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Braemar Castle

19 September 2026 (10:00 - 16:00)

Aberdeenshire

In Person

Built in 1628 by John Erskine, Earl of Mar, Braemar Castle is one of Aberdeenshire's most distinctive historic buildings and a prominent landmark on Deeside. This Category A Listed castle combines the features of a traditional Scottish tower house with later military adaptations, including its unusual star-shaped defensive curtain wall, crenellated turrets and imposing round stair tower. The castle occupies a strategically important position overlooking the River Dee and has been at the centre of local history for almost 400 years.

Over the centuries, the castle has witnessed clan rivalries, Jacobite uprisings, military occupation and Victorian society. Originally built as a hunting lodge and stronghold, it was attacked and burned in 1689 before being rebuilt and used as a government garrison following the Jacobite rebellions. Many of the features visible today date from this period, including the military-style curtain wall established during reconstruction in the mid-18th century. The interior retains elements of both its time as a military barracks and later as a family home of the Farquharsons of Invercauld.

Today, Braemar Castle holds a unique place in Scottish heritage as Scotland's first community-run castle. In 2007, local people stepped in to secure the future of the building, and it is now cared for by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Through ongoing conservation and community involvement, the castle continues to share its remarkable stories with visitors from around the world.

Visitors are invited to explore the castle, meet staff and volunteers, and discover the people and events that have shaped its history, from clan chiefs and redcoat soldiers to the charismatic Frances and Alwyn Farquharson, whose hospitality helped establish Braemar as a fashionable Highland destination.

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