Crathes Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Photo: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gallery: Graeme Churchard, CC BY 4.0 · Graeme Churchard, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust for Scotland
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Nearest station
- Stonehaven, 10.4 miles (straight-line)
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
- Note
- 16th-century tower house with painted ceilings and gardens
Pinpoint
Crathes, Banchory AB31 5QJ
Telephone 01330 844525
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Crathes is a 16th-century tower house built by the Burnett family, known for painted ceilings among the best surviving examples in Scotland, and a walled garden reviewers rank among the finest of the National Trust for Scotland's properties. It's a self-guided tour through the castle, with woodland trails and an atmospheric cafe rounding out the estate.
At a glance
Worth the trip
The painted ceilings and the walled garden - reviewers repeatedly name both as reasons Crathes stands out even among a strong field of Aberdeenshire castles.
Before you go
Gardens-only tickets are available at £7.50, plus £5 parking, if you don't want the full castle visit. The garden itself isn't dog-friendly, though the wider estate and woodland trails are.
What visitors say
Crathes Castle reviews · 4.6 / 5 across 3,225 Google reviews
Visitors consistently highlight the walled garden as a major draw alongside the 16th-century castle's spiral staircases and painted ceilings, with knowledgeable staff and volunteers and a well-liked on-site cafe also mentioned repeatedly.
One practical note recurs: the self-guided tour involves tight circular stairs that require good mobility, and the site can get busy when extra family activities are running in the grounds.
“Great morning looking around the castle and grounds, lovely cosy place with lots of history. Very informative knowledge staff and volunteers to help.”- David Bosworth., visitor review
Getting in - what National Trust for Scotland says
Buggy and wheelchair access to Cafe 1702 and the gardens, but not into the castle beyond the ground floor due to narrow staircases. Disabled car park adjacent to the courtyard cafe; disabled parking at the castle itself is by arrangement via the ticket office on arrival. Accessible toilets at the courtyard cafe. A detailed Accessibility Guide for Crathes is published.
Taken from National Trust for Scotland’s own website and read 28 July 2026 - check the current version. Access can change with building work, weather and staffing - if the visit depends on it, ring ahead.
Walks at Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle is on our walks roll because a visitor described a walk here in their own review:
“After we completed the tour the heat from the sun guided us to the nearby ice cream vendor followed by a walk around the gardens.”- John Rankin, 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
Alexander Burnett · 1553
King Robert the Bruce granted land here to the Burnett family in 1323, who built a crannog (island fortification) in a bog before constructing the present tower house starting in 1553. Alexander Burnett completed it in 1596 and added painted beam ceilings of exceptional quality. The castle remained in Burnett hands for nearly 400 years until they gifted it to the National Trust for Scotland in 1951.
Adapted from this castle's Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 gardens-only tickets cost £7.50 per person, plus £5 for all day parking.” - Michaela Cameron
- Guided tours
- “It Is a self guided tour through the castle going up one set of very tight circular stairs and returning back down to ground level on a second set of stairs.” - John Rankin
- Terrain & accessibility
- “You do need good mobility to manage these stairs.” - John Rankin
- Facilities
- “Topped and tailed with lunch and tea in the bright, spacious café, our visit on a brilliantly sunny May afternoon was a joy.” - Daphne and Jon Shepherd
Common questions about Crathes Castle
Where is Crathes Castle?
Crathes Castle is in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at Crathes, Banchory AB31 5QJ.
Do you need a ticket to visit Crathes Castle?
Yes - Crathes Castle is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by National Trust for Scotland. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Crathes Castle?
Yes - Crathes 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.
Is Crathes Castle dog-friendly?
Visitor reviews suggest dogs are welcome at Crathes Castle - one reviewer noted: “…for all day parking. The gardens aren't dog friendly, but the rest of the estate is.”. Policies can vary between parts of a site and change over time, so confirm with the operator before visiting with a dog.
Are there walks at Crathes Castle?
Visitor reviews describe walking here - one reviewer wrote: “After we completed the tour the heat from the sun guided us to the nearby ice cream vendor followed by a walk around the gardens.”. 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.
