What a great castle, so well kept and the staff are so full of knowledge
The gardens are fabulous and I would suggest a while day, half day at least in the castle if you want to read all the details and do it justice, then a good couple of hours minimum in the gardens. Also great walks around the area also and. A lovely cafe.

– Aman Toor

The sun was splitting the sky today so we decided to visit Crathes Castle & Estate. The location was very busy as there were extra activities on in the grounds, bouncy things of several shapes and sizes, face painting, arts and crafts etc.
It Is a self guided tour through the castle going up one set of very tight circular stairs and returning back down to ground level on a second set of stairs. You do need good mobility to manage these stairs.
All the rooms were temperature and humidity controlled to try and preserve the fabrics and furnishings within each room.
All the items were most interesting to see but not as old as those in Glamis castle.
One advantage of this castle Is that you may take photographs except for one small area.
After we completed the tour the heat from the sun guided us to the nearby ice cream vendor followed by a walk around the gardens. The gardens are large and are the home to many exotic plants, trees and shrubs. It Is a full time job for five volunteer gardeners to keep the gardens and grounds in such a wondrous condition.
We finished off the day with a quick snack in the cafe. Soft drinks, cakes and cappuccino were enjoyed at a leisurely pace. A great day out, highly recommended.

– John Rankin

i absolutely loved this castle …the painted ceilings are just amazing …Standing against a backdrop of rolling hills and set within its own glorious gardens, Crathes Castle provides a memorable experience with its towers, turrets and stories of its resident ghosts. King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to the Burnett family in 1323: the ancient Horn of Leys, which can be seen today in the Great Hall, marks his gift.

Inside you’ll find a labyrinth of cultural history, from family portraits to fine antique furniture. The walled garden is a wonderful jungle of history, split into eight sections that encompass every green delight imaginable a sculpted topiary, soft herbaceous colours and modern exotic blooms. The massive yew hedges are thought to have been planted as early as 1702.

Crathes Castle Estate was once part of the Royal Forest of Drum. Today there are a range of waymarked and clearly signposted trails. Look out for wildlife along the way – you may see red squirrels, woodpeckers and herons.

– Warren Baird