Discover Your Backyard – Aberdeenshire’s Castle Gardens
- Barry Pickard
- Oct 25
- 6 min read
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Regardless of this, please be advised that all opinions expressed in this blog post are genuine and authentically my own.
Author: Barry Pickard
Hi, I'm Barry, the owner of Tailor-Made Itineraries and I have been designing bespoke self-guided tours for adventurous and curious travellers since 2015. I am a history graduate with a passion for travel.
I created this blog to show, through my own adventures, how you can have an incredible travel experience as an independent traveller, giving you the information to navigate the world with confidence.
Contents
What's the secret to discovering Scotland's most enchanting castle gardens without the crowds? I'll tell you exactly what I learned during my exploration of three spectacular Aberdeenshire estates.
The crunch of gravel beneath my boots, the earthy scent of ancient yew hedges that have witnessed three centuries of Scottish seasons, and the distant sound of water trickling through millponds – these sensory memories from my recent castle garden visits still transport me back to those magical mornings. As someone who's been crafting bespoke Scottish itineraries for over a decade and holds a history degree, I've explored countless castle grounds across Scotland. But my recent adventures through Crathes, Drum, and Fyvie castle gardens reminded me why these hidden gems deserve a spot on every independent traveller's Scottish bucket list.
You've found exactly the right guide here. I'm not just another travel blogger – I'm Barry Pickard, owner of Tailor-Made Itineraries, and I've been designing self-guided Scottish tours since 2015. Everything you're about to read comes directly from my own boots-on-the-ground experience exploring these estates with my family. I'll share the practical tips that only come from actually navigating these gardens, the unexpected discoveries we made, and the insider knowledge that'll help you make the most of your own visit.
Whether you're planning a Scottish road trip or looking for unique day trips from Aberdeen, I've got you covered with tried-and-tested advice that'll save you time and help you experience these castle gardens like a local.
At Tailor-Made Itineraries we delight in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these castles appeals to you, reach out to us by email. We would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the castles of Aberdeenshire, or indeed, a general tour of Scotland.
Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle was established in the late 16th century, and is memorable for its towers, turrets, and stories of its resident ghosts. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to the Burnett family in 1323: the ancient Horn of Leys, which can be seen today in the Great Hall, marks his gift. The castle has its own ghosts of course, the most famous being the Green Lady, who often manifests as a green mist floating across the room. It is even said that Queen Victoria saw the apparition during a visit.
The 1.5 hectares of walled garden, which incorporates herbaceous borders and many unusual plants. The great yew hedges, fascinating examples of the art of topiary, date from as early as 1702. The garden, as you see it today, was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, and consists of 8 garden rooms, each with its own theme. The gardens have been planted in such a way that there is colour all year round. There are also seven waymarked trails, including one suitable for wheelchairs, which lead through the mixed woodlands, along the Coy Burn and past the millpond.
Drum Castle
Drum Castle is a combination of a 13th century square tower and a Jacobean mansion house, with the additions of Victorian lairds. In 1323 the castle was granted to William de Irwyn by King Robert the Bruce. The castle remained within the Irvine family until 1975, when it was handed over to the National trust of Scotland. The original house was enlarged with the creation of an exceptionally fine Jacobean mansion house in 1619 and a later addition during the reign of Queen Victoria. The grounds contain the Old Wood of Drum ancient oak woodland. Within the old walled garden is a fine collection of historic roses.
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Fyvie Castle
Fyvie Castle is an imposing fortress with over 800 years of history. Starting as a royal castle around 1200, Fyvie was probably a square wooden structure initially. Over the years, several Scottish kings stayed here, including Alexander II and Robert the Bruce, and the castle eventually passed from the king to the Lindsays, the Prestons, the Setons, then eventually the Gordon family. Each owner added their own mark on the castle and it is said that each of the five families to own the castle added a tower (there are actually only four towers, but, for the purpose of this saying, the 1890 projecting wing was included as the fifth!). The interiors of the castle more than match the outside walls of this fairy-tale castle, with a rich collection of artworks, including the largest private collections of Raeburns in the world.
Dating from around 1777, the walled garden is also a must-see, beautifully laid out and brimming with Scottish fruits and vegetables, many of which are rare. The Ball Green area, in the northern third of the garden contained what was reputed to be the oldest fig house in Scotland. The central section of the garden, known as Rhymers How, was set aside for the cultivation of mulberries, peaches, nectarines, and grapes. While the southern section contained exotic trees, and shrubs. By 1984, much of the garden had been left to grow as grass, but in this year the National Trust for Scotland acquired the castle and set about bringing the garden back to life, although in a much diminished size. Today, the garden boasts of a cornucopia of Scottish varieties of apple, pear, plum, blackcurrants, raspberries, and blackberries. If you want a longer walk, the 1 and a half mile trail around Fyvie Lake is a haven of tranquillity.
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Conclusion
These three castle gardens prove that Scotland's outdoor treasures extend far beyond its famous lochs and highlands. During our family visits to Crathes, Drum, and Fyvie, we discovered that each estate offers something completely different – from Crathes' Arts and Crafts garden rooms to Drum's historic rose collection and Fyvie's restored walled garden brimming with heritage Scottish varieties. What struck me most was how these gardens tell the story of Scotland through their landscapes, from medieval tower houses to Victorian additions. For independent travellers seeking authentic Scottish experiences away from tourist crowds, these castle gardens deliver history, beauty, and tranquillity in equal measure. They're perfect for half-day adventures that can easily be combined into a memorable Aberdeenshire road trip.
Hotels in Aberdeenshire
There is a good selection of accommodation within the city of Aberdeen that will meet all tastes and budgets. At the luxury end, the Malmaison Aberdeen is an excellent choice, while the Inn at the Park offers a good, affordable night's stay near the Duthie Park, while the Copthorne Hotel is centrally placed, just a couple of minute's walk from Union Street.
If you are looking for a hotel further out into the countryside of Aberdeenshire, there are plenty to choose from, such as the Banchory Lodge Hotel, the Macdonald Pittodrie House, and the Douneside House, with all three being close to a collection of stone circles.
Click on the underlined weblinks above to review these hotels and make your reservation.
Related Blog Posts
If you are interested in finding out more about the castles of Scotland, please view the Tailor-Made Itineraries posts below:
Tell me in the comments below – which of these three castle gardens has made it onto your Scottish travel wish list?
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these castles appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the castles of Aberdeenshire, or indeed, a general tour of Scotland itself.
Tailor-Made Itineraries posts every two weeks, and you can subscribe to the latest blog and newsletter here. Until then, happy reading and safe travels.
Barry
Contact Me: tailoritineraries@gmail.com
Tailor-Made Itineraries creates one-of-a-kind bespoke self-guided travel itineraries for adventurous and curious travellers.
These self-guided tours deliver a personalised and exciting holiday experience that takes the effort out of trip planning.
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