Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle is 6 miles south of Alford, 15 miles north-west of Banchory and 26 miles west of Aberdeen. The entrance and main drive are signposted off the A980 (Alford to Banchory road).

Please note that some route planning sites and sat-nav systems will provide directions to reach the castle via the south drive. The south drive is not accessible to vehicles and there is no parking available, as the properties at the end of the drive are privately owned.

By road

There are three routes from Aberdeen (east):

1) Follow the A944 via Westhill, Elrick and Dunecht to Alford and then take the A980 south until you see the signs for Craigievar Castle, directing you to the right up the main drive.

2) Follow the A944 until the major set of traffic lights before Westhill. Turn left onto the B9119 and follow this for approximately 17 miles to the junction with the A980. Take a sharp right and follow the A980 for approximately 2 miles until you see the brown signs directing you to the left, up the main drive.

3) Follow the A944 until the major set of traffic lights before Westhill. Turn left onto the B9119 and follow this for approximately 16 miles. About 1 mile after climbing a long sweeping hill with views of a valley and two wind turbines, there is a turning to the right between the last two houses, signposted Kintochter; it is marked on maps as Old Military Road. Follow this to the end and then turn right onto the A980. Follow the A980 until you see the brown signs directing you to the left, up the main drive. (Please note the Old Military Road is single track with passing places and has a sharp left corner just before reaching the A980.)

From Ballater (west):

Follow the A93 towards Aberdeen until you reach the junction with the B9119 on the left. Follow the B9119, through Tarland, until the junction with the A980. Turn left and follow the A980 for approximately 2 miles until you see the brown signs directing you to the left, up the main drive.

From Inverness or Alford (north):

Follow signs to Alford and then take the A980 south until you see the signs for Craigievar Castle, directing you to the right up the main drive.

From Banchory (south):

Follow the A980 from Banchory until you see the signs for Craigievar Castle, directing you to the left up the main drive.

Please note some sat-nav directions may take you through narrow winding roads as these may be ‘shorter’ than the routes set out above.

Public transport

There is no direct public transport to the castle. There are bus services to Alford, Lumphanan and Aboyne and then you can take a taxi from there to Craigievar. It is advisable to pre-arrange the taxi for both directions.

Ordnance Survey Ref: NJ566095

Car park entrance latitude and longitude co-ordinates: 57.176575 & -2.716753

Postcode: AB33 8JF