BALMORAL
The castle is in a beautiful setting bordered by the River Dee.
Bordering the salmon pools of the River Dee, Queen Victoria bought
this castle - her "dear paradise" - in 1852. Balmoral rremains the holiday home of the monarch to this day and, the rolling countryside around the banks of the river has taken on the royal moniker. We were able to visit the gardens, the stables and the sumptuous ballroom.
The River Dee.
The Royal vegetable garden. 
And the rose garden. Victoria gazed upon this garden and the mountains in the distance from her bedroom.
The River Dee.The Royal vegetable garden. And the rose garden. Victoria gazed upon this garden and the mountains in the distance from her bedroom. Victoria and Albert's Balmoral
It was the riverside setting that Victoria fell for in 1848 when she first visited Balmoral. Albert worked with the Aberdeen-born architect, William Smith to create the white granite palace that replaced the old castle - he designed the medley of fantastical turrets typical of the Baronial style. 
The view from Queen Victoria's bedroom. 
Waiting to be invited in for tea???
Waiting to be invited in for tea???CRAIGIEVAR CASTLE
For sheer elegance, few castles can match Craigievar. Its cluster of towers atop the slender tower house (1626) is a masterpiece of baronial architecture. 
The interior retains the appearance of the original Forbes family home. The plaster ceilings are beautifully in tact, and remain the beautiful white appearance. Craigievar is said to be haunted by a Gordon , who was murdered by being pushed from one of the windows by Sir John Forbes - the ghost only appears to the Forbes family,
The interior retains the appearance of the original Forbes family home. The plaster ceilings are beautifully in tact, and remain the beautiful white appearance. Craigievar is said to be haunted by a Gordon , who was murdered by being pushed from one of the windows by Sir John Forbes - the ghost only appears to the Forbes family,CAIRNGORMS
A superb range of mountain peaks surrounded by pine forests and lochs. 
Beautiful drive through the area to see these castles.
Beautiful drive through the area to see these castles.CAWDOR CASTLE 
Whether or not the real Macbeth lived here in the 11th century, it's the sort of make-believe castle to satisfy all your Shakespearean expectations. 
Magical, with its original keep 1454 and drawbridge.
The gardens.
There is even a maze.
An imposing, fascinating and largely unaltered old castle, Delgatie Castle incorporates a tower of five stories dating from the 15th century although possibly some as early as 1030. 
Excellent original painted ceilings survive on the second floor dating from the 16th century. 
The building is said to be haunted by the ghost of a spirited young woman, Rohaise. She is thought to have defended the castle from an attack and haunts the bedroom off the main stair, which now bears her name.
Whether or not the real Macbeth lived here in the 11th century, it's the sort of make-believe castle to satisfy all your Shakespearean expectations. Magical, with its original keep 1454 and drawbridge.The gardens.There is even a maze. DELGATIE CASTLE
An imposing, fascinating and largely unaltered old castle, Delgatie Castle incorporates a tower of five stories dating from the 15th century although possibly some as early as 1030. Excellent original painted ceilings survive on the second floor dating from the 16th century. The building is said to be haunted by the ghost of a spirited young woman, Rohaise. She is thought to have defended the castle from an attack and haunts the bedroom off the main stair, which now bears her name. Mary , Queen of Scots, stayed here for three days after the Battle of Corrichie in 1562. The property was bought in 1948, and then made the Clan Hay center. He died 18 years ago, leaving no heirs, and the castle remains as he left it. 
Hanging around the castle.
Hanging around the castle. 
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