Aberdeenshire has more castles than anywhere else in the UK and many of them make excellent family days out. Some are run by the National Trust for Scotland, some by Historic Environment Scotland and others are privately or community managed. Entry prices and opening times can change seasonally, so it is always worth checking before you go.

Here’s our growing list, with practical details, a bit of history, and honest impressions from our visits.

1. Crathes Castle

Crathes Castle dates back to the 16th century and is one of the best preserved tower houses in Scotland. It’s famous for its painted ceilings and beautiful estate.

• Managed by the National Trust for Scotland
• Castle entry is paid, free for members
• Grounds are open year round
• Large woodland and riverside walks
• Café on site – Cafe 1702
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
This is one of our favourite all-round family days out. There’s loads of space for kids to run about, good paths for walking, and plenty to do even if you don’t go inside the castle. We especially love the woodland playarea, although there is an extra charge to access it.

The castle and grounds are open seasonally, mainly over the summer months, so it’s worth planning ahead. We’d definitely recommend taking a picnic and making a full day of it. Last summer they put on extra activities for families, including face painting, a bouncy castle and garden games. We spent the whole day there with a picnic and it was genuinely wonderful.

2. Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle sits dramatically on a rocky headland and played a key role in Scottish history, including hiding the Honours of Scotland from Oliver Cromwell.

• Managed by Historic Environment Scotland
• Paid entry, free for members
• Coastal and clifftop walks
• No café on site
• Dogs allowed on a lead

Our thoughts:
The views here are unbelievable, but it is definitely a proper walk with lots of steps, so we’d recommend it for older children rather than toddlers. We usually turn this into a full family day out in Stonehaven. We start at Queen Elizabeth Park playground, then walk along the beach into town for an ice cream from Giulianotti’s.

Our dog absolutely loves this part, running along the beach and straight into the sea whenever he gets the chance. After that, we head over to the castle and tackle all 180 steps down to the beach below. The boys love it down there, especially throwing pebbles into the sea, and by the end of the day everyone is happily tired. Fresh sea air, lots of walking and plenty of space to explore – it’s one of our favourite days out.

3. Balmoral Castle

Balmoral has been a royal residence since the 1850s and remains closely associated with the Royal Family.

• Privately managed royal estate
• Paid entry during the open season
• Extensive woodland and riverside walks
• Café and gift shop
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
For us, Balmoral is mainly about the walks around the grounds rather than the castle itself. In recent years they’ve added a woodland trail with characters, which my boys really enjoyed, especially looking out for the statues hidden around the grounds. It turns the walk into a bit of an adventure.

They also put on events now and then. We visited at Easter and there was an Easter trail included with admission, and you even got a Creme Egg at the end, which went down very well. It does cost extra to do a full tour inside the castle, but general admission includes the ballroom, which is still nice to see.

We took a picnic last summer and had a wonderful time. There is so much space to explore and the boys love seeing where the King stays. It’s a great place for a relaxed family day out where you can take your time and just enjoy being outdoors.

4. Fyvie Castle

Fyvie Castle has a long history dating back to the 13th century and is known for its impressive turrets and historic interiors.

• Managed by the National Trust for Scotland
• Paid entry, free for members
• Easy parkland walks
• Café on site
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
This one is still on our list to visit. We’ve heard great things from other families, especially about how pushchair-friendly the grounds are, so we’re hoping to get here soon.

5. Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle was completed in the early 1600s and is often described as the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella castle.

• Managed by the National Trust for Scotland
• Paid entry, free for members
• Short woodland walks
• No café on site
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
Craigievar is one we know well as it’s not far from where we stay, but we haven’t managed to visit as often in recent years due to refurbishment work. It’s definitely smaller than some of the other castles, but it really does feel like something out of a storybook, especially when you first see it.

There isn’t a huge amount for children to do on the grounds compared to places like Crathes or Drum, and there’s no woodland play area, so we wouldn’t plan this as a full day out on its own. For us, it works best as a short visit, paired with a picnic or another nearby stop.

