CASTLES BANCHORY

Crathes Castle, located 15 miles west of Aberdeen near Banchory, is one of Scotland's finest surviving castles. This impressive 16th-century tower house, begun around 1553 and completed by 1596 by Sir Alexander Burnett of Leys, sits on land gifted by King Robert the Bruce in 1323. The castle features a four-storey square tower with projecting wing and is known for its Green Lady's room with a fine painted ceiling and reputed haunting. The 595-acre estate encompasses a magnificent 4-acre walled garden, considered one of Scotland's finest, developed over 300 years with unusual plants, topiary, and yew hedges. Waymarked trails through the grounds provide visitors with scenic walks through this historic property, now managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Drum Castle, Garden & Estate is a medieval tower and family residence cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, situated at the gates to Royal Deeside on a ridge overlooking the River Dee near Banchory. Gifted to William de Irwyn by Robert the Bruce in 1323, the castle remained under Clan Irvine stewardship for 650 years, acquiring a Jacobean mansion extension in 1619 and Victorian improvements including an impressive library. The estate encompasses beautiful grounds and a walled garden featuring historic roses, ancient oak woodland designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Little Oaks Natural Play Area. Visitors explore the castle by guided tour while enjoying the surrounding landscape of historic significance and natural beauty.

Corse Castle is a roofless ruin near Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, three miles north-west of Lumphanan beside the Corse Burn. Built in 1581 by William Forbes, father of Bishop Patrick Forbes of Aberdeen, the castle features an unusual L and Z-plan design with L-shaped blocks and round stair and corner towers. According to local tradition, Forbes vowed to build a theft-proof stronghold after bandits destroyed an earlier house on the site. Abandoned by the 19th century for nearby Corse House, the castle remains a testament to Forbes family prominence in north-east Scotland.