With its central situation in the Valley of the Dee, Aboyne is well placed as a hub from which to take excursions For many people visits to the castles and gardens in the area will provide rewarding experiences and insight into Scotland's history.
Balmoral Castle needs no introduction as the Highland residence of the Queen. It is situated just a few miles west of Ballater on the A93 and the gardens are open to visitors when the Queen is not in residence. Crathie Church is attended by the Royal Family. Nearby, of interest but of no connection, is the Lochnagar Distillery.
Crathes Castle which lies just east of Banchory was built during the turbulent years of the sixteenth century and is a splendid example of Scots baronial architecture. The six acre walled garden consisting of gardens within a garden contains one of the finest collections of plants in Scotland and is open throughout the year. June, July and August are normally the most colourful months. (more pictures)
The lands of Drum Castle, east of Crathes Castle on the A93, were owned for 653 years by the Irvine family who linked the older medieval tower to a gracious Jacobean mansion in 1619 to form the present day building. Set in 400 acres of parkland with fine old trees surviving from the ancient caledonian Forest the Tower of Drum gives a vivid glimpse of what castle life must have been in the middle ages in Scotland while the mansion with its fully furnished rooms demonstrates a more comfortable existence in the eighteenth century.
Craigievar Castle lies twenty miles north of Crathes on the eastern slope of the Hill of Craigievar at a height of 838 feet overlooking the Water of Leochel which flows into the River Don a little above Bridge of Alford. The building of this castle was begun by the ancient family of Mortimer towards the end of the sixteenth century and completed by William Forbes (’Danzig Willie’) in 1626. It is said, ’ as a work of art it claims a Scottish place in the front rank of European architecture’. It can be confidently recommended as worth a visit. To get there from Aboyne drive east on the A93 to Kincardine o’ Neil and turn up left on leaving the village towards Torphins, then turn left onto the A980 through Lumphanen and reach Craigievar at Kintocher.
Castle Fraser is a bit further from Aboyne but can be reached by taking the B933 from Torphins and travel north by Drumlassie to Bankhead turning left onto the A944. At Tillyfourie take right turn onto the B933 again and pass Moor of Balvack and Monymusk to Craigearn. Castle Fraser is just south of here. It too is a spectacular building from the second half of the sixteenth century.
Kildrummy Castle is ten miles south west of Alford and although ruined is a fine example of a thirteenth century castle with a curtain wall, four round towers, a hall and a chapel. As the seat of the Earls of Mar it was dismantled after the first Jacobite rising in 1715. From Aboyne go to Dinnet on the A93 and turn right onto the A9, which takes you to Kildrummy.
Other National Trust for Scotland properties in Aberdeenshire include Fyvie
Castle, Haddo House, Leith Hall and Gardens, Mar Lodge estate and Pitmedden
Garden.
Aboyne does have its own castle but it is home to the Earl of Aboyne and is not open to the public. The entrance is at the Lodge across the road from East Toll.
Ballater and Banchory are 12 and 15 miles respectively from Aboyne while Aberdeen is an hour’s drive and also has many attractions for the summer visitor. As the principal city of the North East of Scotland Aberdeen is a major shopping centre, the hub of the North Sea oil industry, a University town and a centre of entertainment, culture and the arts.
