Scotland: Gordon Castle, Fraser Castle, Dunnottar Castle, Glais Castle & Scone Palace
This is Part 5 of my recap of my 2024 trip back to Scotland. For Part 1 of this series (Edinburgh) - visit here. For Part 2 (Culross) - visit here. For Part 3 (Bannockburn) - visit here. For Part 4 (Urquhart) - visit here.
(May 2024)
It was sadly the time to pack up and depart Inverness as I headed on my last leg of the trip. First, I needed breakfast. I found a darling spot at Househill Cafe in Nairne where I enjoyed a delicious breakfast plate while watching the cows walk through the pasture across the street. Househill also has a wonderful farmstore stocked with local produce, eggs and dairy along with gifts and decor. It is owned by a husband and wife duo who focus on the simple things - great food, a relaxed environment and great vibes. I got the fuel I needed to make my 3-hour drive to Laurencekirk for the last Airbnb of the trip.
GORDON CASTLE
About an hour from Nairne, I decided I needed to stretch my legs and stopped by Gordon Castle and it was a treat to visit. Again, not something that was even on my radar but glad I discovered it. It's main feature is a grand walled garden. Upon arrival, I stopped by their farmstore for a variety of treats and gifts to take back home. I walked through the garden and decided to grab a scone and tea in their cafe. They offer overnight accommodations in the castle and five cottage lodges on their property. They also are a location for annual highland games, and offer shooting, hunting and fishing packages.
CASTLE FRASER
Okay, I might have gotten a bit distracted as I continued my route, but when I found out that Castle Fraser was on the way, the Outlander bug bit and I decided to make a quick stop. Unfortunately, they were closed for the day, but I was still able to walk around the grounds and view the castle from the exterior. The castle tower dates back to 1454 and was home to the Fraser family until 1921. Here is my TikTok video of my quick visit.
From here I needed to find a bite to eat for a late lunch before heading to my next castle. I discovered a cafe at Treehouse in Inverurie - it was open, still serving lunch and along the way. I thought it was a simple cafe to grab a sandwich but what I didn't expect was that it was part of a massive gift and home decor shop! I enjoyed walking around the entire shop after grabbing a bite. What a fun place!
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE
Oh this next castle stole my heart even without stepping foot in the castle itself. Dunnottar Castle sits on top of a 160ft rock with three side of the North Sea pushing up against it. It dates back to the 13th century and is tied to important historical figures such as William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots, and played a crucial role in protecting the Honours of Scotland (crowned jewels). The journey to the castle is quite treacherous and steep. After taking along path to the cliffside, you will have to hike down the cliff and then hike up the rock to the castle. There are many steps and steep climbs. Unfortunately I did not have the energy or time to do this trek, but even just standing on the cliff to take in its beauty was absolutely breathtaking. The rain had cleared and the sun was beaming. The waves were crashing against the cliff and the birds were floating against the wind. Hundreds of people from all over the world were there to stand in its beauty. Even if you only have a few moments to spare and if Dunnottar is in your path, I highly recommend even just stopping to catch the view. Here is my TikTok of my visit here.
LAURENCEKIRK
I ended my day by checking into my last Airbnb of the trip in a small town about 2 hours away from Edinburgh. This darling 1 bedroom cottage was hosted by Sarah who was an absolute delight and a tremendously kind and generous host. Her home was cozy and welcoming and fitted with everything you'd need for your stay. The cottage is part of Frogfield house as an annex to the manor home. It even features an old chapel in the back garden! I had only planned 1 night to stay here, but I would definitely want to stay there longer so I hope to go back some day. I was able to use the washer and dryer to clean all my clothes before packing them all away for my journey back home. Here is my TikTok of my stay here. It is still an active listing on Airbnb to book so check it out here.
GLAMIS CASTLE
This next castle dates back to 1372 and has been part of a deep Scottish and royal history for over 650 years and it has remained in the Lyon family and their predecessors the entirety of its history. Glamis Castle once hosted Mary Queen of Scots, is believed to be the castle that inspired Shakespeare's Macbeth, and is considered one of the most haunted residences in Britain. It was the childhood home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and birthplace of HRH Princess Margaret. There were many personal artifacts, photos and items of Queen Mother and her family still on display in the castle. The surrounding area of Glamis Castle is just as picturesque as it comes. Take a moment and enjoy a drive around the village and surroudning area! Here is my TikTok video of my visit.
SCONE PALACE
My final stop is just an hour away from Edinburgh Airport and I really wanted to postpone leaving Scotland! I made my way down from Laurencekirk to stay the night at an airport hotel to make leaving in the morning for my flight a bit easier and less stressful than driving in from a distance. But before I get to the Airport, I had to stop at Scone Palace as my final stop. The palacial property was buzzing with the setting up of an event for the weekend so it was quite busy getting in and around, but still worth the stop. Scone Palace is known for their peacocks and my goodness they had so many of them walking about! But what Scone is truly known for is the home of the Stone of Destiny - the crowning seat of kings from the 9th to the 13th centuries. Over 1,000 years of history stands here at Scone and over the last 400 years it has been home to one family - the Murray family. It is a current residence of the Earl of Mansfield. The palace was stunning as you would expect it to be. I also enjoy a bit of lunch and treats in their cafe and shopped their gift shop for last minute gifts and mementos before packing it all away. This was a wonderful end to my trip. Here is a TikTok video of my visit here.
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