Jewels Of The East

These magnificent buildings command glorious settings on the east coast and are steeped in individual history

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AS well as being fortified, defensive buildings to keep out unwanted invaders, many castles in Scotland were built as status symbols, standing proud as turreted testament to their original owners' might and wealth.

This is certainly true of the palatial castles in the east, overlooking the fertile farmland and treacherous yet bountiful North Sea.

From the world-famous Edinburgh Castle overlooking the capital, to the Royal Family's official residence on Deeside, these impressive structures loom large over the surrounding landscape.

Balmoral

Near Ballater, Aberdeenshire

QUEEN VICTORIA and Prince Albert commissioned the construction of Balmoral Castle in 1856, and the stunning building is now a category A-listed building.

It is still a residence of the Royal Family, and it was here, on September 8, 2022, that Queen Elizabeth II passed away with daughter Princess Anne by her side.

The late queen was known to have loved her time at Balmoral, and visitors to the estate often saw her out walking in the countryside and the surrounding area. King Charles shares her love of the Aberdeenshire castle, and the Royal Family continue the tradition of holidaying here in autumn.

The grounds and gardens of Balmoral are open to the public daily between May and August if you book a General Admission ticket. This also includes access to the Ballroom where you'll find an exhibition of King Charles' watercolours depicting the royal estates Balmoral, Windsor and Sandringham; and a selection of royal outfits from recent years.

Earlier this year, tickets for afternoon tea, expeditions and guided internal tours were released and sold out quickly. If more tickets become available, balmoralcastle.com will be updated.