List of castles in Aberdeenshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Aberdeenshire, a beautiful region in Scotland, is famous for its many amazing castles! These old buildings tell stories of knights, kings, queens, and powerful families who lived there long ago. From grand royal homes to mysterious ruins, each castle has its own unique history.

What is a Castle?
Famous Castles to Explore
Different Kinds of Castles
Castles You Can Visit
Ruined Castles: Peeking into the Past
Hidden Gems and Lost Castles
Images for kids
See also

What is a Castle?

A castle is a strong building, or a group of buildings, that was built to protect people and land. Castles were often homes for important families, like nobles or royalty. They were designed to be hard to attack, with thick walls, tall towers, and sometimes even moats (ditches filled with water).

Over time, castles changed. Some started as simple wooden forts, then became stone strongholds. Later, some were rebuilt into grand homes, while others became ruins that we can still explore today.

Famous Castles to Explore

Aberdeenshire is home to many incredible castles. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

Balmoral Castle: A Royal Home

Balmoral Castle, a royal residence.

Balmoral Castle is a very special place because it's a private home for the Queen (or King) when they visit Scotland. It's a beautiful "Baronial house," which means it looks like an old castle but was built more for comfort than for fighting. The current castle was finished in 1856, but there was an older castle on the same spot from the 1400s. It's located in a lovely area called Royal Deeside.

Craigievar Castle: The Pink Tower

Craigievar Castle, known for its pinkish hue.

Imagine a castle that looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale! Craigievar Castle is a stunning "Tower house" built in 1626. It's famous for its beautiful pinkish color and its tall, decorative towers. Inside, you can see amazing plasterwork on the ceilings. This castle is very well-preserved and is looked after by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). It's near Alford.

Crathes Castle: Stories on the Ceilings

Crathes Castle, known for its painted ceilings.

Crathes Castle is another fantastic "Tower house" that was finished in 1596. It's famous for its incredible painted ceilings, which tell stories and show beautiful designs. This castle is also very well-preserved and is managed by the NTS. You can find it near Banchory.

Drum Castle: Oldest Tower, Newest Mansion

Drum Castle, showing its ancient tower and later mansion.

Drum Castle is quite unique because it has parts from different times. Its oldest part is a "Tower house" built around 1286, which was used as a royal hunting lodge. Later, in 1619, a grand "Jacobean mansion" was added, and more changes were made in the 1800s. It's a mix of old and newer styles, and it's also preserved by the NTS. It's located in Drumoak.

Dunnottar Castle: A Cliffside Fortress

Dunnottar Castle, perched dramatically on cliffs.

Perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the sea, Dunnottar Castle is one of Scotland's most famous ruined castles. It's a "Courtyard castle" from the 1500s. Imagine how strong and safe it must have felt, surrounded by the ocean! Even though it's a ruin now, it's a very popular place to visit and explore its dramatic history. It's near Stonehaven.

Fyvie Castle: Five Towers, Many Tales

Fyvie Castle, a grand and historic building.

Fyvie Castle is a magnificent "Tower house" with parts dating back to the 1200s! It has five grand towers, each built by a different family over the centuries. This castle has been added to and changed a lot over time, with most of its current look coming from the late 1300s to the late 1500s. It's very well-preserved and is managed by the NTS. It's located in Fyvie.

Huntly Castle: A Grand Ruin

Huntly Castle, a large and impressive ruin.

Huntly Castle is a large and impressive ruin that was once a grand "L-plan tower house." It was built between the 1400s and 1600s and features beautiful decorative plasterwork inside. Even as a ruin, you can still see how magnificent it must have been. It's looked after by Historic Scotland and is located in Huntly.

Kildrummy Castle: A Mighty Medieval Fortress

Kildrummy Castle, a significant medieval ruin.

Kildrummy Castle is a very important medieval castle, built in the mid to late 1200s. It's an "enceinte" castle, which means it has strong walls surrounding a central courtyard. Although it's now a ruin, you can still see its impressive size and imagine its past glory. It's managed by Historic Scotland and is located in Kildrummy.

Tolquhon Castle: A Home with History

Tolquhon Castle, a ruined courtyard castle.

Tolquhon Castle is a "Courtyard castle" built in 1589. It's now a ruin, but it's still a fascinating place to visit and learn about its history. You can explore its different rooms and imagine life there centuries ago. It's managed by Historic Scotland and is located near Pitmedden.

