Crathes Castle

This magnificent tower house with its fairytale castle turrets is one of the prime historical attractions in the Aberdeen area.

Just 15 miles outside the city, Crathes Castle was built on an estate granted to the Burnett family in 1323 by King Robert the Bruce. He presented them with the ancient Horn of Leys, today is in the Great Hall. The horn symbol was added to the family coat-of-arms and recurs throughout the castle.

The castle is famous for its walled garden, really eight gardens, ranging from the formal to the modern. The massive yew hedges date back as far as 1702, but the Golden Garden was introduced by the National Trust for Scotland in 1973.

Inside, it’s worth looking out for the extravagant long gallery, the staircase with its trip step to upset attacking enemies, and the castle’s ghost, The Green Lady, first spotted in the mid-19th century.

There are extensive walks in the surrounding countryside, along waymarked trails, and there’s plenty of local wildlife to see: roe deer, red squirrels, woodpeckers, buzzards, kingfishers, herons and even otters.

The National Trust for Scotland is currently developing Crathes, with plans for a shopping and restaurant complex and SkyTrek, an assault course high in the trees.

The castle and visitor centre are open daily from 10.30am-5.30pm from April to September; from 10.30am-4.30pm in October; and from Thursdays to Sundays from 10.30am-4.30pm from November to March. Adult admission is £10 (£7) and family tickets are available.