Drum Castle

Standing on a ridge overlooking the River Dee, Drum Castle is the oldest intact building in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. It is is located in the world famous Castle Country of Northeast Scotland and 10 miles from the heart of Aberdeen.

Continually inhabited by the Irvine family from 1323 to 1975, Drum is architecturally different from most of the castles of the north-east of Scotland. Although they probably all started as Tower's, most changed in the 16th Century when they were developed upwards - the houses were built on top of the tower - but at Drum the new house was built alongside the existing tower.

The original tower is still intact, it was built before 1286 to protect the city of Aberdeen from being bypassed and attacked from the rear. Visitors to the castle can explore the original Tower, the Jacobean Mansion added in 1619 and the Victorian Extension, added in 1872. The castle has a Tearoom and Shop and extensive and beautiful gardens to explore.