5 dreamy castles you need to visit in Aberdeenshire this Winter
21 November 2024
Aberdeenshire is profoundly known for its stunning, picturesque castles, allowing visitors to escape reality, step back into the history-filled times of the past, and appreciate the beauty that exists within our region.
Throughout the winter months, the castles of Aberdeenshire transform into majestic fairytale wonderlands, with snow-covered architecture and glistening paths to explore. This season couldn’t be a better time to visit the region and witness its winter beauty.
We’ve selected five stunning, accessible castles in Aberdeenshire that you should be ticking off your bucket list this winter:
1. Craigievar Castle
Said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle, Craigievar Castle is well known for its vibrant pink colour, which shines beautifully against the snow each year!
2. Corgarff Castle
Corgarff Castle, a former army base, is situated in the stunning Aberdeenshire countryside, surrounded by breathtaking views of natural landscape. Did you know Corgarff Castle’s last military use was to monitor the smuggling of illicit whisky between the 1800s?
3. Dunnottar Castle
One of North-east Scotland’s most iconic locations is Dunnottar Castle. This famous cliff-top ruin is explored by thousands of visitors each year, and is often deemed as a photographer’s paradise (we can see why!).
4. Castle Fraser
This winter, explore one of Scotland’s largest tower houses at Castle Fraser. During your visit, you can experience what life was like in medieval times, look out for the Laird’s Lug, secret trapdoors, staircases, and even a spy hole!
5. Braemar Castle
Dive into the deep history of Scotland, spanning over 400 years, at Braemar Castle. Built by the Earl of Mar in 1628, this attraction has become an admired landmark in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. It is filled with ancient furniture, memorabilia, and belongings of the Farquharson family, who once resided there.
With only a small number of the magical castles located in Aberdeenshire highlighted in this blog, please visit the castles section on our website and discover more famous castles, ruins, and even castles to stay this winter!
Don’t forget to tag us in your adventures @VisitABDN or use our hashtags #VisitABDN and #BeautifulABDN for your chance to be featured on our social channels!