Cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them or accept our recommended settings. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

Options
Necessary cookies enable core functionality on our website. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
We use marketing cookies to personalise your visit to our website and show you tailored advertising based on your likes and interests.
We use analytics cookies to monitor visitor behaviour patterns and improve our website performance.

Your preferences have been set. If you wish to change your preferences, you may do so on our cookies page.

Search My Trust
Join now
Join
Close

Looking for places? Use our place search to find them by name, town or postcode.

See all stories
23 Jun 2023

Guide to events in the North East: Summer 2023

A family walk across the manicured lawns in front of Crathes Castle. Two young girls run in front of an older couple. Big yew hedges can be seen in the background.
There are over 90 events on offer across our 11 places in the North East this summer season.

With events across outdoor theatre, music and art, nature up close, gardening, buildings and conservation, and adult exercise and wellbeing, as well as big days out for the whole family to enjoy, this guide will help you plan unforgettable summer moments.

The places in this guide are listed alphabetically, with their events below chronologically. The places featured are: Barry Mill, Castle Fraser, Craigievar Castle, Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Fyvie Castle, Haddo House, House of Dun, Leith Hall and Pitmedden Garden.

Our places create memorable experiences and, through their diverse events programmes, find different ways to welcome new visitors and familiar faces alike. By supporting these events, you also enable our charitable work in caring for Scotland’s precious nature, beauty and heritage, protecting it for future generations.

Links are provided where available to book your place. Make sure to visit the property pages on our website to plan your visit, and follow the property on social media and Eventbrite for full details and the latest updates.

Barry Mill

25 June: Music at the Mill – music festival for all ages

12 October: Wonderful Woodlands Walk

Plan your visit

An exterior view of Barry Mill showing its stone walls, tiled roof and tin-roofed outbuilding. A path leads into woodland behind the mill.
Barry Mill

Castle Fraser

9 July: Nature for kids – Dragonfly and Damsels Day

16 July: Outdoor theatre – The Ugly Duckling

19 July: Outdoor theatre – Merry Wives of Windsor

22 July: A Taste of Fraser

6 August: Aberdeen Performance Car Show

19–20 August: History Weekend – including re-enactments, food, activities and stalls

21–27 August: Archaeology Week

Plan your visit

A view of Castle Fraser seen from under an old stone arch leading into the courtyard in front of the castle.
Castle Fraser

Craigievar Castle

21 July: Exclusive Hard Hat Tour: Benefits of Lime

18 August: Exclusive Hard Hat Tour: Limewashing

19 August: Woodland Survival Skills for Families – fires, rope, shelters and kettles

29 September: Exclusive Hard Hat Tour: Plasterwork

Plan your visit

The pink Craigievar Castle seen from an aerial viewpoint, surrounded by tall trees, fields and rolling hills.
Craigievar Castle | Image by Michal Wachucik/Abermedia

Crathes Castle

13 July: Crathes Tree Collector

14–16 July: The Big Hop – a weekend of fun trails and activities.

22–23 July: Exclusively Highlands – craft and food market

25 July: Crathes Tree Collector

26 July: Head Gardener Tours

8 August: Crathes Tree Collector

17 August: Crathes Tree Collector

18–20 August: Family Fun Weekend

9–17 September: NE Open Studios

16 September: PIM Crathes Running Festival

Plan your visit

An exterior view of Crathes Castle, looking up from the sunken lawn area, on a sunny day. Two large eggcup-shaped yew hedges stand in front of the castle. Ivy climbs the walls of the castle and a white flag flies from the tower.
Crathes Castle

Drum Castle

2 July: Yoga at the Castle

9 July: Outdoor theatre – Robin Hood

Plan your visit

A view of Drum Castle on a sunny day, with bright blue sky behind. The ancient, square stone tower is to the left, with the Jacobean section to the right. Tall trees can be seen behind the castle.
Drum Castle

