About
Corgarff Castle is a whitewashed tower house standing alone at the head of remote Strathdon, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. The Forbeses built it in the mid-1500s, and in November 1571 Adam Gordon of Auchindoun set it on fire when Margaret Forbes refused him entry, killing 27 people, a tragedy that may lie behind the ballad Edom o Gordon. Jacobites burned it twice more, in 1689 and 1690. After Culloden the army gutted the tower as a barracks for up to 42 men and ringed it with the star-shaped wall pierced with musket loops that makes Corgarff so distinctive. For 95 years, until 1831, Redcoats patrolled the glen hunting Jacobites and later helped excisemen stamp out illicit whisky distilling. Reconstructed barrack rooms recreate a soldier's life in 1750, with an officer's apartment, a kitchen and a period whisky still. Reviewers love its compact charm and the moorland views on the short climb up from the car park.
ClosedPick a day for times and prices
- Until 1 Apr
- Closed
- From 2 Apr
- Fri–Sun 10:00–16:30, last entry 16:00
Today, Saturday 24 October
- Corgarff CastleClosed
Opening times may change at short notice.
1 to 30 April Friday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm; 1 May to 30 September Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays; closed for lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm; last entry 30 minutes before closing; closed 1 October to 31 March. Historic Scotland recommends booking an entry slot in advance to guarantee entry. No works notice on 18 October 2026.
The castle is 350 m from the car park up a loose gravel path with a 1 in 5 gradient and a 75 cm kissing gate. The visitor centre is on the first floor up 12 stone steps with a handrail, with an induction loop at the counter; a spiral stair of 30 steps leads down to the cellars and timber stairs of 14 steps each lead up to the barrack room and the third and fourth floors. There are no toilets at Corgarff; the nearest adapted toilet is at the Spar, Bellabeg, Strathdon (AB36 8UL). No shop, cafe or audio guide. No dogs except assistance dogs.
Photo: Corgarff Castle's white tower house and star-shaped wall standing alone in green fields below heather moorland. Mike McBey, CC BY 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corgarff_Castle_(June_2022).jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
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