Flybe / November 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

Flight Time

Take-off

5 OF T H E B E S T

Castles and Grand Houses

in Aberdeenshire

Drum Castle, Drumoak, Banchory

Drum Castle was granted to the Irvine family by

King Robert the Bruce in 1323. The High Hall of the

castle tower is still in its medieval state, accessed

by a narrow newel stair offering fine views from the

battlements. The castle grounds contain an ancient

oak woodland that’s home to red kites, roe deer,

red squirrels and badgers. Don’t miss the beautiful

Garden of Historic Roses, divided into quadrants

displaying how roses have been cultivated from the

17th to the 20th century.

Haddo House, Methlick, Ellon

Stately and striking, Haddo House was

designed in 1732 by William Adam, and

underwent an opulent remodelling in

the 1880s. As a result, it has the clean

elegance of the Georgian style with a

rich Victorian interior, period furniture,

beautiful ceilings, and the Queen’s

bedroom, where Queen Victoria stayed

in 1857. Family portraits trace generations

of Gordons, who played a huge part in

Scottish history such as George Gordon,

the 1st Earl of Aberdeen who was Lord

Chancellor of Scotland, and the 4th Earl,

who served as Prime Minister. No visit is

complete without seeing the delightful

formal gardens. There are bird hides,

woodland walks, a play park and a

wildflower meadow. A magnificent

avenue of lime trees leads to Haddo

Country Park.

For more information on the castles, visit

www.nts.org.uk

Craigievar Castle, Alford

Said to be the inspiration for

Disney’s Cinderella Castle,

fairytale Craigievar was built

in 1576, and is among the best

preserved in Scotland. Artificial

light has not been installed in

the upper floors. This means

that the extensive collection

of historic artefacts and art is

seen by only the shifting light

from the sun, exactly as they

would have been when they

were made.

The parkland surrounding

the castle features an unusual

Scottish glen garden, a

Victorian kitchen garden and

two waymarked woodland

trails.

Fyvie Castle, Fyvie, Turriff

A magnificent fortress in the

heart of Aberdeenshire, Fyvie

Castle’s 800-year history is

rich in legends, folklore and

even ghost stories. Discover

the amazing collection of

antiquities, armour and rich

portrait collections, including

one of the largest private

collections of Raeburns in the

world. Afterwards, take a stroll

around the picturesque loch

and spot some of its array of

wildlife including swans, coots,

mallards and moorhens. In

the winter, they’re joined by

greylag geese, tufted ducks

and goldeneye ducks!

Crathes Castle, Garden and

Estate, Banchory

Sixteenth-century Crathes

Castle is every inch the classic

Scottish tower house, and a

fantastic day out for all the

family. Visitors can discover

a labyrinth of cultural history,

from portraits and antique

furniture to painted ceilings,

or explore the famous garden

and enjoy a walk through the

wider estate that includes the

site of a 100,000-year-old lunar

‘calendar’ that archaeologists

discovered in the grounds.

The walled garden is a

wonderful jungle of history

that encompasses every

green delight imaginable,

including a sculpted topiary,

soft herbaceous colours and

modern exotic blooms. The

massive yew hedges are

thought to have been planted

as early as 1702.