There are 5 main castles in Aberdeenshire outside the city center. This city of the UK is a great place to basecamp to visit a huge amount of castles in the area. The castles are within 15 minutes-4 hours outside the city making for great day trips. Even if you only have a day or two in the city it will be possible to see at least two because of how close they are and easy to access. I have the castles listed in proximity to the city from closest to farthest. The first two castles are the closest castles to get to from the city that I visited and have links to their full experience. These castles are great day or half day trips from the city of Aberdeen.
Read my full Aberdeen City Guide blog post here. 
1. Drum Castle
This is one of the closest castles to visit from Aberdeen city and one that I saw on my trip. I share about my visit to this castle and tips.
Read my full Drum Castle Guide blog post here.
2. Crathes Castle
This castle is on the same bus line out of Aberdeen city as Drum Castle and is easy to visit from the city. This is the second castle I visited on my trip and I share information and tips.
Read my full Crathes Castle Guide blog post here.
3. Fraser Castle
This Castle offers tours of the medieval Great Hall and Victorian bedrooms, plus tower-top views and a walled garden. This is one of the largest tower houses in Scotland. There are secret staircases, trapdoors and spy holes in this castle. The round tower offers amazing views of the woodland area surrounding that has a play area too. Stand before one of the largest tower houses in Scotland. The castle’s website and information can be found here.
Distance
The castle is 16 miles outside of the city, 35 minutes by driving.
How to get there
From Cineworld Union Square hub take the bus X20 blue line for 120 minutes. This is a nice direct route bus line. Full directions on Moveitapp here.
Cost
- Adult £12.00
- Family £28.00
- One adult family £23.00
- Concession £10.00
Hours
- 16 Dec–1 Mar 2019, closed
- 2 Mar–31 Mar, Sat & Sun, 11.00–14.001
- Apr–31 Oct, daily, 10.00–16.00 (last entry 15.15)
- 2 Nov–15 Dec, Sat & Sun, 11.00–14.00
- 16 Dec–29 Feb 2020, closed
4. Dunnottar Castle
This castle is a fortified cluster of ruined stone buildings with a long history, in a dramatic clifftop setting. This castle of all the castles in Aberdeenshire absolutely has the most epic hill penninsula view on the coast of Scotland.
Distance
This castle is 18 miles outside of the city, a 28 minute car drive or 1 hour by public transport.
How to get there
Walking or cycling to the Castle from the nearby town of Stonehaven as the route is picturesque, interesting and good for your health! The route is around 2 miles and a gorgeous route to see the coastline and castle views approaching.
In order to take the bus, the X7 and 107 from Aberdeen stops a short walk from the Castle car park. For full details of travel options, you can visit www.travelinescotland.com.
The nearest train station is Stonehaven. For times and prices please see www.thetrainline.com
Cost
- Adult ticket £7
- Child ticket £3
- Family ticket (2 adults & 2 children between 5 and 15 years) £17
- Guide Book £5.00
Hours
Summer Season (1st April – 30th Sep)
9:00 – 17:30 every day.
Winter Season 2018/19 (1st October – 31st March)
- 1st Oct – 27th Oct: 10:00 – 16:30
- 28th Oct – 10th Nov: 10:00 – 15:00
- 11th Nov – 19th Jan: 10:00 – 14:30
- 20th Jan – 2nd Feb: 10:00 – 15:00
- 3rd Feb – 16th Feb: 10:00 – 15:30
- 17th Feb – 2nd Mar: 10:00 – 16:00
- 3rd Mar – 31st Mar: 10:00 – 16:30
5. Balmoral Castle
The castle is in the Cairgorms National Park the beautiful wooded hills of aberdeenshire. Balmoral is a Scottish Baronial style mansion and summer home of the royal family, with a ballroom art collection. The castle is the property of the Queen, including woodland and farmland surrounding, a fold of Highland cattle, several thousand red deer and a whiskey distillery to tour. The grounds and the ballroom are open to the public from April until July, when the Queen traditionally arrives for summer. Their website and full information can be found here.
Distance
Balmoral Castle is the farthest (5o miles) castle outside of Aberdeen city about 4 hours away by bus and 1.5 hours by car.
How to get here
Cost
Adults – £11.50
Seniors / Students – £10.50
Children (5 to 16 years) – £6.00
Family Ticket (2 adults and up to 4 children) – £32.00
Hours
The castle is open on a daily basis from Monday 1st April until Wednesday 31st July. Opening times are from 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. however please note that the last recommended admission is at 4.00 p.m.
6. Fyvie Castle
The castle is from the 13th century with lavish Edwardian interiors and significant portrait collection. This castle is Scottish Baronial style architecture. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, and has an array of art and objects from its past, include a portrait collection, original arms and armour, and by legend a ghost name Lillias Drummond, who leaves the scent of roses where she goes. You can stay in the Preston Tower apartment.
Distance
This castle is 26 miles outside of the city and 50 minutes driving or about 1.5 hours by public transit.
How to get there
The best bus stop from inside Aberdeen town is Cineworld Union Square. This is the main mall, bus and train station hub in the city along the bay. The bus line that stops near the castle is 35.
It takes 156 min from Cineworld Union Square to Fyvie Castle using Bus – 35, Bus – 35
Cost
- Adult £13.00
- Family £30.00
- One adult family £25.00
- Concession £10.00
Hours
- 1 Nov–29 Mar 2019, closed
- 30 Mar–31 May, daily, 11.00–15.00 (last tour 15.00)
- 1 Jun–30 Sep, daily, 11.00–16.00 (last tour 16.00)
- 4 Oct–15 Dec, Fri–Mon, 11.00–15.00 (last tour 15.00)
- 16 Dec–30 Mar 2020, closedGuided tours take place every 45 mins starting at 11.15
7. Cragiever Castle
The Castle is from 1626, with original Jacobean woodwork, plaster ceilings and portrait collection. This is known as the classic ‘fairytale castle,’ Craigievar is seven stories high, pinkish walls, turrets and carved gargoyles. It has been thought that Walt Disney based his castle logo on Cragievar after seeing pictures of the building. This castle was completed in 1626, and has one of the finest plasterwork ceilings in Scotland and a secret staircase. It used to have a wall and four towers for defensive purposes and those have been removed now for visitors. The caslt is open to the public for tours in the summer, and is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The full castle site and information can be found here.
Distance
This castle is 27 miles outside of town, 50 minutes by driving
How to get here
- Craigievar is not accessible via public transport as the nearest service is infrequent and over 8 miles away. You need to hire a private driver, taxi or rent a car to get to this castle making it one of the more difficult castles to visit from Aberdeen.
- Some route planning sites and sat-nav systems will provide directions to the south drive. This is not accessible to vehicles and there is no parking, as the properties at the end of the south drive are privately owned.
- Follow the brown National Trust for Scotland signs from the A980.
- Latitude and Longitude co-ordinates: 57.176575 & -2.716753 (car park entrance)
Cost
- Adult £13.00
- Family £30.00
- One adult family £25.00
- Concession £10.00
Hours
- The castle is by guided tour appointment only.
- 1 Oct–29 Mar 2019, closed
- 30 Mar–31 May, Fri–Tues, 10.30–16.00 (last entry/tour 16.00)
- 1 Jun–30 Sep, daily, 10.30–16.00 (last entry/tour 16.00)
- 5 Oct–27 Oct, Sat & Sun, 10.30–15.0028 Oct–31 Mar 2020, closed access by guided tours only, on a first come, first served basis with a maximum of 10 on each tour. Tours run approximately every 30 minutes.
