Castles Serene in Aberdeen
Nadia Ali
Located in the northeast of Scotland is the port city of Aberdeen. It is home to over 300 castles. The epic scenery brings to mind scenes from the silver-screen such as Harry Potter, James Bond 007 films, the Kingsman and Outlander to name a few. The hidden forests green meadows, moors and castles are a traditional part of Scotland. Aberdeen’s castles carry from the whimsical 16th century fairytale-looking Crathes Castle to the stately castle of the Earl of Huntly known as Huntly Castle. It takes about eight hours to drive a distance of 545 miles from London. The best way to experience the rolling fields of green dotted with balls of easily visible thick woolly sheep is by either driving mostly on the M6 motorway, or going by the train which takes about seven and a half hours. Flying is just about an hour and a half.
Crathes Castle Located at just 20 miles from Aberdeen, the Scottish town of Banchory is home to Crathes Castle. From the roadside and even the driveway leading to this rather stately looking castle, you can only spy a tower in the sky, as it is housed on an enclosed compound comprising of 530 acres of green grass meadows. Crathes Castle is reminiscent of the Disney fairytale palace complete with towers, turrets and a flag pole. This historical example of a Scottish tower castle was built in the 16th century. Tour guides do an excellent job of showing you around as they relate facts, information and ghost stories. Visitors can take a piece of history home with them from the castle gift shop. There is also a picnic area with a kid’s mini-play park next to the River Dee, where fishing is allowed. Don’t forget to visit the topiary hedges in the stately gardens.
16 || TERRA TRAVELERS
