The sun was splitting the sky today so we decided to visit Crathes Castle & Estate. The location was very busy as there were extra activities on in the grounds, bouncy things of several shapes and sizes, face painting, arts and crafts etc. It Is a self guided tour through the castle going up one set of very tight circular stairs and returning back down to ground level on a second set of stairs. You do need good mobility to manage these stairs. All the rooms were temperature and humidity controlled to try and preserve the fabrics and furnishings within each room. All the items were most interesting to see but not as old as those in Glamis castle. One advantage of this castle Is that you may take photographs except for one small area. After we completed the tour the heat from the sun guided us to the nearby ice cream vendor followed by a walk around the gardens. The gardens are large and are the home to many exotic plants, trees and shrubs. It Is a full time job for five volunteer gardeners to keep the gardens and grounds in such a wondrous condition. We finished off the day with a quick snack in the cafe. Soft drinks, cakes and cappuccino were enjoyed at a leisurely pace. A great day out, highly recommended.

What a great castle, so well kept and the staff are so full of knowledge The gardens are fabulous and I would suggest a while day, half day at least in the castle if you want to read all the details and do it justice, then a good couple of hours minimum in the gardens. Also great walks around the area also and. A lovely cafe.

This was an absolutely lovely location to come for a day out. The place was really busy due to a family fun day event being on, but there was still so much open space that you never felt hemmed in or on top of other visitors. The lady in the gift shop, and indeed all of the staff we encountered, were very friendly and happy to help us out. The only sad thing was that, whilst the garden was amazing, me and my wife couldn't go in together because we brought our dog. I feel that it should be the case that as long as your dog is kept on a short lead, is well behaved, and they are picked up after (which should be the case on the whole estate anyway) then they should be allowed in the gardens too. Overall a lovely site to visit.

i absolutely loved this castle ...the painted ceilings are just amazing ...Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and set within its own glorious gardens, Crathes Castle provides a memorable experience with its towers, turrets and stories of its resident ghosts. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to the Burnett family in 1323: the ancient Horn of Leys, which can be seen today in the Great Hall, marks his gift. Inside you’ll find a labyrinth of cultural history, from family portraits to fine antique furniture. The walled garden is a wonderful jungle of history, split into eight sections that encompass every green delight imaginable a sculpted topiary, soft herbaceous colours and modern exotic blooms. The massive yew hedges are thought to have been planted as early as 1702. Crathes Castle Estate was once part of the Royal Forest of Drum. Today there are a range of waymarked and clearly signposted trails. Look out for wildlife along the way – you may see red squirrels, woodpeckers and herons.

We are having a family holiday in Crathes. My wife and I have spent the last two days driving to here, so were pleased of a quiet day. After breakfast, we walked along the Deeside Way, a relatively flat walk from Aberdeen to Ballater, which was as far as the Deeside Railway went. Queen Victoria didn't want the railway to spoil the countryside around Balmoral. We soon came across Crathes signal box now a private residence and the remains if the platforms. Walking on, we came to a fork, with the Deeside Way going left over a pack horse bridge or right, under the road. Little did we realise what a difference taking the right fork would make. Continuing on our walk we came across the Milton of Crathes, a selection of independent shops. From here, we passed some railway carriages and still no signs directing us to the castle. Eventually, we came out beside the main road at Banchory, nearly four Mike's away. It was a very day and would get hotter as the day went on. We asked a local lad which way to the castle and he directed us up a road. It was not the main entrance but one used countries ago. It was a long uphill climb through the welcoming shade of huge trees of all descriptions. Eventually, we arrived at the castle and it looked very different to other castles we have visited. The castle is steeped in history, the one notable thing being it was lived in by the same family for centuries. We had a walk around inside, partly to cool off and partly to find out more about its history. We had a fascinating journey throughout most of the castle. The most fascinating were the painted ceilings, especially the Room of the Nine Nobles, based on great heroes from the past and the Muses' Room, with paintings of nine Muses and seven Virtues. From here, we walked to the cafe to get refreshments, but could believe the scores of wasps making most families lives a misery. In all my years, I have never so many wasps in one place. We drank up and departed for the welcoming shade of a hirse chestnut tree where we ate our lunch. From here, we walked down to the garden where a token allows families access to the gardens. The tokens can be collected from the main desk. The garden is a place of wonder, as with every turn, you see something different and interesting. You can see the castle from different angles which is a treat. Considering the hot sommer we are experiencing, the gardeners have produced a magnificent show for everyone. It seemed every colour was on view, depending on the flowers and which garden beds we were at. We even passed a couple getting married in a centre piece of the garden. We were intrigued by two large bushes close together at the side nearest the castle. It was while we were sat in the gsrden entrance building that we found the answer. The trees were planted in the 1700, and clipped in what we would describe as small urns. (They obviously had some meaning!!) Today, one is an egg sitting on a eggcup and the other is waiting for an egg. We much prefer the latter version. From here, we walked down the main path, the white trail, to the main entrance , stopping to look at the Highland cattle. We came across a bridge which I guess would have been part of the old road. Underneath, water from the large pond flowed down to the river. We followed a path and lo and behold came out at the road bridge we saw earlier on. We were no walking home knowing we didn't have as long a walk as this morning. By now, the heat was building, so a shorter walk was very welcome. Crathes Castle is an interesting place to visit, with lots of space to run around. There is a children's play area and well behaved dogs are welcomed. Crathes Castle has a cafe catering for all tastes and a great gift shop, selling a range of gifts and food.

