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Updated June 2024
Looking For Quick Answers For Visiting Craigievar Castle In Scotland? Find Them All Here!
What Is Craigievar Castle?
As the name suggests Craigievar Castle is a castle, which can be found in Scotland. The reason the castle is so famous is because of its pink rendering which makes it look like its came straight out of a fairytale.
Where Is Craigievar Castle?
Craigievar Castle is located amongst the rolling hills of Aberdeenshire; 6 miles south of Alford, 15 miles north-west of Banchory and 26 miles west of Aberdeen.
How Do I Get To Craigievar Castle?
The easiest way to get to the castle is by driving. From Aberdeen city centre, it takes around 50 minutes by car. The final leg of the journey to get to the castle is down a single-track road, but it's well sign-posted from the main road. There is parking at the castle. If you are a National Trust for Scotland member, parking is free otherwise it does cost ~£3. You could only pay the parking by cash when I visited so take some coins just in case. There's no direct buses to Craigievar castle. If you need to use public transport, your best bet would be to take the bus to Alford or another surrounding village and then, prebook a taxi to take you to and from the castle.
What's The History Of Craigievar Castle?
Craigievar castle originally belonged to the Mortimer family for about 300 years until 1610, when they then sold the castle to William Forbes. Back then, the castle had a large defence wall, some of which you can still see to this day. William Forbes decided to convert the castle into a seven-storey Scottish Baronial masterpiece and it hasn't really changed since. The castle belonged to the family of Forbes for 350 years until 1963, when it was given to the National Trust for Scotland.
What Are Some Fun Facts About Craigievar Castle?
- Probably the most famous fact of all is that the castle was apparently the inspiration for Walt Disney's Cinderella castle.
- It is one of the best preserved tower houses in Scotland.
- The castle wasn't always pink! In fact, it was a cream colour up until Sir John Forbes inherited the castle in 1824. He agreed with Aberdeen architect, John Smith, that the walls should have a pigment added to better match the granite detailing and so, the castle became the iconic pink colour you see today.
- There's no electricity above the ground floor, this is because the former owner wanted no artificial light in the castle. This gives you a real sense of what the castle would have been like back in the day.
- In 1879, the castle had some very famous visitors, none other than Queen Victoria and Prince Albert themselves showed up, unannounced. Upon finding no one home, they let themselves in to explore the castle. Queen Victoria famously described the castle as being a "strange and curious old castle", not sure whether this is a compliment or not! After the Queens and the Princes visit, the castle became a bit of a tourist attraction.
What Are The Craigievar Castle Ghost Stories?
As with many Scottish castles, Craigievar has its own fair share of ghost stories and one of them in particular, is dubbed as "Scotland's Romeo and Juliet". The story goes that the Forbes and Gordon clans were old enemies, a bit like the montagues and capulets. Apparently, Sir John Forbes daughter fell in love with a member of the Gordon clan. One evening, this young man came to the castle to call on his love. He made his way up to the blue room on the 4th floor, only to be met by Sir John Forbes instead of his daughter. The furious father lunged at the member of the Gordon clan with a sword causing him to fall out the window and to his untimely death. He is said to haunt the blue room to this day and his ghostly footsteps can be heard moving across the blue room to the window. There's also said to be a ghost of a musician who has haunted the castle since he fell into the castle well and drowned.
How Much Does It Cost To Visit Dunnottar Castle?
An adult ticket to Craigievar Castle costs £16 and a 45-minute guided tour is included in your ticket. The tours take place every 30 minutes and are limited to only 10 people at a time. There is no advance booking available, so tickets are issued on a 'first come, first serve' basis. If you are a member of the National Trust for Scotland, you will get free entry to Craigievar Castle and lots more of the castles in the area.
What Is Craigievar Castle's Opening Hours?
The grounds for the castle are open throughout the year from January 1st to 31st December, dawn to dusk, meaning you can wonder around the castle whenever you like. The castle, shop and kiosk are open daily from the 31st May to 2nd September from 10.30am-4pm. During September, they are only open from Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm and during October, they are only open Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-3pm. The castle, shop and kiosk are shut past the 28th October right through to the 28th February.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Craigievar Castle?
I visited the castle in April and although it was a bit chilly, I thought it was a really good time to visit. We managed to pretty much get the castle to ourselves with the exception of a few other people. The castle is only open from March through to the end of October, so if you want to see the inside of the castle, you'll need to visit during these months. The summer will typically be busier as its peak season.
Is It Worth Visiting Craigievar Castle?
Yes, definitely! Craigievar Castle is absolutely stunning and it's not often that you see a pink castle. Despite it being huge, it still has a down-to-earth, family-home feel to it which isn't a feeling that many other castles exude. You could even take a picnic with you and sit at the benches to make the most of your visit. The only downside is the car park, which was so bumpy last time I visited, expect some major pot holes. Let me know in the comments below if they've fixed it since!
Who Do I Think Craigievar Castle Is Best For?
The castle is a great day out for most people. The castle isn't a far walk from the car park so there aren't any accessibility issues around the grounds, except from the aforementioned potholes in the car park! If you want to go into the castle, there are lots of staircases as the building is seven storeys high. However, you don't necessarily need to go inside as you can still appreciate the castle from the outside.
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