BALMORAL CASTLE AND GARDENS

Ballater

Walk in the footsteps of Royals with a visit to captivating Balmoral Castle and its enchanting gardens and grounds.

This is where the Queen and her family get away from it all. And you only have to open your eyes to see why it’s one of their most favoured retreats.

This beautiful spot on the banks of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire so beguiled Queen Victoria that in 1853 she had the castle built on it.

The gardens first came to life under the supervision of her beloved husband Prince Albert and they have been extended and enhanced by successive Royals ever since. The formal gardens – which cover three acres – boast a string of Victorian glasshouses and a conservatory displaying flowering pots.

A large kitchen garden was created by the Duke of Edinburgh and is harvested between August and October during the Royal Family’s summer holiday.

There is also a pretty water garden in the trees near the estate’s Garden Cottage. Pipers Hall houses a super licenced cafe where visitors can sample locally sourced and home cooked produce. And on sunny days it’s lovely to relax and enjoy an ice cream or chilled drink on the patio overlooking the Castle’s main tower. There is also a gift shop on site. Balmoral’s facilities are disability-friendly, with electric “battricars” and standard wheelchairs available. Dogs are welcome on leads. Open daily from Friday March 30 until July 31.

Balmoral Estates, Ballater, AB35 5TB 013397 42534 balmoralcastle.com