📌 Drumoak, Aberdeenshire
★★★★
Former home of Clan Irvine, Drum Castle is surely one of northeast Scotland’s top castle attractions, up against stiff competition. Close to Aberdeen‘s city limits, the key draw is the combination of its respective parts from periods centuries apart, making it feel almost like you’re visiting multiple castles instead of one. The tower house is one of the country’s oldest, dating to the early 13th century and still in amazing condition considering its age. Meanwhile, the finely-furnished mansion extension is a mere four centuries old, with further surrounding buildings added even more recently. The intimate chapel stands amongst trees just off to the side, while a large walled garden well-known for its roses in summer occupies east-facing slopes on the other side.
🌍 Location
📌 By minor road off A93 1 mi north of Drumoak
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NJ 796005
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.095108,-2.337894
🚌 Bus stops on A93 at castle turnoff (1 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚ Castle open daily, June to August & 28-31 December 2024; Thursday to Monday, 29 March to May & September to October; weekends, 13 January to 28 March & November to 27 December. Grounds: daily
🎫 £16 adult / £12.50 child / free for National Trust for Scotland members
