Top 7 Castle Tours in Aberdeen

1.Dunnottar Castle and Royal Deeside Small-Group Tour from Aberdeen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 196 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $78Our pick

Set out from Aberdeen with a driver-guide such as Alan, Neil, or Darryl for a nine-hour tour through Aberdeenshire. Visit dramatic Dunnottar Castle, pause at the Falls of Feugh, and walk in Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve. Transport, guiding, and a group capped at 16 are included. Castle admission, meals, and drinks cost extra.

“Trip was beautiful. Dunnottar castle was great. If you love nature then the cairngroms park is worth to see it. We had beautiful weather. I will come back soon. Thanks to our driver Alan, he gave us all the informations.💪👍”

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2.Aberdeenshire Private Half Day Castle & Historic Building Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $245

Malcolm of Time Exposure Travel leads a private 4.5-hour tour from Aberdeen to Dunnottar, Crathes, Drum, and Old Aberdeen. You get private transport, local stories, and an itinerary that can change with your interests or the weather. Castle entry fees are extra, and pickup outside Aberdeen may cost more.

“Malcolm was just wonderful from the history he taught us to the recommendations he gave us to tour the backroads afterwards. I would definitely tour with him again!”

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3.Aberdeen & Shire Castle & Distillery Private Group one Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $535

Join Malcolm for a private seven to eight hour tour from Aberdeen, with pickup at your hotel, train station, airport, or cruise ship. Visit Dunnottar and Crathes castles, stop for lunch beside the River Dee, and tour a working whisky distillery. The route can change to suit your interests, with Balmoral available instead of whisky.

“Es hat alles super geklappt. Waren mit unseren Oldies (84/86) auf der AiIDA Schottland Tour unterwegs und suchten nach einer individuellen Rundtour ohne die Menschenmassen. Malcolm war unser Guid. Nur zu empfehlen. Von Anfang an hat er sich um alles gekümmert und ist auf unsere Wünsche eingegangen. Auch auf den Wunsch eines deutschsprachigen Dolmetscher konnte Malcom lösen. Hier danke an Martina :-). Zum Mittagessen waren wir in einem typischen schottischen Pub. Auch das Whisky Tasting in Royal Lochnagar Distillerie war ein Highlight. Können die Tour uneingeschränkt empfehlen.”

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4.Balmoral Craigievar Dunnottar Crathes Castles Tour from Aberdeen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.)

Start at 8 am with private pickup in Aberdeen and spend 9 to 10 hours visiting Crathes, Balmoral, Craigievar, and Dunnottar. Guide Malcolm tailors the route for your group, adds local history, and leaves time for a traditional Scottish lunch. Castle entry fees are extra, and Balmoral usually opens only from April to mid-August.

“We truly enjoyed touring the northeastern Scottish countryside and exploring Crathes, Balmoral, and Dunnothar castles and their associated histories. Nothing was rushed or complicated. Malcolm was very friendly, informative, and accommodating - highly recommended day tour!”

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5.Aberdeenshire and Royal Deeside Private Half-day Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $229

Travel privately from Aberdeen with guide Malcolm to three memorable castles: cliff-top Dunnottar, ornate Crathes, and historic Drum. You can adjust the order and pace, stop outside for free, or pay separately to enter Dunnottar and Crathes. Pickup and drop-off are included in the Aberdeen area.

“Totally customizable. We could set the pace and modify the order of sights. Thatreally worked for us.”

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6.Best Scottish Whisky Distilleries Private Tasting Trip plus optional Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.)

Set out from Aberdeen with private driver-guide Malcolm for a nine to ten-hour whisky day. Choose distilleries such as Glenfiddich, GlenAllachie, and Glenlivet, stop for lunch at the Mash Tun, or swap one whisky stop for Dunnottar Castle. Tastings cost extra, and pickup surcharges may apply outside Aberdeen.

“Malcolm was an amazing tour guide. He set up a great itinerary for us, including an awesome lunch stop at the Mash Tun. The food was incredible.”

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7.Private Balmoral Glamis Dunnottar Castles Tour from Aberdeen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews

Start with pickup in Aberdeen and spend 9 to 11 hours visiting Crathes, Balmoral, Glamis, and Dunnottar Castles. Malcolm guides the private drive with local stories and can adjust the route. Lunch is arranged at a castle or The Fife Arms, with Royal Lochnagar whisky tasting available instead of one castle.

“Malcolm was a fabulous host and tour guide. We really enjoyed the added touches of his knowledge and experience about the land and its history, the people. He selected a fabulous little café for lunch. Perfect memory for our trip to Scotland.”

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