6. Huntly Castle

Once a grand palace of the Gordon family, Huntly Castle is now an impressive ruin with plenty of space to explore.

• Managed by Historic Environment Scotland
• Paid entry, free for members
• Riverside walks nearby
• No café on site
• Dogs allowed on a lead

Our thoughts:
Huntly is quite different to some of the other castles on the list as it’s mostly ruins rather than a full castle you can explore inside, but that actually worked really well for our boys. They loved wandering around the ruins, climbing up and down steps and letting their imaginations run wild.

One of the big bonuses here is how family-friendly the area is. There are two large playgrounds nearby, which gave the kids endless fun either before or after visiting the castle. It made the whole day feel relaxed rather than rushed.

Huntly town centre is also close by and has plenty of cafés and places to eat, so it’s easy to grab lunch or a coffee without much planning. Overall, it’s a great option if you want a castle visit that naturally combines with playtime and food, making it an easy and enjoyable family day out.

7. Castle Fraser

Castle Fraser dates from the 15th century and sits within a large estate with woodland and open parkland.

• Managed by the National Trust for Scotland
• Paid entry, free for members
• Woodland trails and open grounds
• Café available seasonally
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
This is a brilliant place if your kids prefer being outdoors to going inside buildings. There’s loads of space to wander about, explore and just let them be kids, without feeling like they need to behave in a quiet indoor setting.

There’s also a tearoom on site, which is really handy, with options suitable for children as well as adults. We visited last Easter when they were running an Easter trail around the gardens, and the children really enjoyed following it all the way round. It gave them something fun to focus on while we explored.

We’ve found it’s especially good for picnics too, with plenty of spots to sit and relax, and the woodland trails make it easy to turn a visit into a proper walk. It’s the kind of place where you can take your time, let the kids lead the way, and enjoy a slower, relaxed family day out.

8. Drum Castle

Drum Castle is one of Scotland’s oldest towers, with parts dating back over 700 years, surrounded by extensive woodland.

• Managed by the National Trust for Scotland
• Paid entry for the castle, free for members
• Forest and estate walks
• Café on site, Mary’s Larder
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
This is ideal for a half-day trip. The woods are great for walking and Mary’s Larder makes it easy to turn a visit into lunch and cake as well.

We’re members and decided to do a guided tour inside the castle, which we found really fascinating and quite different from other castles we’ve visited. The layout and feel inside stood out and made it feel much more personal and lived-in, rather than just another historic building. It’s one of those visits that stays with you and adds something extra if you’re able to go inside.

9. Kildrummy Castle

Kildrummy Castle was one of the most important castles in medieval Scotland and is now an extensive ruin.

• Managed by Historic Environment Scotland
• Paid entry, free for members
• Open grassy areas and nearby walks
• No café on site
• Dogs allowed on a lead

Our thoughts:
The open layout makes this great for imaginative play. Kids can explore without feeling hemmed in, which we really liked.

10. Braemar Castle

Braemar Castle was built in the 17th century and is now run by a local community trust.

• Community managed
• Paid entry
• Village and woodland walks nearby
• No café on site, plenty nearby in the village
• Dogs allowed in the grounds on a lead

Our thoughts:
We absolutely love Braemar. It’s one of those places we’re always happy to return to, and it’s brilliant for a family day out. The castle itself is great for letting children explore and use their imaginations, and it never feels rushed or overcrowded.

What really makes Braemar special for us is the village. There are so many lovely boutique shops, cafés and eateries, and we also love spotting the bothies around the area. We visited with family who were staying with us and it worked so well for all ages. The children had a brilliant time running around, exploring and playing, and then we headed into Braemar afterwards for food and a wander through the village.

It’s the kind of place where you can easily fill a whole day without trying too hard, and it always feels relaxed, welcoming and full of character.