Find Scotland Tours that visit Balmoral Castle.
| Address: | Balmoral, Ballater, AB35 5TB |
| Operated by: | Royal Residences |
| Opening Hours: | 1st April until 31st July, 10 am to 5 pm (last admission 4:30pm) |
| Admission: | £ 11.50 adult, £ 10.50 senior, £ 6 children, Family £ 32 |
| Parking: | Yes |
| Languages: | Audioguides in English, French, German, Italian (£5 refundable deposit) |
| Accessibility: | Yes |
| Toilets: | Yes, also disabled toilets |
| Shop: | Yes |
| Cafe/Restaurant: | Yes |
Balmoral Estate has a very appealing location amongst the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside, and it is easy to understand why it is a favourite place of the Royals. Purchased by Prince Albert in 1852 for Queen Victoria, the Estate has been the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family ever since.
The Castle itself has an interesting story, as it is not the original building that Prince Albert bought. It was decided that the old building was not adequate for the Royal Family’s needs so another one was built in the grounds nearby. The process took 4 years and the new Castle was completed in 1856. The old building was demolished and a commemorative stone marks the location of its front door.
Balmoral is a key attraction in Scotland, however we find it disappointing as very little of the Castle is not accessible to the public apart from the Ballroom, which has been converted into a constant exhibition displaying pictures of the other rooms in the Castle. The grounds are extensive and beautiful, and the stables have a collection of Royal carriages and cars. There is an excellent tearoom and shop, but the lack of access to the Castle, which you came to visit, is a frustration and does leave you feeling a bit "stung".
