Highland Castles & the Grampian Mountains

For our first excursion, we head to picturesque Stonehaven, famous for its Hogmanay Fireballs Ceremony, where locals swing blazing spheres above their heads to ward off evil spirits. Why not visit the Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum, rich in history as a former courthouse and jail, enjoy the fresh sea air with a stroll along the sheltered harbour or simply sit back and relax in one of the lovely cafés or restaurants? We then head to the atmospheric Dunnottar Castle, a ruined medieval fortress which sits on a dramatic rocky headland. Once the home of the Earls Marischal, one of Scotland’s most powerful families, the castle holds many secrets of Scotland’s past. King Donald II was killed here by invading Vikings, William Wallace once captured the castle and famously, it was at Dunnottar that a small garrison fought back against Cromwell’s army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels from destruction.

The pretty village of Ballater sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, an area that captivated Queen Victoria due to its stunning landscape of moody mountains and shimmering rivers. Surrounded by countryside, the village is known for its spring water and is the nearest community to Balmoral Castle, which explains the many ‘By Royal Appointment’ signs that can be seen on local independent shops. Take a stroll to admire the historic buildings and browse the Ballater Gallery, which showcases Scottish artists with international reputations. Next up is Crathes Castle, a unique 16th-century castle built by the Burnetts of Leys, which remained in the family for over 350 years and is now under the care of the National Trust for Scotland. The castle offers an intricate maze of turrets, towers, oak panels and painted ceilings, as well as fine antique furniture, family portraits and the Horn of Leys, given to the Burnett family by Robert the Bruce in the 14th century. Outside, there is a historic walled garden to explore, complete with a sculpted topiary, exotic flowers and yew hedges planted as early as 1702. There are also several waymarked trails in the surrounding woodland, where you can look out for the rich variety of wildlife including roe deer, red squirrels and woodpeckers.

We make our way to the county town of Banff, popular with Robert Burns and Lord Byron, where the sights range from the former royal Banff Castle and the pre-Reformation market cross to the old harbour and the intriguing treasures in Banff Museum. For our last visit, Fyvie Castle awaits, where the historic halls are filled with uniquely Scottish legends dating back to its royal beginnings in the 13th century. In true Scottish fashion, Fyvie holds many tales of supernatural happenings. From the indelible bloodstain and the name carved by a ghost on the window ledge of the Drummond Room to one of the three fabled ‘weeping stones’ that it’s said will curse the castle’s owners until all three are reunited, the evidence of Fyvie’s colourful and haunting history can still be seen today.