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CASTLES
There are numerous castles in the area:
• Balmoral Castle. The most famous one is open all year round only closing during the Queen’s visit in August and September.
• Braemar Castle is found on the Ballater road a mile east of Braemar.
• Corgarff Castle is in Strathdon and dates from c1550
• Craigievar Castle, 1626, near Alford, is maintained by the National Trust for Scotland
• Crathes Castle, 1596, just east of Banchory, is one of our favourites to visit. Like Craigievar it is run by the National Trust for Scotland.
• Drum Castle dates from the 13th century, with additions from the 16th century. It is also run by the National Trust for Scotland
• Kildrummy Castle is a ruin from the 12th century and maintained by Historic Scotland.
• Knock Castle is also a ruin and maintained by Historic Scotland
VICTORIAN HERITAGE TRAIL
A distinctive profile of Queen Victoria on brown-coloured road-side tourist signs points the way for the Victorian Heritage Trail, leading you to some of the many sights she enjoyed during her visits to the area.
Close to Ballater there is, of course, Balmoral Castle and Glen Muick with its wonderful loch beside which Queen Victoria had a cottage built and often stayed there after the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Other places of interest on the trail are Cambus O'May, Crathie Church, Braemar and the Linn of Dee.
DISTILLERIES
DEESIDE
The Roygal Lochnagar Distillery is the closest one to Glenbardie at Crathie, not far from the entrance to Balmoral; phone 013397 742700. Visitor tours are available.
Midway between Dundee and Aberdeen is the Fettercairn’s Hillside Distillery, one of the oldest malt whisky distlleries in Scotland.
SPEYSIDE
The Malt Whisky Trail
This famous trail links several famous distilleries in the Spey River valley. The distilleries are Strathisla (Chivas Regal), Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, The Glenlivet, Cardhu, Glen Grant, Dallas Dhu and Benromach. To this the traveller may add the Speyside Cooperage at Craigellachie and Baxters Food factory at Fochabers.
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