Craigievar Castle

Heritage Site in Aberdeenshire

Scotland

Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle under renovations Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Craigievar Castle under renovations Credit: Ralph Greig

Craigievar Castle is a stunning 17th-century tower house located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Situated amidst picturesque countryside, this historic castle stands on a hilltop, overlooking the surrounding landscape. It is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved and most iconic castles in Scotland.

The castle was built between 1610 and 1626 by William Forbes, a wealthy merchant, and has remained in the Forbes family for over 350 years. Its unique pink harled exterior, turreted structure, and fairy-tale-like appearance make it a popular tourist attraction and an emblematic symbol of Scottish baronial architecture.

The castle's interior is equally impressive, featuring an array of beautifully decorated rooms that provide a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Forbes family. Visitors can explore the Great Hall, which boasts an intricately carved fireplace and a stunning painted ceiling. The Tapestry Room showcases a remarkable collection of Flemish tapestries dating back to the 17th century. The Blue Room, Drawing Room, and Dining Room also offer a glimpse into the castle's rich history and artistic heritage.

Surrounded by extensive grounds and a picturesque garden, Craigievar Castle provides a peaceful and scenic setting for visitors to explore. The garden is meticulously maintained and features a variety of plants, flowers, and a charming walled garden. The castle's grounds also offer several walking trails, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.

Craigievar Castle is a testament to Scotland's rich architectural heritage and provides a fascinating glimpse into the past. Whether for history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, or those simply seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of Scotland's countryside, a visit to Craigievar Castle is an unforgettable experience.

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Craigievar Castle Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.175/-2.719 or Grid Reference NJ5609. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Craigievar Castle under renovations Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Craigievar Castle under renovations
Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Craigievar approach road Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Craigievar approach road
Geocaching is a type of global treasure hunt of people looking for caches, or hidden stashes of objects. Geocaching may also be described as a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Seekers use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches
Ploughed field Knockandoch, south of Muir of Foulis.
Ploughed field
Knockandoch, south of Muir of Foulis.
Sheep on Knock Hill
Sheep on Knock Hill
Arable land. Craigievar
Arable land. Craigievar
Farm trailer at Balwearie
Farm trailer at Balwearie
South Fowlis farmland
South Fowlis farmland
Minor road and bridge crossing Leochel Burn at Knockandoch Looking westward.
Minor road and bridge crossing Leochel Burn at Knockandoch
Looking westward.
Track leading to Bridgend Looking northward.
Track leading to Bridgend
Looking northward.
Balwearie Farm Balwearie on a bend in a minor road by Fowlis.
Balwearie Farm
Balwearie on a bend in a minor road by Fowlis.
Balwearie Hill Cattle grazing before woodland on the lower slopes of Balwearie Hill.
Balwearie Hill
Cattle grazing before woodland on the lower slopes of Balwearie Hill.
Driveway at Craigevar Castle
Driveway at Craigevar Castle
Craigievar Castle Once the home of the Forbes family, the distinctively pink castle is now in the care of National Trust for Scotland.
Craigievar Castle
Once the home of the Forbes family, the distinctively pink castle is now in the care of National Trust for Scotland.
Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle Completed in 1626, despite Craigievar's romantic appeal, the castle was built to be a defendable fortress. The last remnants of a 17th century wall and turret (to the left of the photograph) that enclosed the castle's inner courtyard still survive today. Although the site of skirmishes on several occasions, the castle's defences were never breached. It is one of the most elegant examples of Scottish Baronial architecture from 17th century Scotland, and extends to seven floors.
See <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/alford/craigievar/index.html" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/alford/craigievar/index.html">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> for the Craigievar Castle page in the Undiscovered Scotland website for many more photographs and information about the castle.
Craigievar Castle
Completed in 1626, despite Craigievar's romantic appeal, the castle was built to be a defendable fortress. The last remnants of a 17th century wall and turret (to the left of the photograph) that enclosed the castle's inner courtyard still survive today. Although the site of skirmishes on several occasions, the castle's defences were never breached. It is one of the most elegant examples of Scottish Baronial architecture from 17th century Scotland, and extends to seven floors. See LinkExternal link for the Craigievar Castle page in the Undiscovered Scotland website for many more photographs and information about the castle.
Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle
Track to Kirkton farm... ...with obligatory potholes.
Track to Kirkton farm...
...with obligatory potholes.
Minor road near to Cowford Looking southward.
Minor road near to Cowford
Looking southward.
Show me another place!

Craigievar Castle is located at Grid Ref: NJ5609 (Lat: 57.175, Lng: -2.719)

Unitary Authority: Aberdeenshire

Police Authority: North East

What 3 Words

///swordfish.prepped.facelift. Near Alford, Aberdeenshire

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.175,-2.719
Toilets
Lat/Long: 57.1758624/-2.7173734
Bench
Material: wood
Lat/Long: 57.1724835/-2.7236679
Tourism: picnic_site
Lat/Long: 57.1764469/-2.7172602
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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