We didn't go to the castle but WHAT a garden! We went twice and even in the space of 10 days there were different things to see. Absolute must for garden enthusiasts, whether you enjoy the formal topiary or the amazing themed borders. We chatted for a long time with the volunteers, who were very informative. Will happily come back again and again.

Crathes is my favourite castle in the Shire. There are so many woodland trails as well as the incredible walled garden and an atmospheric cafe. The gardens-only tickets cost £7.50 per person, plus £5 for all day parking. The gardens aren't dog friendly, but the rest of the estate is.

We enjoyed our visit to Drum Castle. The tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly and we found the information interesting. Unfortunately, it was pouring cats and dogs when we finished, so although we did make our way to the gardens it was hard to enjoy them with the weather. That said, you could tell that the walled rose garden was a special place and the water garden we passed was quite peaceful. The only reason I’m rating this a 4 vs a 5 is because there are a few other walled gardens that are larger with more variety for the avid gardener. My only recommendation would be for the tour guide to end the tour with more info about what we could find outside. The walled garden is a short walk from the castle and could easily be missed. We just happened to ask about it.

This castle is definitely worth a visit. The gardens are beautiful, blooming with flowers on our visit in August, and humming with bees and lovely butterflies. The access to the interior is by guided tour only, but it is well worth doing the 45 minute tour. Our guide was informative, and entertaining. Entry and parking is free for NT members.

Very cool. Like all national trust for Scotland castles in the North East it’s a beauty in some of the best looking land in the world. This was has a few extras that make it a bit more special mostly the private chapel and the wood play ground. But has the usual stunning architecture, interesting owners, fascinating history, great furniture, walled garden, gift shop and great staff. A beautiful drive to get there as well.

We had a wonderful tour led by Cameron. Humorous and educational. Engaging and just long enough without dragging on. We would’ve liked the ability to go self-guided; however, this was a great experience overall.

Cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. there 700 years of history in one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses. Drum Castle has something for everyone, from the medieval High Hall to modern art exhibitions. The original 13th-century tower of Drum Castle has been suggested as the work of medieval architect Richard Cementarius, who built the Brig o' Balgownie, the first Bridge of Don, in Old Aberdeen....this was one amazing castle to visit...definitely worth a visit

An amazing place to visit. Highly recommended. The grounds are idyllic. You are guided around the Castle by an informative guide who made the whole experience entertaining. The grounds are amazing and such a joy to explore.

The playground is uniquely designed using only natural materials. It was great, and the children really enjoyed it. The castle gardens were filled with the beautiful scent of roses, and the whole place was lovely.

Have visited twice now. Once for coffee & cake and once on a Sunday for food. Cool place with a relaxed vibe and great views. Food was great too. All home made stuff. Dog friendly.

Amazing food at the Falls of Feugh Restaurant. I only went to have the highly recommended Cullen Skink, which is truly amazing. This then led onto the Venison Stew and the Strawberry and Lime Cheese Cake to finish. Summer body can wait until next summer. 😆

We had a beautiful lunch. The weather was sunny and cool, the flowers were blooming, the ambiance was relaxing and refined, service was wonderful, and lunch was delicious. I'm so glad we made a reservation here.

We chose the Falls of Feugh as our wedding venue and had the most wonderful day. The food was absolutely incredible—so many of our guests commented on how delicious everything was. The team were great and went out of their way to accommodate our requests. On the day itself, the staff went above and beyond to make everything run smoothly. We’re so grateful for their kindness and professionalism. Thank you for making our day so special.

Fantastic real Scottish dishes. The best Cullen skink I've ever had, followed by perfectly-cooked venison loin served with beef stovies potato and seasonal vegetables.

Impromptu visit on a Sunday to get out and enjoy the warm mild weather, we turnt up just before they closed but they were still very happy to serve us tea and cakes, a beautiful calm spot, well sheltered and scenic. The staffs were very friendly and the food was delicious. We had tea and a couple of tray bake slices and shared a scone, everything was lovely. We will be coming back for a proper meal here soon. Prices were very reasonable. Parking onsite or just across the road. Dog friendly outside.

Lovely staff. It was my birthday and they were very kind and made it very special. I also have a nut and peanut allergy and they were very reassuring. We didn’t have any cash and couldn’t tip with card machine unfortunately but we will remember next time! Recommend!

