Balmoral Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Photo: Stuart Yeates from Oxford, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Aashish Rao, CC BY 3.0 · Drow69, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- Royal Family (Balmoral Estates)
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Aviemore, 24.7 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- Seasonal Apr-Aug plus winter tours; interior access limited
Pinpoint
Balmoral Estates, Ballater AB35 5TB
Telephone 01339 742534
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Balmoral is still a working royal residence, and access reflects that - the grounds and gardens are open seasonally, but the only interior room generally open to visitors is the Ballroom, and photography isn't allowed there. Reviewers treat it more as an extensive grounds walk, highland cattle included, than a house tour.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The gardens and walking paths through the grounds, with highland cattle in the pasture - reviewers rate the walk over the limited interior access.
Before you go
Set expectations for a grounds visit rather than a full house tour - only the Ballroom is open, and no photography is allowed inside it. Give yourself at least an hour or two to do the grounds justice.
What visitors say
Balmoral Castle reviews · 4.3 / 5 across 7,255 Google reviews
Visitors consistently praise the well-maintained grounds and gardens, with the on-site cafe repeatedly singled out for good food, and a free audio guide app helping bring the history to life.
Multiple reviewers point out that only the ballroom is open to the public inside the castle itself (photography isn't allowed there), and a couple mention the gift shop feels overpriced and that the visit can feel a bit light on activities for young children.
“A really nice walk around the castle grounds. And well kept gardens.”- Benjamin Murtagh, visitor review
Walks at Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“The walking paths are numerous around the castle, grounds, and river.”- The Curious Hobbit, visitor review
Also worth knowing: dogs are reported welcome.
Comparing options? See every UK castle with a walk visitors describe.
One visitor's account, not a route guide. We hold no distances, waymarks or start points. For the actual route, check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map before you set out, and treat coastal and clifftop paths as weather- and tide-dependent.
History
Prince Albert · 1852-1856
Prince Albert bought the estate and castle in 1852 and immediately commissioned a new castle, completed in 1856 to a design by Aberdeen architect William Smith. The old castle was demolished shortly after. It remains the private Highland residence of the Royal Family and has never been a Crown Estate property.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan your visit
- Combine this with
- Braemar Castle is only 6.3 miles away - worth pairing into the same day. See Braemar Castle →
- Tickets & opening times
- Check current prices and hours with the operator before travelling - details change more often than any directory can track.
- Data checked
- Ratings, review counts and the visitor-note quotes above were drawn from publicly available Google reviews. Castles change hands and adjust hours faster than any directory can track in real time.
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Parking
- “The parking stations were out of order while I was there so I spent the whole time stressing getting a parking ticket, though that's mostly my own anxiety.” - Michelle Darnell
- Guided tours
- “There is a free audio guide app with history as you go, just look for the signs with numbers.” - The Curious Hobbit
- Facilities
- “The gift shop was interesting, but overpriced with one tartan hair scrunchy priced at 25GBP and a knitted headband/scart for 86GBP.” - Michelle Darnell
Common questions about Balmoral Castle
Where is Balmoral Castle?
Balmoral Castle is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at Balmoral Estates, Ballater AB35 5TB.
Do you need a ticket to visit Balmoral Castle?
Yes - Balmoral Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by Royal Family (Balmoral Estates). Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Balmoral Castle?
Yes - Balmoral Castle offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the castle itself or within its grounds. See the Castles You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
Are there walks at Balmoral Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “The walking paths are numerous around the castle, grounds, and river.”. That is one visitor's account rather than a route guide, so check the operator's own site and an Ordnance Survey map for distances, paths and start points before setting out.
What is the highlight of visiting Balmoral Castle?
The gardens and walking paths through the grounds, with highland cattle in the pasture - reviewers rate the walk over the limited interior access.
