Introduction

This afternoon I am reporting on Drum Castle, Garden and Estate in the Scottish Highlands.

Information on Drum Castle

Location is near Banchory, about thirteen miles west of Aberdeen in N.E. Scotland.

This property is owned by heritage organisation, The National Trust for Scotland.

Castle

Here is 700 years of history including battlements, medieval square tower and sprawling extensions.

The Royal Forest and Tower of Drum were given to the Irvine family by Robert the Bruce in 1323. Later a Jacobean (1603-25) mansion house was added. In the Victorian period the lower hall was converted to a library which now houses some 4000 books.

Inside, visitors can inspect a range of subjects from the medieval High Hall to the modern art exhibition.

Grounds

The Old Wood of Drum is home to oak trees dating back to the 1700s. Nature lovers may be able to spot kites, roe deer, red squirrels and badgers.

Garden

The Garden of Historic Roses boasts over two hundred varieties. Visitors can sample the elaborate perfumes and learn how cultivation has been undertaken from 17th to 20th centuries. The optimum time to visit is during June and July.

More information for the visitor

The publication, Visitors’ Guide to Scotland includes a section on Scotland’s castles. This book is heavily illustrated and contains a wealth of information on Scotland and it’s history. The ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.