Braemar Castle

About this place

Built in 1628, Braemar Castle is a Scottish tower house near the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire.

Its history was shaped by Jacobite uprisings and clan rivalries on Deeside, and it has long been a possession of the chief of Clan Farquharson.

The castle is now run as Scotland's first community-managed castle, operated by Braemar Community Ltd, a Scottish charitable company.

Historic Houses members receive free admission.

History

The castle was built in 1628 and passed through periods of turbulence during the Jacobite uprisings. It has long been a possession of the chief of Clan Farquharson, whose story is told throughout the interior. In later years it became a high-society retreat with royal connections before falling quiet, until local volunteers revived it as a community-run attraction operated by Braemar Community Ltd, a Scottish charitable company.

Architecture

Braemar Castle is a classic Scottish tower house, a form typical of the early seventeenth century in the north-east of Scotland. The castle's architectural development can be traced through its interior, which retains authentic period rooms and features.

Worth knowing

A 19th-century folly called the Fog House stands in the grounds and looks out towards Invercauld Estate.

Gardens & grounds

The grounds include a 1930s kitchen garden planted with heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables, and the Fog House folly set along winding paths.

Facilities