Description

Enjoy a private guided tour from Edinburgh. This tour can be tailor made to your preference. Royal Deeside, separated from Speyside by the huge bulk of the Cairngorm Mountains, is a rich valley of forest and mountain in its upper reaches and rolling arable country as the river approaches its mouth at the city of Aberdeen. Since Victorian times upper Deeside has been the favourite holiday destination of the Royal Family, who stay at their castle of Balmoral in the shadow of the high and evocative mountain Lochnagar.

Day 1: Edinburgh - Dundee - Glamis Castle - Dunotter Castle - Aberdeen

From Edinburgh the tour heads north to South Queensferry before crossing the famous Forth Bridge to the Kingdom of Fife. We head north over the Tay Bridge to Dundee, the city of Jute, Jam and Journalism (home of the Beano and Dandy). Dundee was home to two main families: Scrymgeour, given the role of Hereditary Constables of Dundee by William Wallace.

From Dundee we take you north to a castle you can visit; Glamis Castle, seat of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn, head of the Bowes-Lyon family. Glamis is the childhood home of the late Queen Mother. From Glamis it is a short run to Fettercairn distillery for a tour. Fettercairn Single Malt is a light, bittersweet malt with a nice nutty aftertaste. We continue through the land known as the Howe of the Mearns to Dunotter Castle near Stonehaven. Dunnottar, a spectacular coastal ruin was the seat of the Keith family, the Earls Marischal of Scotland. From Stonehaven we head to Aberdeen.
Overnight - Aberdeen

Day 2: Aberdeen - Strathdee - Crathes Castle - Glen Muick - Lochnagar - Royal Deeside

The City of Aberdeen sits between the Rivers Dee and Don (it gets its name from the Gaelic Obar Dheathain meaning mouth of the Don), and the morning begins with a visit to Old Aberdeen centred on St Machar Cathedral and the 510 year old University buildings. Then it is on to the valley of the River Dee - Strathdee, also known as Royal Deeside. We pay a visit firstly to one of the best tower-house castles in Scotland, Crathes Castle, seat of the Burnett family. The Burnetts had been supporters of Robert the Bruce and were made Foresters of the Forest of Drum. They supported James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, where he led the army of Charles I against the Covenanters and the Marquis of Argyll in the mid 17th Century. Montrose was one of the greatest generals in British history and was finally martyred to ‘buy’ Charles II his crown. This area is steeped in the history of this wild war of religion that ripped Scotland apart. From here we go to Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s Highland retreat (not open when HM is in residence).
Ending the day in Edinburgh
 

Glamis Castle, Aberdeen and Royal Deeside Tour!!