Craigievar Castle
Craigievar Castle is a seven-storey tower castle built in Scottish Baronial style, located six miles south of Alford, Aberdeenshire. The castle has a fairy tale appearance with its solid base and ornate turrets and gargoyles, with the whole castle harled a pinkish colour. Craigievar is noted for its exceptionally crafted plasterwork ceilings. The castle as a secret staircase connecting the high tower to the Great Hall.
The setting is beautiful with parkland featuring magnificent specimen trees, and extensive views over the surrounding countryside to the Grampian Mountains. The castle and estate of adjoining farmlands and woodlands are owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The castle is normally open to tourists during the summer months, although was closed from August 2007 for major reharling work. The castle has holiday accommodation available at the Steading cottage and kennels cottage from April to the end of October
Craigievar Castle was completed in 1626 by the Aberdonian merchant William Forbes. The Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was gifted to the National Trust for Scotland. The castle originally had a walled courtyard with four round towers - only one of the round towers remains today. There was also a massive iron yett or gate covering the entrance door.