Craigievar Castle NTS

❤️💚 Every year, Santa visits National Trust for Scotland sites across the north-east to meet families in the most enchanting, beautifully decorated castles 🎅

🏰 While Santa's sleigh won’t be stopping at Craigievar… it will be landing at two of our magical neighbours: Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate NTS & Drum Castle, Garden & Estate NTS

📅 🎅 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿 – Every Sunday in December before Christmas (7th, 14th, 21st) for tickets visit - https://brnw.ch/21wXTVh 🎄

📅 🎅 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 – Saturday 20th – Tuesday 23rd (Christmas Eve sold out) for tickets visit - https://brnw.ch/21wXTVi 🎄

🎁 Santa will be there to meet the children and share a special gift before the big day.

Booking is essential since these events are always hugely popular!

✨ Don’t miss the chance to create magical memories in a sparkling castle this Christmas! 🦌

⚠️ Trail Closure Alert: Hill / Red Trail ⚠️
The Hill / Red Trail is currently 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 due to a fallen tree. We’ll share updates as soon as the trail is cleared and reopened. Thank you for your understanding! 🩷

Each season casts Craigievar Castle in a whole new light 🌸☀️🍂
Looking back through spring, summer, and autumn, it’s hard to choose a favourite… fresh spring blooms, golden summer sunshine, or did autumn’s amber glow steal the show?

We’d love to know - which season at Craigievar captured your heart this year?🩷💛🧡 … or with winter just around the corner, are you holding out for a frosty fairytale? ❄️✨

📸 If you've snapped a favourite shot of Craigievar over the years, we'd love to see it in the comments ⬇️

🌿 Ever wondered who keeps Craigievar Castle estate looking like a scene straight out of a storybook?

🍂 Spotted on the grounds: meet Paul, our dedicated Groundsperson. From the lush green lawns to the winding paths, Paul works tirelessly - rain or shine -to keep the estate picture perfect ✨

With our iconic pink turrets rising behind him, it’s a stunning place to be - where old-world charm meets present-day care.

The incredible Craigievar team working behind the scenes are a huge part of what makes this place so special! 🫶 🩷

✅ Craigievar trails are open🍂

Our gardening teams and NTS rangers service have completed post-storm checks, it has been a fantastic team effort! 🩷

Thank you for your patience and please continue to respect any diversions or signage out on the trails.

🌿 Our small and dedicated team is always touched by the heartfelt feedback from guests - many of whom return to our cottages year after year. Their stories remind us why this place is so special 💚🩷

Guests soak up the peace, tranquillity, and wildlife of the Craigievar estate, and enjoy venturing out to explore the best of north-east Scotland. Of course, they love hopping between other National Trust for Scotland castles and properties across Aberdeenshire too!! 🏰

We also love the beautiful artwork our guests share - so talented! It’s a joy to see Craigievar through their eyes 🎨

Here’s a glimpse into some of the magical memories made while staying at Craigievar Cottages:

🏡 “This is our 7th visit to Steading Cottage – each time as memorable as the last.”
🚴 “… the young people enjoyed mountain biking at Tarland Trails while we walked up Pressendye.”
🏰 “… the Craigievar tour is fascinating.”
⛵ “An evening trip to Stonehaven for fish and chips on the beach.”
🦅 “We also enjoyed seeing birds of prey, hearing a woodpecker near the castle… happy days!”
🗺️ “Very much enjoyed a week of adventuring at Craigievar and hunting for castles around Aberdeenshire! Highly recommended!”

We’re so grateful to be part of these cherished experiences🫶 ✨

🔴 Closed - Trails

📢 The Craigievar estate remains closed today. We'll re-open the full estate once any damage is fixed and are given the all clear from our gardens team and NTS rangers service.

With 11 places in the north-east, and the high winds over the weekend, this may take some time - until then please follow all signage and stay safe.

We thank you for your patience 🩷

🟢 Open today - Castle tours & kiosk
🔴 Closed - Trails

Our gardens teams and the NTS North East Ranger Service are busy checking all of our places across the North East. We'll re-open the full estate once any damage is fixed and are given the all clear.

With 11 places in the NE and the high winds over the weekend this may take some time - until then please do follow all signage and stay safe.

📢 Important Notice: Temporary Closure Due to Storm Amy. Reopening Sunday, 5 October.

We are closed today, Saturday 4 October, due to Storm Amy. The safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority. Thank you for your patience and sorry for any inconvenience 🩷 Please continue to follow us for any further updates. Stay safe and we’ll see you soon!

🌿 Love visiting the vibrant historic gardens of Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate NTS Aberdeenshire? 🎧 Step inside this ‘garden of real change’ with head gardener James Hannaford on The Scotland Grows Show 🌿

From choosing plants that can handle Scotland’s wild winds to coping with the loss of ancient trees in storms, James shares his expert tips, heartfelt stories, and practical advice every gardener will appreciate 💚

🌸 Wondering what to plant? James reveals his top 3 picks for your garden...

James also reflects on what he terms ‘climate variability’ and how this is shaping the future of gardening.

Follow the links below to listen to the podcast ⬇️
🎧Apple: https://brnw.ch/21wWfs3
🎧Spotify: https://brnw.ch/21wWfs4

Whether you're a gardening enthusiast or simply enjoy a peaceful garden stroll, this episode is a must-listen full of top tips! 🌸

Never fails to enchant 🍂✨ Golden Autumn misty mornings at Craigievar, just timeless 🩷🧡💛

🍂 We've had the joy of welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world this year, and there's no denying - Autumn is a truly enchanting time to experience the iconic pink castle 🍂🩷

🏰 Join us this weekend from Friday to Monday, 10:30am – 4:00pm, for our famous castle tour and experience the magic of Craigievar in its golden autumn glow.

Looking ahead, from 30 September to 26 October 2025, tours will be available on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00am – 3:00pm. Perfect for a weekend escape into history and fairytale charm!

Barmkin kiosk will be offering cosy coffees, teas and a selection of refreshments during these times ☕

Please plan ahead and visit our website for further information: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/craigievar/planning-your-visit -times