Ohh, good for younger, but of course for elderly is well, so good for walking and nice Gym - stone steps, yass. 😍 and seasonal berries and mushrooms.

We went up the ‘gentle’ way which was still quite tough for me as it was an uphill walk through the quiet woods. Loved the amazing view from the top of Scolty Hill and the Burnett monument. The descent was quite steep but thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Paid parking here.

A lovely walk with a great view from the tower. Got to stuff ourselves with lots of wild blueberries, too!

You can drive up the hill and hike the last 30 minutes to the top, or you can park your car near Feugh falls (free parking) and enjoy the walk all the way to the top through a beautiful forest. Depending on which route you choose once your up on Scolty Hill, it'll take 2-3 hours in total. Apart from an amazing view, Scolty Hill offers a tower with a narrow staircase for braver souls than me to climb up.

Nice practice of walking. There are three walks to take, each has different difficulty of walking to get to top. I took 3rd one, violet, it has quite steep upwards path, be prepared, take water. Very nice views all around. If you can't get to higher hills or mountains, this is very good to catch a feeling that you're on top of high hill.

Scolty hill located in Banchory is a nice forest walk for people of all ages. At the top of the hill is a tower and the views are great all around, though it gets very windy. The heather is in full bloom at the moment which gives a purplish view all around and in a month's time with the fall colours the landscape views will be breathtaking.

Despite trying this on a really hot day we enjoyed this outing. Knees can tell the story as it's steep with rocky path but I am getting old so no problem to Munro baggers or younger folk. Well worth it for the fantastic view from the top. We walked in from banchory but carparks are available at start of forest walks.

My daughter always enjoys this 20 minute ride on the steam train at Milton of Crathes. There were two carriages for the first ride of the day at 11:00am. Refreshments and light snacks sold onboard and they do take cards. The station Is well maintained as Is the lovely steam train. There are also rides at 13:00 and 15:00 and if you have paid already at 11:00 no further charge. Now has a new 45 minute drive a steam train experience available, See website for details.

It’s always amazing to see these places and so much history is such a small area. It’s amazing how long there Trains and carriages last ! Talk about built to last.

A credit to the very hardworking enthusiastic volunteers . Thank you for your endeavours, a credit to you all. Best of luck with your future plans.

We only stopped to take photos. The platform is accessible from the car park so taking pictures was really straightforward.

Superb Steam Train Afternoon Tea Joined the train for an afternoon tea (which comes from Milton of Crathes) for a family birthday, it was delicious and something unique and different to do for a special occasion in Aberdeenshire, and we were able to stay on the train for multiple trips until we finished all our goodies. Scones, clotted cream & Jam Raspberry tart Lemon sponge Victoria sponge Millionaire shortbread Selection of sandwiches Tea or coffee Book in advance

Used to be less than £5 pp but now almost £8 however great location and fabulous experience for kids and grown ups equally. Very much recommended operational coal fired steam train experience. 30 mins drive away from Aberdeen and drive is through beautiful countryside.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Royal Deeside Railway. I have been following the Railway on Facebook and it was great to have the opportunity to see it in the flesh!

We visited battlegrounds for paintball session this Saturday. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Out referee Matt was fun, insightful and great banter too. He took really good care of our team and was great at explaining all the games ensuring we were prepared accordingly. We cannot thank you guys enough. We had booked for my brothers stag do but we are looking forward to coming back soon as we all had such a great time. Thank you again.

Battle grounds is an amazing place. We've had and went to a couple of kids' birthday parties. It's always great fun, and the staff are super helpful and kind. I would recommend

Celebrated my birthday here and it was so worth it. Had the warmest welcome and so much fun doing archery and axe throwing. If you're ever stuck on where to celebrate something or where to have the most fun you'll ever have i’d definitely come here, highly recommended!

Brilliant place to go for airsoft, staff are amazing, I had my gun jam and couldn't get it shooting again but one of the staff got it working again within 5 minutes completely free of charge. The atmosphere is great with loads of regulars who are always a joy to play with. The airsoft field is fantastic. Lots of variety in cover, buildings, and gamemodes! The staff are always up for a laugh, it's easy to see that they really enjoy their jobs. Would recommend it here for anyone interested in starting airsoft as everyone's always willing to help you get into the sport.

I have been a few times for paintball. Really excellent facilities and the staff were friendly and very professional throughout. I would highly recommend Battlegrounds to you. I have never had a bad experience and always had enormous fun.

Had a great time for my 30th with 16 of us, mostly beginners. Staff hosted us well and we managed 4 or 5 games (with extra paintballs - buying bulk and splitting bill made it cheaper) different areas and game modes were limited due to ice but the refs gave us a great time with some warm ups and different objectives.

A great afternoon doing Archery…..celebrating kids 14th birthday. The instructor was very warm and welcoming not to mention his patience and humour. We will definitely be back.