Castle

Craigievar Castle

Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire
Directions Tickets
  • Open
  • £18 adult
  • Dogs in the grounds
  • Parking on site, free for members
  • National Trust for Scotland
Craigievar Castle: This is a photo of listed building number
Photo: Anais Culot · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Craigievar Castle is a castle near Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, managed by National Trust for Scotland. Adult tickets cost £18, and National Trust for Scotland members go free. Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not inside. There is a members' car park on site.

Craigievar Castle opening times

Last checked 14 Oct 2026
  1. Mon 12 Closed
  2. Tue 13 Closed
  3. Wed 14 Closed
  4. Thu 15 Closed
  5. Fri 16 Closed
  6. Today Sat 17 11:0015:00
  7. Sun 18 11:0015:00
Opening times by season
Season Dates Days Hours Last entry
Usual times All year
Sat to Sun
11:00 to 15:00
 n/a

Opening times change with the season and can change at short notice. Check the official site before you travel.

Craigievar Castle tickets and prices

2026 prices · checked 17 Oct 2026
Ticket prices
Ticket On the day
Adult £18
Concession £14
Family £40.50
National Trust for Scotland members Free
Book on the National Trust for Scotland site

Getting to Craigievar Castle and parking

Plan your route

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Directions to Craigievar Castle View on a map
Address
AB33 8JF
Parking
Car park on site, free for members. Car park £5.00, free for members. South drive has no parking.
By train
Insch is 11.9 miles away.
Public transport
No direct public transport; buses to Alford, Lumphanan and Aboyne, then a pre-arranged taxi.

Dogs, accessibility and facilities

Dogs

Partly
  • Welcome: in the grounds.
  • Not allowed: inside the buildings.
  • Facilities list says only 'Dogs welcome'; dogs to be kept under close control near livestock. Nothing says dogs may enter the castle, so lesser value.

Accessibility

Partly step-free
  • Step-free: in parts of the site.
  • Paths and surfaces: Stone steps into castle and shop; steep spiral stairs to upper floors; grounds accessible; trails unsurfaced and very steep in sections.

Food and facilities

  • Toilets Yes
  • Shop Yes
  • Picnic area Yes
  • Guided tours Yes

What to see at Craigievar Castle

  • 01

    Great hall

    The main hall, used for feasts and ceremony.

History of Craigievar Castle

  1. c.1576 Building of the tower house begins in Scottish Baronial style
  2. 1610 William Forbes ('Danzig Willie') buys the castle from the Mortimers and adds three storeys
  3. c.1626 William Forbes completes the castle
  4. 1824 Sir John Forbes commissions architect John Smith; castle repaired and harled pink

Photos

Castles near Craigievar Castle

All 10 castles in Aberdeenshire

FAQs

When is Craigievar Castle open?

In the castle autumn weekends season it opens Saturday, Sunday from 11:00 to 15:00. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.

How much does it cost to visit Craigievar Castle?

Adult tickets cost £18, and National Trust for Scotland members go free.

Is there a café at Craigievar Castle?

There is no café listed on site.

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on api.postcodes.io · checked 17 Oct 2026
  2. Page on nts.org.uk · checked 17 Oct 2026
  3. Wikidata · checked 17 Oct 2026
  4. Page on portal.historicenvironment.scot · checked 17 Oct 2026
  5. Page on nts.org.uk · checked 17 Oct 2026
  6. Page on nts.org.uk · checked 14 Oct 2026

We are independent and not affiliated with National Trust for Scotland. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data