What to do and see in , Scotland: The Best Things to do

17th-century castle owned by the same family for over 350 years. Open April to September; access is by guided tours only. There are steep spiral stairs to the upper floors. A stunning castle in a wonderful setting, said to be the inspiration for Disney's castles.

The Linn O' Dee gives unrivalled access to some fine examples of classic features of a Highland landscape: remnants of the ancient Caledonian pine forest, heather moorland and parts of the high Cairngorm plateau. Fifteen of the Cairngorms Munros can be found on Mar Lodge estate. The less adventurous can enjoy our way marked trails, starting from the car park. The car park also hosts a seasonal information hut and toilet facilities. Parking in the car park is £3 per day for non members or free for National Trust for Scotland or National Trust members.

Enjoy a guided tour of 12 furnished rooms in this 17th century Castle. Ghosts and villains, Jacobites and high fashion, the story begins in 1628 when the Earl of Mar built Mar Castle as his Highland hunting lodge. Associated with all 3 Jacobite uprisings, the castle was burned by the infamous Jacobite, the Black Colonel, and was the base for the Earl of Mar as he planned the 1715 uprising. After the 1745 rebellion, it was a garrison for Hanoverian soldiers stationed there to make sure that no-one dared break the law and wear tartan or carry weapons. In the 20th century, the castle was home to American fashion journalist, Editor of Harper's Bazaar and wife of the Chief of Clan Farquharson, who decorated the rooms in her signature Schiaparelli pink. English and German audio guides and tours with friendly local guides who enjoy sharing their knowledge and stories of the area. There are hidden teddy bears for the children to count as well as a small gift shop which also sells teas, coffees and hot chocolate.

Neighbouring Balmoral Castle, Royal Lochnagar is the perfect place to discover how Scotch Whisky is made. Watch as our team of operators tend to our traditional mashtun, gleaming copper stills and fill casks at our traditional distillery, which retains much of its original charm. The tour ends with a dram of the award-winning Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt. Following Scottish Government guidelines through their phased re-opening approach, the time has come to open our doors and welcome back our visitors from 26th April 2021. To ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees and visitors, we will be implementing a number of precautionary measures. Find out how we are keeping you safe on our website before you visit us.

Balmoral is the Scottish home of the British Royal Family in Scotland and in 2019 the grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the Public on a daily basis from 1st April until 31st July. Admission charges include parking, access to the formal and vegetable gardens, the exhibitions in the stable area and largest room in the Castle, the Ballroom. The Ballroom Exhibition is the only room in the Castle available for viewing. Please note that other rooms within the Castle are Her Majesty The Queen's private rooms and as such are not open to the public. An audio tour is included in the admission price and guides visitors around the formal and production gardens as well as a number of other exhibitions located within the stable block. This tour is available in English together with Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish translations.You can also enjoy the waymarked walks and visit our spacious self service cafe and gift shops, which sell a wide range of Balmoral souvenirs.