More information:  
www.banffshirecoast.com  Banffshire and the Moray Coast

www.aberdeentoday.co.uk Good information on Aberdeen

www.thisismoray.com  Moray.

Enjoy a holiday in Scotland's North East, with its castles,
distilleries and gardens

The Castle Trail and the Whisky Trail are what the North East is best known for and there are certainly castles galore, including Crathes Castle and Gardens on Deeside, Castle Fraser on Donside, and Fyvie Castle south of Turriff – all in the care of the NTS and all with grounds to explore.

Among the many malt whisky distilleries are Strathisla, McAllans, Cardhu and Glen Moray  – and at each you can sample a dram of the ‘water of life’ after a tour to see how the whisky is distilled. Even non-whisky-drinkers will enjoy their visit because the craft of whisky-making is fascinating.  

Along the Moray Firth (well known for its mild, sunny climate) are  fishing villages and sandy beaches. Dolphins swim in the  Moray Firth and you can take a boat trip to see them. The villages include Pennan,, Portsoy, Banff  Macduff . In Banff the wide beach is ideal for sand-castles and if you head east to Fraserburgh you can visit Scotland's Lighthouse Museum and enjoy a tasty lunch while watching the North Sea waves crashing on to the rocks.

Or head inland and visit the villages of Fochabers (home of Baxters, the well-known maker of soups and other Scottish produce), or Craigellachie, with Scotland’s only cooperage, where they make barrels to store whisky, or Fordyce, near Portsoy, where you can browse in the visitor centre which demonstrates the craft of the traditional joiner (carpenter). 

Don't miss out Huntly -  with the rugged ruins of Huntly Castle and an excellent specialist whisky shop, as well as Dean's Vsitor Centre where you can watch shortbread being made and enjoy the product with a coffee!

For beautiful tweeds and cashmeres, visit Johnston's Cashmere Visitor Centre in Elgin, tour the factory, browse in the museum, enjoy a coffee - and treat yourself to something special which will last forever.

Aberdeen is the main city, with a spectacular beach, as well as a Maritime Museum, Duthie Park and an Art Gallery and Museum.  Royal Deeside, the glen which runs west along the River Dee into the Cairngorm National Park,  should be explored at leisure. Visit Crathes Castle and Gardens (NTS) at Banchory, then on to Ballater, with its Victorian railway station.   At the head of the glen, visit Braemar Castle (open weekends to end October and Wednesday afternoons in July and August), just outside Braemar.  Balmoral Estate is open to visitors until early August;  although only a small part of the Castle is open, you can enjoy walks and the garden, as well as visit Crathie Kirk where the royal family worship.

Castles and Gardens
The National Trust for Scotland has some beautiful castles and gardens in this area - visit Fyvie Castle and enjoy a walk round Fyvie Lake or Brodie Castle near Nairn or Culloden Battlefield, for the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie's defeat in 1746.  The new visitor centre illustrates the story in pictures, words,  and artefacts and you can walk over the battlefield.  Just reopened after two years is Craigievar Castle near Alford in Aberdeenshire;  make this a must-see in your plans.

The NTS gardens are stunning in summer;  add Crathes Castle on Deeside and Pitmedden north of Aberdeen to your list.

For information on the National Trust for Scotland's properties and to find out about membership and their Discovery Pass, call 0844 493 2100 or go to www.nts.org.uk

 View the Thistle Holiday Parks in Aberdeenshire & Moray