Nestled in the heart of beautiful Deeside is the private home of the British Royal Family. The Castle was bought as a gift from Prince Albert for his wife, Queen Victoria who loved this area in Scotland. The home has been part of the Royal Family portfolio since 1852.

The grounds, gift shop and restaurant are open to the public on certain days and throughout the autumn and winter months. On certain days of the year they offer interior castle tours (adult only) at £110 per person, however check their official website for more details.

Fans of The Crown TV show and our last Queen, Queen Elizabeth 2nd will appreciate this visit. In September 2022 Queen Elizabeth 2nd passed away at Balmoral at the age of 96 and it was said she was particularly fond of the wilderness of the estate.
In the summer month, King Charles 3rd spend time there enjoying outdoor pursuits and soaking up the beautiful area.

If you do visit during opening times, I recommend their cafe for a takeaway coffee to enjoy around the grounds. The grounds are open 10am-4pm and of course there is restricted access when the Royal Family are there. There are parking facilities next to the A93 road at Crathie, they are just outside the main gates. Parking per day there is £5 per person.