For the 4th stage of our 2-week tour in Scotland , we leave from Balmoral heading towards Aberdeen and the castles all around in the Grampian Mountains.
Itinerary of our 4rd day around Aberdeen
- Balmoral (Ballater)
- Crathes Castle
- Aberdeen City
- Castle Fraser
- Craigievar castle
- incl
Scotland in 15 days - Château Crathes
Difficult to leave our Bed and Breakfast this morning. It is still raining and the thermometer shows only 8 small degrees (remember that it is the beginning of August!). But the road and beautiful castles await us. A great breakfast and a (furtive) sunshine give us enough courage to start the day.
After an hour's drive, we discover the first castle on our itinerary for the day. We stop, take a short walk in the park and take some photos.
Scotland in 15 days - Aberdeen
Some call it the gray city, others the granite city… The buildings in Aberdeen are mostly built of granite which gives a sad look when the sun is not there.
I wanted to discover Aberdeen precisely because of its monumental Victorian-era granite buildings, notably Marischal College . Founded in 1593, it became Aberdeen's second university (King's College remaining the city's first university).
Scotland in 15 days - Fraser Castle
Magnificent castle! It is located approximately 30 km from Aberdeen. Dating from the 16th century , it is one of the largest castles in Scotland with an impressive height (5 stories)!
We decided to make the visit which seemed very interesting to me. The Great Hall has vaulted ceilings typical of medieval times. The dining room is decorated with 17th century furniture. Thus, throughout the visit, we discover from room to room the history of Scotland. Of course, like most castles in Scotland, you will learn that it is populated by ghosts ...
Outside, its superb 140-hectare park showcases Fraser Castle beautifully ! Scots love to picnic in this area, stroll through the forests and meadows, or enjoy the charming garden.
Good plan: the tea room to taste homemade cakes in the atmosphere of the kitchen of the XNUMXth century castle!
2 weeks tour in Scotland - Craigievar Castle
Scotland has many very beautiful castles, but there is something truly unique about Craigievar Castle.
With a pink color that gives it an air of a fairytale castle, the simplicity of the lower towers contrasts with the tall turrets. And, icing on the cake, we have the chance to see it under the sun! Look, that changes everything !!!
Cheap hotel in Insch (near Craigievar Castle)
Just 30 minutes from Craigievar Castle on the road to the Dufftown distilleries (our next stop), I found a Bed and Breakfast that we absolutely loved: LILYOAK BED & BREAKFAST . Kim runs this B&B impeccably! We couldn't find a single fault; the location was perfect for our trip, the room was comfortable and clean, and the breakfasts were simply delicious. Price: €80 including breakfast.
Follow our circuit
by discovering our 5th step: