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Aberdeenshire - Castles, Cathedrals,
Monuments,
Stately Homes & Palaces
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Since the stone age, man has been
creating majestic structures that we still marvel at
today.
Whether you are interested in ancient monuments,
battlefield sites, re-enactments,
Roman and Norman forts and castles, Stately Homes, Country Houses, Historic
Cathedrals, Ruined Abbeys etc, this is the page that
should give you the information you need.
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Here we try to list properties in
private ownership but open to the public (even if only
occasionally) as well as those in the care of the
National Trust or English/Scottish Heritage.
We know that not all the
properties in Aberdeenshire are listed. Please help us
make this guide comprehensive by giving details of
missing attractions
here. |
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BRAEMAR CASTLE
Braemar, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5XR
Tel: 013397 41219
Web:
www.braemarcastle.co.uk
Open Easter (Good
Friday) to 31st October, 10am - 5pm. Situated
amidst the magnificent splendour of the
Cairngorms on Royal Deeside 1/2 mile north east
of Braemar on the A93 Aberdeen - Perth scenic
route.
An impressive fortress
built in 1628 by the Earl of Mar on the site of
an even older habitation. Used by Hanovarian
troops after the Jacobite Rising of 1745, later
transformed by the Farquharsons of Invercauld
into a residence of unusual charm.
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CRAIGSTON CASTLE
Turriff,
Aberdeenshire,
AB53 5PX
Tel: 01888 551228 (answering machine)
E-mail:
wu-gen01@craigston.co.uk
Open:
14th June 2008 -
13 July 2008
Daily 12am til
3pm (closed
Mondays). Open
all other times
throughout the
year by prior
appointment.
Admission:
Adults £6, OAP's
£4. Groups of
15+ £5.00,
Children £2 (all
prices are
inclusive of a
guided tour).
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Built in the 17th
Century by John Urquhart, Craigston Castle lies
4 miles (7 km) north east of Turriff in
Aberdeenshire.
Still lived in by the Urquhart family it is
characterised by its white tower and carved
sandstone balcony and the wood carvings in the
drawing room originally from Cromarty castle.
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David Lacy-Hulbert - copyright |
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FYVIE CASTLE
Fyvie, Turriff, AB53 8JS
Tel: 01651
891266 Fax:
01651 891107
E-mail:
riovie@nts.org.uk
Web:
www.nts.org.uk
Fyvie Castle and grounds
An outstanding example of the Scottish castle,
Fyvie boasts superb collections of paintings,
arms and armour, furniture and textiles. The
grounds include a magnificent lake and woodland
walks.
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HUNTLY CASTLE
Huntly, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4SH
Tel: 01466 793191
Web:
www.historicscotland.co.uk
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The most prominent remains at Huntly Castle were
built during the 15th, 16th and 17th century.
They consist of a five storey cylindrical tower
at one end of a palatial building that displays
some ornate stone carvings and oriel windows.
Although the Gordon family built the castle as a
grand residence, the thick walls, gun ports and
iron yett in front of the door, display its
defensive abilities. |
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Within the grounds, the
mound and some earthworks from the original 12th
century motte castle remain, as do the
foundations of a later 14th century stone
castle.
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CORGARFF CASTLE
Corgarff, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire
Tel: 019756 51460
A 16th-century tower house converted into a
barracks for Government troops in 1748. Its last
military use was to control the smuggling of
illicit whisky between 1827 and 1831. Still
complete and with its 18th-century star-shaped
fortification.
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CULLERLIE STONE CIRCLE
Near Garlogie just west of Aberdeen.
Tel: 01667 460232
This is one of several stone circles to be found
in Aberdeenshire. The description given by
Historic Scotland is that this Bronze Age
sepulchral stone circle, 10.1 m in diameter,
consisting of eight boulders, excavated in 1934,
encloses an area on which eight small cairns
were later constructed; 1800 - 1200 BC.
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The circle is very accessible from the road
through an avenue of trees. Unfortunately, some
would say that the
site seems to be a little "over preserved".
Location: Turn south off B9119 Aberdeen/Tarland
road at Garlogie, in 250m fork left; circle lies
on left of road in 1km.)
You can find information on the council's
website regarding other
stone circles in Aberdeenshire. |
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FERRYHILL PARISH CHURCH
Fonthill Rd, Aberdeen, AB11 6UD
Tel: 01224 213093
E-mail:
office@ferryhillparishchurch.org.uk
Web:
www.ferryhillparishchurch.org.uk
The window of unity marks the union between the
two former Ferryhill Church of Scotland
congregations (Ferryhill North and Ferryhill
South) in 1990 and was designed and made for the
Kirk Session by Jane Bayliss of Abbey Studio,
Fintray, Aberdeenshire. Unusually for a stained
glass window, it is designed to be 'read' from
outside rather than inside. Situated as it is in
the trefoil window above the main door of the
Church, the symbolism of Descending Dove, open
Bible and Chalice speaks to those passing under
it of the purposes for which they enter a
church, namely to worship God in spirit, centred
on the word made flesh in Christ and in
communion with God and with each other. The
trefoil is itself a symbol of the Holy Trinity
and the background of Celtic knots in rich blue
and red speak respectively of the eternal
dimension of God and of God's limitless love.
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Church of Scotland
539a Holburn St, Aberdeen, AB10 7LH
The Church of Scotland is a living community of
people throughout Scotland and beyond. Our aim
is to worship God by following the teachings and
example of Jesus Christ. We express our love for
God by our love and practical care for each
other and for those we live with and encounter
in our daily lives. In the Church of Scotland
are around 600,000 members, although many more
people are regularly involved with their local
congregation, but have not taken membership
vows. Over 100,000 children and young people
take part in the activities of a wide range of
church-based organisations, led by 15,000
volunteers. As well as around 1400 ministers
serving in parishes and in various forms of
chaplaincy, the Church - also known as "the
Kirk" - has about 2000 professional and
administrative support staff helping the Church
deliver practical services to communities
throughout the country. All this makes us one of
the largest organisations in Scotland.
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Fyvie Church
Fyvie, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
Famous for its impressive Tiffany window.
More information to follow....
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DUFF HOUSE
Banff, AB45 3SX
Tel: 01261 818181
Fax: 01261 818900
E-mail:
duff.house@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Web:
www.duffhouse.com
This magnificent example
of Baroque architecture, designed by William
Adam in 1735, is an outstation of the National
Galleries of Scotland housing a rich collection
of paintings, furniture and works of art,
including El Greco's St Jerome in Penitence, J.
G. Cuyp's Dutch Family Group and a pair of
portraits by Thomas Gainsborough.
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HADDO HOUSE
Tarves, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, AB41 7LD
Tel: 01651 851440
E-mail:
iadam@nts.gov.uk
Web:
www.nts.org.uk
Unusual for Aberdeenshire in that it is not a
castle, Haddo House is proud to be the most
homely of the north-east of Scotland's great
houses open to the public. Designed by William
Adam for the 2nd Earl of Aberdeen in 1732, but
refurbished in the 1880s, the House elegantly
blends crisp Georgian architecture with
sumptuous late Victorian interiors by Wright and
Mansfield. Noted for its fine furniture,
paintings and objets d'art, Haddo also boasts a
delightful terrace garden with geometric
rosebeds and fountain, commemorative trees, a
lavish herbaceous border, and secluded glades
and knolls. A magnificent avenue of lime trees
leads to Haddo Country Park with its lakes,
monuments, plaques and memorabilia build up a
fascinating account of the Gordon family who
have lived at Haddo continuously for over 400
years. Paintings include works by Pompeo Batoni,
William Mosman, Sir Thomas Lawrence and James
Giles. Ecumenical chapel services most Sunday
evenings.
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MONYMUSK WALLED GARDEN
Home Farm, Monymusk, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire,
AB51 7HL
Tel: 01467 651543
Web:
www.monymusk.com
The Walled Garden was
originally the 18th Century kitchen garden of
Monymusk House providing the house-kitchen with
fresh fruit, herbs, flowers and vegetables.
Today the walled garden has
a garden centre and coffee shop, where visitors
can relax and enjoy refreshments in beautiful
surroundings. The Garden Centre sells plants,
compost, gardening supplies and a selection of
crafts made by local artists.
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KILDRUMMY CASTLE GARDENS
Kildrummy Castle, Kildrummy, Alford,
Aberdeenshire, AB33 8RA
Tel: 019755 71203
E-mail:
information@kildrummy-castle-gardens.co.uk
Web:
www.kildrummy-castle-gardens.co.uk
The gardens were designed c1904 by Messrs
Backhouse under the direction of David Peary. It
is made up of several large pools and
magnificent rockwork, dominated by the ruins of
Kildrummy Castle. Tea room serving light
refreshments.
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Pitmedden Garden & Museum of Farming Life
Pitmedden, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, AB41 7PD
Tel: 0844 4932177
Fax: 0844 4932178
Web:
National Trust for Scotland, Pitmedden Garden
Opening times
Garden, Museum of Farming Life, shop,
tearoom: 1 May to 30 Sep, daily 10-5.30 (last
admission 5).
Grounds: all year, daily.
The feature which attracts most people to this
property is the formal walled garden originally
laid out in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton. The
National Trust for Scotland set about
re-creating the gardens following designs dating
from the 17th century in the 1950's and today
there are over 5 miles of box hedging arranged
in intricate patterns to form six parterres.
Each is filled with around 40,000 plants which
burst with colour during the summer months.
There are also extensive herbaceous borders and
a fascinating herb garden... a great source of
inspiration for gardeners. Often there are
plants for sale.
Around the high walls are planted over 80
varieties of apple trees with the fruit
available for sale at harvest time. A 1.5 mile
woodland walk is well worth a visit and a picnic
area provides an ideal spot for lunch.
The Museum of Farming Life within the grounds
has an extensive collection of domestic and
agricultural implements from a bygone era.
Within the house there is the gift shop and
tea-room.
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CAIRNESS HOUSE
Lonmay, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire,
AB43 8XP
Tel: 01346 582078
Fax: 01346 582078
E-mail:
info@cairnesshouse.com
Web:
www.cairnesshouse.com
The most important country house in Buchan,
Cairness is also one of the finest examples of
neoclassical architecture in Britain.
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Cairness was built in the
1790s by Charles Gordon of Cairness and Buthlaw as
the heart of a 9,000-acre estate. The Loch of
Strathbeg, today an important RSPB nature reserve,
was once part of the Cairness estate. The Gordons
of Cairness lived here until 1937 when the house
was sold to the Countess of Southesk. After the
war, Cairness was used as a farmhouse and later
was turned into bedsits, falling into steady
decline. It is now being restored and is now open
to the public.
Behind its imposing façade,
the house is welcoming and friendly. A world-class
collection of furniture and works of art, fabulous
interiors, magnificent views of the surrounding
landscape and a lived-in atmosphere make Cairness
a unique experience for every visitor.
Cairness has been until now
a very well kept secret; a truly extraordinary
architectural experience shared by very few.
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The Walled Garden
Drummuir, Grampian, AB55 5JE
Tel: 01542 810332
2.5 acre garden (free entry) to stroll around at
your leisure.
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