Balmoral Castle Scotland

Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle is one of the summer residences of the British royal family.

The original castle was purchased in 1852 by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. It was subsequently demolished and the present royal palace built in its wake. Balmoral is within the Cairngorms National Park.

Other royal residences include Sandringham in Norfolk, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace in London.

Balmoral Castle is an example of Scottish baronial architecture. — Balmoral Castle is an example of Scottish baronial architecture

History

After Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's first visit to Scotland as a couple in 1842 they were so impressed with the country that they decided to purchase a home there. The money for the purchase, according to the book Bizarre Scotland, came from the eminent miser John Camden Nield, who left Queen Victoria £500,000 upon his death.

Prince Albert first bought the building in 1848 and completed the purchase of the land on which it stands in 1852.

The original castle was deemed too small for their needs so it was demolished. Local Scottish architect William Smith designed the new castle. His father John Smith had designed the previous building on the land.

The new granite castle opened in 1856. The earlier castle which had begun as a hunting lodge for King Robert II of Scotland and had been enlarged over the centuries by the Farquharson and Gordon families was demolished.

Balmoral Castle, Scotland. — Balmoral Castle has been owned by the British Royal Family since the days of Queen Victoria

Grounds

The grounds cover a vast 50,000 acres and include formal gardens, forests, grouse moors, farmland and herds of Highland cattle, ponies and deer. The lake at Balmoral was excavated by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, using a bulldozer loaned to him by the army.

Scotland's native red squirrels also thrive here. There is also a nine-hole golf course on the estate available to members and corporate clients as well as a cricket pitch.

After Prince Albert's death in 1861, his wife commissioned a pyramid-shaped cairn in his memory in the grounds. Later in 1867, William Theed, who had worked on the Albert Memorial in London produced a statue of the prince with a dog and a gun. The River Dee runs through the estate.

A number of holiday cottages are available for rent on the grounds. There are also three gift shops, a coffee shop, the Gate Lodge Coffee Pod, and restaurant at the castle.

Safari tours of Balmoral Estate introduce visitors to the spectacular scenery and wildlife to be found.

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their nine children. — Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their nine children

Access & Hours

Balmoral Estates
The Estates Office
Balmoral Estates, Ballater
Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB
Tel: 013397 42534
www: balmoralcastle.com

Open 10 am to 5 pm from April to August. Check the official website above for full details and to book online in advance. Tours include the gardens and grounds and the magnificent Ballroom, which is the only room open to visitors inside Balmoral Castle.

Entry 15 GBP for adults, 6 GBP for kids.

The only access to the castle by public transport is by buses from Aberdeen. The 201 bus from Union Square in Aberdeen takes 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Balmoral is located about equidistant from both the towns of Ballater and Braemar, just off the A93. The nearest railway station and airport are located in Aberdeen, which is 50 miles to the east.

King Edward VII relaxing at Balmoral. — King Edward VII relaxing at Balmoral; he once described the place as the "Highland barn of a thousand draughts"

Renting a car is another option for getting around this part of Scotland. By car Balmoral Estate is just over an hour west from Aberdeen and 1 hour, 40 minutes north of Dundee.