Northeast Scotland & Tayside
Castles & Historic Sites
Castles & Historic Sites
Northeast Scotland & Tayside Scotland is castle country — nowhere in Scotland packs more castles per square mile. From the granite city of Aberdeen through the rolling farmland of Aberdeenshire to the whisky heartland of Moray and the red sandstone cliffs of Angus, this region is home to 118 castles and historic sites. The dramatic cliff-top ruin of Dunnottar Castle and the fairytale turrets of Craigievar Castle are just the beginning — this is the land of the Castle Trail, Scotland's only official castle driving route, where tower houses and baronial mansions appear around every bend.
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Explore by Route
Scotland's official Castle Trail links the region's finest — from Craigievar's pink tower to Drum Castle's medieval keep, Crathes Castle's painted ceilings, and the magnificent Fyvie Castle.
From Dundee's waterfront and Broughty Castle to the red cliffs of Arbroath Abbey and the hilltop fortress of Brechin, where Scotland's history was forged.
Combine Speyside's world-famous whisky distilleries with medieval ruins — Elgin Cathedral's soaring arches, Balvenie Castle, and the coastal fortress of Duffus.
Getting There
Aberdeen Airport has direct flights from London, Amsterdam, Dublin, and other European cities. By train, Aberdeen is 2.5 hours from Edinburgh and 2 hours 40 from Glasgow on the ScotRail east coast line — a beautiful journey along the coast through Dundee and Arbroath. By car, the A90 from Edinburgh/Dundee is the main route north.
Once in the region, a car is strongly recommended — the castles are spread across rural Aberdeenshire and public transport between them is limited. Dundee is a useful southern gateway, well-connected by rail and road.
For those flying into Edinburgh or Glasgow, the drive to Aberdeen takes around 2.5-3 hours via the M90 and A90. The route passes through Fife and Angus, giving you a taste of Scotland's east coast castle country before you even reach your destination.
Accommodation
Aberdeen is the obvious base for the northern part of the region — the granite city has a full range of hotels and good transport links. For the Castle Trail, Banchory or Ballater on Royal Deeside put you in the heart of castle country with charming village accommodation. Dundee is undergoing a renaissance (V&A Dundee, craft breweries, waterfront dining) and makes an excellent base for Angus sites.
For Moray, Elgin is well-positioned near the cathedral and Speyside distilleries. Several castles offer accommodation — Delgatie Castle has B&B rooms, and Dalhousie Castle near the southern edge of the region is a full castle hotel.
The region offers everything from luxury country house hotels to cosy Highland bothies. Many distilleries in Speyside offer accommodation packages combining whisky tours with castle visits. Book ahead during summer and the whisky festival season (April-May).
Planning
May to September offers the best weather and longest days. Aberdeenshire summers are pleasant but cooler than southern Scotland — expect 15-20°C and pack layers. The Castle Trail is best tackled in summer when all sites are open. Spring (April-May) brings daffodils to the castle grounds and fewer crowds.
Autumn (September-October) is spectacular in the Angus glens with rich colours. The whisky harvest season also makes this an excellent time to combine castle visits with distillery tours in Moray.
Winter is quiet — many smaller castles close November-March, but the major National Trust properties (Crathes, Fyvie, Castle Fraser) often open for Christmas events. A snow-covered Aberdeenshire countryside dotted with tower houses is magical, and the coast around Dunnottar can be dramatic in winter storms.
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