Different Kinds of Castles

Castles come in many shapes and sizes, depending on when and why they were built. Here are a few types you'll find in Aberdeenshire:

Tower house: This is a tall, strong tower that served as both a home and a defense. Many castles in Aberdeenshire, like Abergeldie Castle and Braemar Castle, are tower houses.
Z-plan castle: This type of castle has a main rectangular block with towers at opposite corners, making it look a bit like the letter 'Z' from above. This design allowed defenders to shoot at attackers from different angles. Cairnbulg Castle and Castle Fraser are examples of Z-plan castles.
Baronial house: These are grand homes built to look like castles, but they were more about comfort and showing off wealth than about defense. Balmoral Castle and Birse Castle are examples.
Courtyard castle: These castles have buildings arranged around a central open space or courtyard. Dunnottar Castle is a famous example.

Castles You Can Visit

Many castles in Aberdeenshire are open to the public, allowing you to step back in time and explore their history. These include:

Abergeldie Castle: A preserved tower house, leased by the Royal Family for many years.
Braemar Castle: A preserved tower house, managed by a local community group.
Corgarff Castle: A preserved tower house, managed by Historic Scotland.
Craigievar Castle: A beautifully preserved tower house, managed by the NTS.
Crathes Castle: A preserved tower house with famous painted ceilings, managed by the NTS.
Delgatie Castle: A preserved tower house with painted ceilings, managed by a trust.
Drum Castle: A preserved tower house and mansion, managed by the NTS.
Dunnottar Castle: A famous ruined courtyard castle, privately owned but open to visitors.
Fyvie Castle: A grand preserved tower house, managed by the NTS.
Glenbuchat Castle: A ruined Z-plan tower house, managed by Historic Scotland.
Huntly Castle: A ruined L-plan tower house, managed by Historic Scotland.
Kildrummy Castle: A ruined medieval castle, managed by Historic Scotland.
Knock Castle: A ruined tower house, managed by Historic Scotland.
Tolquhon Castle: A ruined courtyard castle, managed by Historic Scotland.

Ruined Castles: Peeking into the Past

Even ruined castles are exciting to visit! They give us a glimpse into the past and let our imaginations run wild. Many castles in Aberdeenshire are now ruins, like:

Balquhain Castle: A ruined 14th-century tower house, visited by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Bognie Castle: A ruined tower house from the 1660s.
Cluny Crichton Castle: A ruined tower house from 1666.
Corse Castle: A ruined L and Z-plan castle from the 16th century.
Dundarg Castle: A ruined castle from the 14th century, rebuilt in the 16th.
Dunnideer Castle: A ruined tower house from around 1260.
Eden Castle: A ruined Z-plan tower house from 1577.
Esslemont Castle: A ruined tower house from the 14th century or earlier.
Fedderate Castle: A ruined L-plan tower house from 1257.
Findlater Castle: A ruined courtyard castle from the 14th century, right by the sea.
Inchdrewer Castle: A ruined 16th-century tower house.
Inverallochy Castle: A ruined courtyard castle from the 13th century.
Inverugie Castle: A ruined motte and bailey castle from the 12th century.
Kindrochit Castle: A ruined keep from the 14th century, founded by Malcolm Canmore.
Kinord Castle: A ruined castle from the 14th century.
Knockhall Castle: A ruined tower house from 1565.
Lesmoir Castle: A ruined courtyard castle from the 16th century.
Ravenscraig Castle: A ruined L-plan tower house from the 15th century.
Slains Castle: A ruined castellated house, rebuilt in 1837.
Slains Castle: An older ruined tower house, destroyed in 1594.

Hidden Gems and Lost Castles

Some castles have very little left of them, or have disappeared entirely! These "slight remains" or "sites" still mark where important buildings once stood:

Auchenhove Castle: Only slight remains of this 16th-century castle are left.
Banff Castle: No remains of this 12th-century castle are left.
Cobairdy Castle: No remains of this 16th-century tower house are left.
Coull Castle: Only slight remains of this 13th-century castle are left.
Culsalmond: The site of a 16th-century castle, probably where Newton House is now.
Cushnie Castle: Only slight remains of this 16th-century castle are left.
Daugh Castle: The site of what was probably a wooden castle.
Dee Castle: The site of a 15th-century tower house.
Dorlaithers Castle: The site of a castle near Turriff.
Dumbreck Castle: The site of a castle near Ellon.
Easter Clune Castle: The site of a tower house near Banchory.
Foveran Castle: Collapsed in 1720.
Freefield Castle: The site of a castle that existed in 1654.
Gairnieston Castle: No remains of this castle are left.
Gartly Castle: No remains of this 15th-century keep are left.
Lonmay Castle: No remains of this castle are left.
Migvie Castle: Only slight remains of this 13th-century enclosure castle are left.
Castle Newe: No remains of this 1831 Z-plan tower house are left.
Castle of Rattray: No remains of this 12th-century motte are left.
Tillyhilt Castle: Only traces of this castle are left.
Turriff Castle: The site of a castle in Turriff.
Wardhouse Castle: Only traces of this 13th-century tower house are left.
Waterton Castle: A ruined 16th-century tower house.