Fyvie Castle

23 June: Midsummer Night Walk

8 July: Outdoor theatre – Robin Hood

9 July: Swift Day

20 October: Squirrel Safari

Plan your visit

An exterior view of Fyvie Castle, seen from the lawn. Tall trees frame the image either side.
Fyvie Castle

Haddo House

25 June: A Song for Haddo Community Music Day

1 July: Terrace Garden Yoga

22 July: Tea on the Terrace

5 August: Terrace Garden Yoga

5–6 August: The Big Hop – a weekend of fun trails and activities

23 August: Summer bouquet making workshop

26 August: Bat Breakfast

2 September: Terrace Garden Yoga

9–17 September: NE Open Studios

29 September: Gin Tasting

6–10 October: Haddo Arts Festival

11 October: Autumn wreath making workshop

14 October: Fungi Foray

Plan your visit

A view of a large Georgian country house with immaculate lawns in front. At the centre of the lawns and flowerbeds is a circular fountain, gently trickling.
Haddo House

House of Dun

30 June: Designed Landscapes – walk and talk

8 July: Edwardian Garden Party – with Rae’s Restaurant

28 July: Bothy Workshop: Pruning Apples and Pears

24 August: Talk and Music – Violet Jacob and the Scottish Literary Renaissance in Montrose (TBC)

22 September: Plantlore – walk and talk

23 September: Dogwarts with Dog Friendly Angus and Dundee

24 September: Plant sale (Angus Members Centre)

29 September: Talk – Plasterwork in Scotland with Will Napier

4 October: Squirrel Safari

14 October: The Tattie Howkin Festival

Plan your visit

A view standing in front of a large country house, looking up a set of grand stone steps. Neat hedges line the path and clumps of daffodils grow either side of the pillars.
House of Dun

Leith Hall

23 June: A Midsummer Stage II - spoken word & poetry

24 June: Garden Yoga

25 June: Afternoon Concert: English Song

23 July: Afternoon concert (TBC)

4 August: Outdoor theatre – Illyria Twelfth Night

12–13 August: Pirates Weekend – a weekend of fun trails and activities

9 September: An Evening of Scots Songs with a Dash of History

October (date TBC): Talk – Plastic-free interior Heritage Paint

Plan your visit

A view of the exterior of Leith Hall, from across some manicured lawns. It is a large stately home, with grey walls and a slate roof, with little towers and turrets at each corner.
Leith Hall

Pitmedden Garden

8–9 July: Herbal Gardens – walk and talk

10 July: Teddy Bears Picnic

22 September: Pre-Apple Sunday social event

24 September: Apple Sunday Festival

Plan your visit

A view of an avenue of clipped yew trees on either side of a manicured lawn. A stone fountain stands at the centre. Woodland can be seen in the distance.
Pitmedden Garden

Read next

Tourists walking near St John's Cross on Iona

Love Scotland podcast – Season 8

Listen to the eighth season of the Trust’s podcast, which explores some thrilling stories about Scotland’s people and places

Young people holding a giant £1 coin at Edinburgh Castle

Young explorers can access historic places for just £1

The National Trust for Scotland – along with Historic Environment Scotland and Historic Houses – has announced £1 entry to over 600 historic places across Scotland for Young Scot National Entitlement Card holders.

A sailing boat is anchored in the middle of the sheltered bay on a shimmering sunny day on Canna.

Scottish island adventures

Sail across sparkling seas and visit these splendid Scottish islands. Incredible scenery, fresh sea air and family-friendly adventures await.

A view of a garden awash with colour in summer. A row of pink-flowering shrubs stands in the foreground, with tall blue delphiniums growing from the flowerbeds in the background, across the lawn.

Around the world in our gardens

When you visit our gardens and estates you can travel the world! Gardens and Designed Landscape Manager, Chris, introduces us to some of the rare and unusual plants in our collection, from towering trees to flowering shrubs.

Read more stories on

Back to top