Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust for Scotland
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
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.
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.
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.
16th-century tower house with painted ceilings and gardens
“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
Further reading
CubicFun - Neuschwanstein Castle 3D Puzzle (121pc)
Architectural 3D puzzle model, stocked by UK and US retailers.
Find it on AmazonUGears - Hogwarts Castle mechanical wooden model (340pc)
Currently-sold mechanical wooden 3D model kit, 340 parts.
Find it on Amazon
