into Scotland's turbulent past.

The castle sits within a beautiful estate that includes one of Scotland's finest walled gardens. Four garden "rooms" show how garden design evolved from the 17th to 20th centuries, with a special focus on historic roses. Beyond the walls, the ancient Old Wood of Drum is one of the last remnants of the great Caledonian forest. Woodland trails wind through habitat where red squirrels, roe deer, and red kites make their home.

Children will love the Little Oaks Natural Play Area, one of the largest of its kind in Scotland. The tearoom in the old castle kitchen serves homemade lunches and treats. Drum Castle is 10 miles west of Aberdeen off the A93, about a 25-minute drive. Adult tickets are £17.

2. Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle rises dramatically from a clifftop 160 feet above the crashing waves of the North Sea. This is where Scotland's Crown Jewels were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's army, smuggled out by a brave minister's wife who concealed them under her skirts. Visitors can walk through the ruined keep, stand in the very room where the Honours of Scotland were kept, and imagine the tension as English soldiers searched in vain.

The ruins sprawl across the headland, with the 14th-century tower house, palace buildings, stables, and a restored drawing room all open to wander through. The cliff path down to the castle is steep but stunning, with seabirds wheeling overhead and waves crashing on the rocks below. Photographers flock here at sunrise and sunset for the dramatic silhouettes. The castle lies about 30 minutes south of Aberdeen via the A92. Adult tickets are £13.

3. Castle Fraser

Castle Fraser is one of the grandest tower houses in Scotland, completed in 1636. The granite towers rise above the Aberdeenshire countryside in classic Scottish Baronial style. Inside, visitors can peer through the spy holes the Fraser family used to watch their guests, find the hidden trapdoors, and walk the secret passages built into the thick walls. The Great Hall and library are filled with family portraits spanning centuries.

The walled garden is beautiful in summer, with herbaceous borders and old apple trees. Woodland walks wind through the estate, and the adventure playground keeps children entertained. The tearoom serves fresh scones with local jam. Castle Fraser is about 30 minutes from Aberdeen.

Castles Within 45 Minutes

A short drive takes travelers to these beautiful castles with gardens and painted ceilings.

1. Crathes Castle

Crathes Castle is well-known for its striking painted ceilings, some of the finest surviving Jacobean interiors in Scotland. Visitors can enjoy looking up at the colorful biblical scenes and portraits that have adorned these rooms for over 400 years. The ivory Horn of Leys, given to the Burnett family by Robert the Bruce himself, sits in the Great Hall. The turrets and towers create a fairytale silhouette against the sky.

The walled gardens at Crathes are world-famous, divided into eight themed "rooms" by ancient yew hedges planted in 1702. Each garden has its own character, from the vibrant June borders to the peaceful wild garden. The estate offers miles of waymarked trails through woodland and along the River Dee, perfect for spotting wildlife. The tearoom and gift shop are housed in the old stables. Crathes is about 30 minutes from Aberdeen by car or an hour by bus.

2. Tolquhon Castle

Tolquhon Castle is a picturesque ruin with one of the most photogenic gatehouses in Scotland. William Forbes built this mansion in the 1580s to impress visitors, and the decorative stonework still delights today. Visitors can wander through the roofless great hall, climb the drum tower for views over the Aberdeenshire farmland, and imagine the grand banquets held here four centuries ago.

The peaceful grounds are perfect for a quiet afternoon, with the ruins framed by open countryside. The Forbes family tomb in the nearby kirkyard tells the story of the family who built this ambitious home. Tolquhon lies about 30 minutes north of Aberdeen.

Castles Within 1 Hour

These castles are a bit farther but worth the drive for their fairytale towers and dramatic settings.

1. Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle looks like something from a fairy tale. The pink-harled tower rises seven storeys, topped with a riot of turrets, cupolas, and corbelling. Walt Disney is said to have drawn inspiration from its romantic silhouette. The castle has stood virtually unchanged since 1626, and guided tours take visitors through rooms filled with family portraits, Jacobean woodwork, and antique armour.

The upper floors are kept free of artificial light to preserve the historical atmosphere, so visiting feels like stepping back in time. The grounds offer lovely walks with views of the Grampian hills. Craigievar is about 50 minutes from Aberdeen.

2. Huntly Castle

Huntly Castle was the mighty seat of Clan Gordon, one of the most powerful families in Scottish history. The ruins show French-influenced Renaissance architecture rarely seen in Scotland, with elaborate heraldic doorways and oriel windows. Visitors can walk through the roofless palace halls, find the inscribed fireplaces that still bear the names of the lord and his wife, and stand where Mary Queen of Scots once stayed.

The grassy grounds are peaceful for picnics, and the town of Huntly offers cafes and shops nearby. The castle is about an hour from Aberdeen.

Must-See Castles Within 90 Minutes

Head west into the Highlands to visit the Royal Family's Scottish home and a community-run castle.

1. Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle is the Royal Family's private Scottish retreat, where generations of monarchs have escaped for Highland holidays. Queen Victoria fell in love with the area, and Prince Albert designed the current castle for her in 1856. Visitors can tour the Castle Ballroom, the largest room in the castle, where the royals hold their annual Ghillies Ball. Exhibitions reveal fascinating details about royal life in Scotland.

The extensive gardens are beautiful for strolling, with views across to Lochnagar. The estate covers 50,000 acres of Highland scenery, and Land Rover safaris take visitors into the hills to spot red deer and golden eagles. The castle is only open from April to early August, before the royals arrive for summer. Balmoral is about 90 minutes from Aberdeen.

2. Braemar Castle

Braemar Castle is a fairytale tower house with a unique star-shaped defensive wall, built after the Jacobite risings. The local community runs the castle today, and their enthusiasm is infectious. Guided tours take visitors through furnished rooms that tell 400 years of Highland history, from Jacobite rebels to Victorian soldiers who left their graffiti on the walls.

The castle displays quirky memorabilia from the Farquharson family, including items belonging to the eccentric fashion editor Frances Farquharson. The views across the Cairngorms are spectacular. Braemar village nearby hosts the famous Highland Games each September, and the castle makes a perfect day out combined with a walk in the hills. Braemar Castle is about 90 minutes from Aberdeen.

More Castles in Europe

Aberdeenshire has an incredible concentration of castles. If you fall in love with this part of Scotland, you might even consider owning your own piece of history.

Interested in owning a castle in Scotland? Join our mailing list, and you’ll receive updates when an interesting opportunity enters the market.