Day Tours

Tour 1: “The Royal Tour” from Aberdeen

Full tour details:

Let me pick you up from your accommodation in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire, or  cruise ship at Aberdeen Harbour and head off along the Royal Deeside Route to the beautiful Crathes Castle, which is the jewel in our crown of castles! During the Summer months, we can either visit this Castle or Balmoral Castle or Braemar Castle, depending on your preference. Then we drive to Ballater town and explore on foot this charming place and visit Queen Victoria's Old Station. Sample some home-made, locally sourced food in the cafes, recommended by Nicola. I can also recommend plant-based and vegetarian food in the local cafes.

Then we can visit Balmoral Castle and Grounds, open from April to end July,  and learn about this lovely part of Scotland. Queen Victoria called this area her "Dear Paradise in the Highlands".

Another option is to visit Royal Lochnagar Whisky Distillery. This is a quaint distillery, if you want to see how our whisky is made, very small and a bit different. Gordon, the guide there does a very good tasting/tour. 

Then continue our drive through stunning scenery to Braemar, this alpine-like village in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. You can learn about the Earls of Mar and the quirky Braemar Castle (opens in April & option to visit). Also we can pop into the world-class hotel, Fife Arms, which is amazing. A must-see! Later we drive back to Aberdeen.

Tour 3: “The Castle Tour” from Aberdeen

Full tour details:

Let me pick you up from your accommodation in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire or cruise ship from Aberdeen Harbour and head out towards beautiful Royal Deeside for our first stop, Crathes Castle & Gardens. This castle is simply one of the most superb castles in Scotland, with its pink harled, Disney-esque exterior and remarkably well preserved interior dating back to 1500’s, it’s a must-see!  Its walled gardens are almost as famous as the castle itself and garden lovers will appreciate the sheer variety of plants, shrubs and trees.

Next we visit the lovely Royal Deeside town of Banchory and sample some of the local cuisine, such as Cullen Skink or Haggis Bons Bons! During our time spent here we can also visit the dramatic Falls of Feugh, where at certain times of the year you can see Atlantic salmon leaping up the waterfalls. Then we leave Banchory town and drive over the hills to the coast to arrive at one of Scotland’s most striking ruins, Dunnottar Castle. Perched high on a rock with cliffs down to the sea, the fort and ruined palace complex is very impressive. You can learn all about the Keiths and the famous story of the ‘Crown Jewels’. Having spent some time at Dunnottar Castle, it’s time to head back to Aberdeen to catch the ship or arrive at your hotel.

Note: We can do this tour in the opposite direction, starting at Dunnottar castle first, with lunch in lovely Stonehaven, then onwards to Banchory and Crathes castle in the afternoon.

Note: We can also accommodate special & religious dietary requirements.