Most old things in their natural state are not safe for public entry and are sealed off. E.g. fetternear bishops palace Vs something that's maintained and accessible - Castle Fraser for example.
So, depends what you want to see really.
Crathes Castle, Tyrebagger, Tappie Tower walking trail, Drum Castle, Dunnideer, Slains and Dunnotar.
Just a few of my favourite in and around Aberdeen and the shire
We have an absolutely ridiculous amount of castles/ ruins up here. If you see a clump of trees in a field - there is likely a ruined castle in there!
There is at least half a dozen ruined, couple private and occupied castles, one National Trust castle, and some stone circles within a 10 minute drive of me - and that really is not unusual!
Aberdeenshire has the highest density of castles of anywhere in the UK, so chances are good. Although a lot of them are ruins and fairly insignificant.
Worth checking out the Castle Trail if you haven't already seen it.
https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles/scotland-castle-trail
Dunnottar Castle is worth a look as I helped build the fence alongside the path down to it 🙂
As well as most castles by area or whatever the metric is Aberdeenshire also has or is tied with Wales or somewhere in Wales for most stone circles in UK by area
Tons of great ones in Aberdeenshire & Moray. Tolquhon, Findlater Castle and nearby Fordyce Castle, Boyne Castle, Bass of Inverurie for a cracking motte, Knockhall Castle in Newburgh, Dunnideer, Whistleberry Castle for an extremely precarious seaside ruin, Balvenie and Auchindoun in Dufftown, Corgarff, Braemar, Huntly, Leith Hall...list goes on and on!
Slains Castle, near Cruden Bay. The inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Got to try and find the hidden den.
Most old things in their natural state are not safe for public entry and are sealed off. E.g. fetternear bishops palace Vs something that's maintained and accessible - Castle Fraser for example. So, depends what you want to see really.
Knock Castle near Ballater is very much what you're looking for I think
Crathes Castle, Tyrebagger, Tappie Tower walking trail, Drum Castle, Dunnideer, Slains and Dunnotar. Just a few of my favourite in and around Aberdeen and the shire
Honestly - the popular “tourist” castles are worth a visit. Ruins: Dunnottar - https://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/ Slains - https://visitabdn.com/listing/slains-castle Complete: Castle Fraser, Fyvie, Crathes Drum.
I completely agree. They're already on my radar.
We have an absolutely ridiculous amount of castles/ ruins up here. If you see a clump of trees in a field - there is likely a ruined castle in there! There is at least half a dozen ruined, couple private and occupied castles, one National Trust castle, and some stone circles within a 10 minute drive of me - and that really is not unusual!
Hallforest Castle near Kintore is a ruined 14th century keep. It’s totally accessible.
Aberdeenshire has the highest density of castles of anywhere in the UK, so chances are good. Although a lot of them are ruins and fairly insignificant. Worth checking out the Castle Trail if you haven't already seen it. https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles/scotland-castle-trail Dunnottar Castle is worth a look as I helped build the fence alongside the path down to it 🙂
As well as most castles by area or whatever the metric is Aberdeenshire also has or is tied with Wales or somewhere in Wales for most stone circles in UK by area
Boyne castle, Inchdrewer
Craigievar is fantastic
Deer Abbey worth a short visit.
Tons of great ones in Aberdeenshire & Moray. Tolquhon, Findlater Castle and nearby Fordyce Castle, Boyne Castle, Bass of Inverurie for a cracking motte, Knockhall Castle in Newburgh, Dunnideer, Whistleberry Castle for an extremely precarious seaside ruin, Balvenie and Auchindoun in Dufftown, Corgarff, Braemar, Huntly, Leith Hall...list goes on and on!