Balmoral Castle

Ballater, United Kingdom

Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848. The castle is an example of Scots Baronial architecture.

King Robert II of Scotland (1316–1390) had a hunting lodge in the area. Historical records also indicate that a house at Balmoral was built by Sir William Drummond in 1390. A tower house was built on the estate by the Gordons.

Sir Robert Gordon, a younger brother of the 4th Earl of Aberdeen, acquired the estate in 1830. He made major alterations to the original castle at Balmoral, including baronial-style extensions that were designed by John Smith of Aberdeen.

Soon after the estate was purchased by the royal family in 1852, the existing house was found to be too small and the current Balmoral Castle was commissioned. The architect was William Smith of Aberdeen, although his designs were amended by Prince Albert.

In 1931, the castle gardens were opened to the public for the first time and they now are open daily between April and the end of July, after which Queen Elizabeth arrives for her annual stay. The ballroom is the only room in the castle that may be viewed by the public.

Architecture and surroundings

Though called a castle, Balmoral's primary function is that of a country house. It is a 'typical and rather ordinary' country house from the Victorian period. The tower and 'pepper pot turrets' are characteristic features of the residence's Scottish Baronial style. The seven story tower is an architectural feature borrowed from medieval defensive tower houses. Other features of the Scottish Baronial style are the crow-stepped gables, dormer windows, and battlemented porte-cochère.

Balmoral Estate is within the Cairngorms National Park and is partly within the Deeside and Lochnagar National Scenic Area. The 50,000-acre (20,000 ha) estate contains a wide variety of landscapes, from the Dee river valley to open mountains.

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Ballater, United Kingdom
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Details

Founded: 1852
Category: Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Carroll Mumford (30 days ago)
Balmoral Castle was the prettiest Castle we visited here in Scotland! The grounds are impeccable and beautiful as well. We ate lunch there and it was the best meal to date . I would highly recommend a visit to this beautiful Castle! Wayne Mumford
James Roberts (36 days ago)
A beautiful castle! The inside is not currently open to the public, but the grounds are amazing, as is the surrounding forest. Some of the most beautiful old pine trees I've ever seen. And the river is stunning. Be sure and take a look at the gardens as well. Also, it's free!
Rasanga Gunawardena (3 months ago)
Very prestigious castle, which is used by the Royal family. Located in a tranquil place surrounded by mountains and forests. The river dee is flowing around it. The castle has a very picturesque garden. It's own green houses for flowers & vegetable. It's open only on certain days of the year. Suggest to book online. Free audio guide comes with an online booking option. Big car park within walking distance. There is a souvenir shop and a few cafes at the end of the route. Only the Ball room in the castle is open for visitors with the basic ticket option.
Derek Jenkins (4 months ago)
Great morning out with tour of the grounds including audio guides. Route is well set out with option to explore other paths. Grounds are lovely and well worth the effort. Ample parking outside grounds for £5
Jonathan D (4 months ago)
Well it's a beautiful castle and grounds, but beware the fine print! We assumed a general admission ticket would get us into most of the castle, as is typically the case, but it actually only gets you into the ballroom where some art by or of the royals is displayed, and to see the rest you have to go with a private tour which must be booked months in advance. This was fairly disappointing for us, although technically our fault for not reading all the details, but still we'd have happily paid 30lbs each to see the whole thing. It kind of seemed not worth going just to look at the grounds and go in the ballroom, honestly.
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