Crathes Castle
Sixteenth-century tower house near Banchory with painted ceilings, a walled garden with historic yew hedges, nature trails and an adventure play area.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Crathes Castle is a classic Scottish tower house in Aberdeenshire. The Burnett family, who traced their local roots to a land grant from Robert the Bruce in 1323, built it in the sixteenth century and lived there for more than 350 years. The castle has a maze of turrets, towers and oak-panelled rooms, and several of its painted ceilings survive in remarkable condition. Inside are family portraits and antique furniture, and the Horn of Leys, said to have been given to the Burnetts by Robert the Bruce in the fourteenth century, is among the most treasured objects.
The castle stands in its own grounds, which include a walled garden divided into eight sections. They range from sculpted topiary and herbaceous borders to modern exotic planting, and the huge yew hedges are thought to date back to 1702. The wider estate was once part of the Royal Forest of Drum, and today six waymarked trails lead through woodland where visitors may see roe deer, red squirrels, woodpeckers, buzzards and herons.
The property is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Besides the castle tour, visitors can use the Café 1702, the gift shop and the Wild Wood Adventure Play area, and the estate hosts a regular programme of family days, outdoor cinema, theatre and workshops.
Highlights
- Painted ceilings and family portraits inside a turreted tower house
- Horn of Leys, linked to Robert the Bruce
- Walled garden with yew hedges thought to date from 1702
- Six waymarked nature trails with red squirrels and roe deer
- Wild Wood Adventure Play area
Permanent exhibitions
- Castle interiors – Rooms with painted ceilings, oak panelling, family portraits and antique furniture, including the Horn of Leys.
- Walled garden – Eight garden sections with topiary, herbaceous borders and exotic planting, framed by old yew hedges.
- Estate nature trails – Six waymarked trails through woodland where roe deer, red squirrels and woodpeckers can be seen.
- Founded
- 1553
- Operated by
- National Trust for Scotland
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £18 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £14Concession |
| Groups (12+ people) | –A preferential rate applies to groups of 12 or more, booked through the Trust's travel trade team. |
| Families | £40.50One-adult family ticket £34.50. |
| Young Scot card holder | £1 |
| Walled garden only – adult (garden token) | £8 |
| Wild Wood Adventure Play – child | £5Children under 4 free. |
Castle prices are shown without the optional 10% donation (with donation adult £19.80, concession £15.40, family £44.55, one-adult family £37.95, garden token £8.80). The grounds and trails are free. Admission is free for National Trust for Scotland members. Car park £5, free for members. Crathes takes part in the ScotRail 2-for-1 offer for rail travellers (voucher required).
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Access is limited in the castle and around the estate; only the ground floor of the castle is wheelchair accessible because of narrow staircases. Staff at the shop or café can help visitors who need wheelchair assistance. The disabled car park is next to the courtyard café, and parking at the castle is by arrangement with the ticket office. Accessible toilets are in the courtyard café. A detailed accessibility guide is published by the National Trust for Scotland. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the castle, the walled garden and the Wild Wood play area.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £40.50 · One-adult family ticket £34.50. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
The estate has Wild Wood Adventure Play and a play park at the café (open depending on the weather), and a programme of family fun days and workshops. Baby changing facilities are available. Buggies can be used in the café and the gardens, but not in the castle apart from the ground floor.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Visitors arriving by bus walk 1 mile from the driveway entrance on the A93 to the ticket office, café and gift shop.
By car
Paid parking
Car park close to the castle, £5 and free for members, with a dedicated coach parking area. There are no electric vehicle charging points.
- Accessible parking
Crathes Castle is 15 miles west of Aberdeen and 3 miles east of Banchory on the A93; the entrance is by the signposted main drive. Some satnav systems send drivers along private roads; the Trust gives the coordinates of the drive entrance as 57.056667, -2.426428.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Café 1702 and a gift shop; the café offers free Wi-Fi. Toilets are at the café. Bike rack in the courtyard of the café. Dogs are welcome in the shop and café.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
The castle is offered as a venue for weddings, corporate events and private parties. A holiday cottage, East Lodge (sleeps 4), is also let on the estate.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The castle is visited on a free-flow basis at your own pace; staff can give more details. Pre-booking is not possible: tickets are bought in the shop and groups enter the castle at 10-minute intervals. Drones may not be flown without permission. Grazing livestock and honeybee hives are on the estate. |
