Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate

Crathes Castle is a 16th-century tower house on Royal Deeside that stayed with the Burnett of Leys family for 350 years, on land granted by Robert the Bruce in 1323 along with the jewelled Horn of Leys that still hangs in the High Hall. Inside are painted ceilings from the 1590s, the Nine Nobles and the Green Lady's Room among them, oak-panelled chambers and a warren of turret stairs. The walled garden below is famous for yew hedges planted in 1702 and clipped into great green mounds, with eight themed gardens beyond, and six waymarked trails cross the estate past roe deer and red squirrels, with the Wild Wood adventure play area for children. Reviewers call the June borders spectacular and rate Cafe 1702 highly. Tips from regulars: castle entry is first come, first served in small timed groups with no pre-booking; sat navs may send you down private roads, so use the signposted main drive off the A93; and it is a mile's walk from the bus stop.