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Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and set within its own glorious gardens, Crathes Castle is every inch the classic Scottish tower house – and a fantastic day out for all the family.
The Burnett family, who lived in the castle for over 350 years, had roots in the area dating back to 1323 when Robert the Bruce granted them nearby land. Alexander Burnett built the castle in the 16th century, an intricate maze of turrets, towers, oak panels and painted ceilings, many of which survive beautifully to this day.
Inside you...
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Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate
Pitmedden Garden
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Brilliant design in the form of vibrant colours and meticulously manicured shapes give Pitmedden Garden its unique charm. With almost 6 miles of clipped box hedging, sculptures and built heritage, the parterres at the heart of the garden are a masterpiece of intricate patterns and fragrant flowers.
The Great Garden dates back to 1675 when it was originally laid out by Sir Alexander Seton, a retired Court of Session judge in the reign of James VII/II. His head gardener had designed gardens at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and...
Huntly Castle
Advance booking only
With elaborate heraldry, carved fireplaces and refined decor, this palatial residence was a declaration of the power and wealth of the noble Gordon family. Standing on the site of a motte and bailey castle built in about 1190, Robert the Bruce granted Huntly to the Gordons after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. On your visit, you can enjoy the castle’s majestic location just outside Huntly, a pretty market town, where the rivers Bogie and Deveron meet. Tour the palace interiors to see treasures like the heraldic fireplaces in the lodgings of the marquis...
Drum Castle Garden & Estate
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The sweep of 700 years of history is stamped into Drum’s battlements, medieval square tower and sprawling extensions.
The Royal Forest and Tower of Drum were given to the Irvine family by Robert the Bruce in 1323. Later a Jacobean mansion house was added, and in the Victorian era the lower hall was converted to a library, now containing a mighty 4,000 books.
The beautiful Garden of Historic Roses is divided into quadrants that show how roses have been cultivated from the 17th to the 20th century.
The ancient oak forest...
Leith Hall, Garden & Estate
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Leith Hall has played witness to Scottish history since 1650, with ten generations of the Leith-Hay family having lived here until just after World War II. They donated the house to the National Trust for Scotland along with all their furnishings and art, making it one of the most complete collections in our care.
Your visit to Leith Hall will be by guided tour, giving a fascinating insight into the changing aspirations, needs and tastes of the Leith-Hay family over the centuries. There is also a military exhibition, telling the story of...
Haddo House
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Stately and striking, Haddo House casts a huge impression from the moment you set eyes on it. Designed in 1732 by William Adam, the house underwent an opulent remodelling in the 1880s. As a result, it has the clean elegance and swooping lines of the Georgian style with a luxurious Victorian interior.
Family portraits trace generations of Gordons, who played a huge part in Scottish history. George Gordon, 1st Earl of Aberdeen was Lord Chancellor of Scotland; the 4th Earl served as Prime Minister. More recently, Haddo was a maternity...
Fyvie Castle, Garden & Estate
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This magnificent fortress in the heart of Aberdeenshire is a sterling example of Scottish Baronial architecture. Inside, the rooms are filled with antiquities, armour and lavish oil paintings. Out in the grounds the grandeur continues, with a picturesque lake and an unusual glass-roofed racquets court.
Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie’s 800-year-old history. But stories aside, we do know William the Lion was at Fyvie around 1214 and later Robert the Bruce and Charles I were among its royal guests....