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Day trip

From Aberdeen: Balmoral Castle and Royal Deeside Tour

4.9  / 5
65 reviews
Activity provider:Grampian Escapes & Tours Ltd
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Day trip

From Aberdeen: Balmoral Castle and Royal Deeside Tour

Activity provider:Grampian Escapes & Tours Ltd
4.9  / 5
65 reviews

From US$ 79.28 per person

Experience the beauty of Aberdeenshire, with stunning countryside scenery, charming villages, and castles. Embark on a guided tour to see why the Royals love this region and explore Balmoral Castle.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 7.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Small group
Limited to 7 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • Explore the grounds of Balmoral Castle and Estate
  • Enjoy the peace and the majestic hills of the Cairngorms National Park
  • See the mountain peaks of the Lochnagar from the Queen’s View
  • Delve into the heritage of the Aberdeenshire
  • Follow in the footsteps of generations of Royals who loved Aberdeenshire
Full description

Join a tour from Aberdeen and experience the beauty of the Royal Deeside, with its connections to the monarchy and stunning scenery. Discover Balmoral and walk in the footsteps of generations of royals who have called this castle home. Visit picturesque villages in the area. Balmoral castle* was the late Queen Elizabeth's private country retreat and a beloved home. King Charles, who has his own private home on the estate, has a great affection for the castle and grounds. When visiting we highly recommend the audio tour where you will hear stories from people who lived and worked at Balmoral as they guide you around the estate. ***Balmoral Castle closes on the 16th of August. We will substitute the National Trust for Scotland's Crathes Castle on this tour. Crathes Castle was home to the Burnett family, who lived in the castle for over 350 years, and had roots in the area dating back to 1323. Alexander Burnett built the castle in the 16th century, an intricate maze of turrets, towers, oak panels and painted ceilings, many of which survive beautifully to this day. Inside you’ll find cultural history, family portraits and antique furniture. The walled garden is wonderful, 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. Scotland is iconic for its beautiful rugged mountains, hills of heather and cool clear rivers running through the countryside. On this short scenic drive we detour through the fringes of the highland moors and heath lands of the east Cairngorm national park. Ballater will be next on your tour and is is a picturesque Victorian village. This planned agricultural town dates back over two hundred years and is set around a central village green and the impressive Glenmuick Kirk which held its first service in 1800. A stroll around the town reveals an interesting range of many specialty shops and good selection of restaurants and cafes to enjoy some of the local food & drink. As we start to make our way back to Aberdeen we will visit the iconic Cambus O'May suspension bridge, a very popular outdoor destination for visitors walking in the area. A walk up to the Tomnaverie recumbent stone circle, is a breathtaking experience. A characteristic feature of this type of circle is a large stone on its side, flanked by two upright stones, usually on the south or south-west arc of the circle. The stone circle surrounds a burial cairn dating to about 4,500 years ago. Finally a visit the Queen's view just outside Tarland. The view gained its name from Queen Victoria who quickly fell in love with the view of the lower valley of the Dee which includes a view of the peak of Lochnagar. The view is particularly loved for its unspoiled beauty which has not changed greatly for hundreds of years making it even more remarkable, and a view which is iconic of Aberdeenshire.

Includes
  • Roundtrip transportation from Aberdeen
  • Tour guide
  • Entrance to Balmoral Estate (£16.50 per person)
  • Entrance to Crathes Castle (£15.50)
  • Lunch

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meet your guide next to the William Wallace Statue in front of His Majesty's Theatre.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Rain gear

Know before you go

  • This tour operates outdoors in all weather conditions, so bring an umbrella or waterproof clothing.
  • There are some provisions for people with impaired mobility at Balmoral.
  • Balmoral Castle closes at the end of July 2023, this stop will change to Braemar Castle from the 1st of August 2023.

From US$ 79.28 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 65 reviews

Review summary

  • Transportation
    5/5
  • Value for money
    4.9/5

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It was a bit of a wet day but the trip was so beautiful despite the rain. The grounds of Balmoral are stunning with the flowers in bloom. We even managed to spot a salmon leaping at the falls. We also visited the stones then a brief change of plans due to the weather - stopping in a church with unique stain glass windows. Jacqueline our guide was very informative, friendly and allowed us to be quite casual and relaxed with our day. Flexibly adjusting the itinerary to fit with the group and the weather. Absolutely recommend this tour company to everyone. The smaller group makes it so much more special too.

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July 28, 2023

O
Orla – United KingdomVerified booking

Helpful?

What a great trip to Balmoral! It was a small and lovely group of people. The stops we made along the trip were all worth while and we had a delicious lunch in Ballater. I highly recommend this tour if you are looking for a relaxing ride and lovely guide.

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May 26, 2023

T
Talia – United StatesVerified booking

Helpful?

Jacqueline is an excellent guide, and very personable, she took a lot of time and trouble explaining the history of the area and pointing out places of interest such as a circle of stones. She went out of her way to take me to Krathie Kirk and show me some really pretty villages. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and recommend this company Grampian Escapes and Tours.

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July 15, 2021

J
Julian – United KingdomVerified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 343186

  • United Kingdom
  • Aberdeenshire
  • Things to do in Tarland
  • Queens View, Tarland

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