Nestled in the rolling hills of Aberdeenshire, near Alford you will find Craigievar Castle. 

The distinctive pink castle was home to the Forbes family for 350 years until 1963. This seven storey castle was completed in 1626 and is one of the best preserved castles in Scotland, the exterior has remained virtually the same since construction. 

In 1963 the Forbes family donated the castle to the National Trust for Scotland and it has been open to the public since the 1990’s. 

The former owners wishes were that artificial lights were not used in the upper floors. This means that the castle's extensive collection of historic artefacts  and art is seen in the shifting light from the sun, exactly as they would have been when they were made. The building also is home to a secret staircase linking the great hall and the high tower.

Their extensive art collection also includes two original Henry Raeburn portraits and they have a superb collection of 20th century ceramics and armour.

It is also rumoured that Walt Disney used this fairytale pink castle as the inspiration for Cinderella's castle. 

The grounds are open all year round from dawn to dusk. The Castle itself offers guided tours of around 45 minutes and is open in the summer months. I would advice checking their opening times on their website for up-to-date information. Entrance inside is £17.00 per person.

How to get there: The entrance and main drive is on the A980 road between Alford and Banchory. There are no public transport routes avaialble.