Balmoral Castle, built in the late 14th century, is a private residence of the British royal family. Situated between Inverness and Aberdeen, in an idyllic location, it’s a stunning example of neo-Gothic and neo-Romantic architecture, with fairytale design and lush surrounding countryside.
The castle and its grounds cover an impressive 260 square kilometres, encompassing woodlands, pastures for Highland cattle, and the main building itself. Balmoral Castle is open to the public for visits during spring and summer, but not from 31 July to early September, when it’s used by the royal family.
Despite its name and certain architectural features, Balmoral Castle has never served military or defensive purposes: since its construction, King Robert II of Scotland used it as a hunting lodge.
A visit to Balmoral Castle includes both indoor and outdoor areas. Outside, you can explore the magnificent gardens, whilst inside you’ll pass through the ballroom, the only room available to visitors and also the castle’s largest hall.
The castle visit includes an audio tour, available in English and several other languages. The tour lasts approximately one hour.
At the end of your visit, you’ll pass through a gift shop, which also stocks snacks and beverages. There’s also a restaurant-café serving breakfast featuring cake and coffee, or afternoon tea with light snacks; if you’d like to experience these delightful culinary traditions, you’ll need to book in advance. Alternatively, the café serves sandwiches and snacks daily from 10:00 to 16:00, and hot meals from 11:30 to 15:00 except Thursdays.
If you’d like to feel royal for a day, take part in the Balmoral Expedition, held on set dates (check the official website for availability). This is a park tour surrounding Balmoral Castle, accommodating a maximum of 6 people from the same group. You’ll explore the Caledonian pine forest, the surrounding hills and ascend to Mount Lochnagar. Along the way, a guide will share stories of daily life for local residents and the royal family, and you’ll learn how park managers work to conserve some of the UK’s rarest species.
Whilst not guaranteed, there’s a strong chance you’ll spot wildlife such as squirrels, deer, capercaillie, salmon and birds including snow buntings and birds of prey.
The Balmoral Expedition should be booked well in advance, as places sell out quickly. Usually there are two departures: one at 10:00 in the morning and one at 13:00. Your ticket also includes access to the standard castle tour.
Reaching Balmoral Castle is relatively straightforward: from Edinburgh you drive north along the M90, passing through Perth and Blairgowrie and Rattay. The route is direct and very scenic, taking just under 3 hours in total, of course excluding any stops you’d like to make.
From Glasgow the distance is similar, as is the route: take the A9 motorway to Perth, then continue north as described above.
The nearest airport is Aberdeen, approximately 50 miles east of Balmoral. The nearest railway station is also here. However, we’d advise against travelling by public transport, as the journey could prove quite lengthy.
Balmoral Castle is located in the village of the same name, near a bend in the River Dee in the heart of the country, not far from the Cairngorms National Park.
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