Scottish Castles

Fyvie Castle

Taking your first look at Fyvie Castle is magical. This 800-year-old magnificent Scottish Baronial Fortress is in pristine condition given its age, with plenty of attractions and things to do. If you plan to explore the many historical attractions in Aberdeenshire, put Fyvie Castle at the top of your list.

Here is what you can expect to see while at Fyvie Castle: a short piece of its history and how to get there in the first place.

History of Fyvie Castle

Fyvie Castle’s past is shrouded in mystery, although it is generally accepted that it was built in 1211 by William the Lion. The castle was used as an open-air court by Scottish royal guests like Robert the Bruce and also the home of Charles I. Following the Battle of Otterburn in 1390, however, Fyvie Castle ceased being a stronghold and instead was the home to five successive families in Scotland – each of which added one of the five towers to the castle’s medieval stones.

The oldest surviving part of Fyvie Castle is Preston Tower, which was added by Sir Alexander Meldrum in the 15th century in the south west corner of the structure.

Since then, Fyvie Castle was bought in 1984 by the National Trust for Scotland and the magnificent fortress and walled garden have been open to guests ever since!

How to Get There

Fyvie Castle sits in the Scottish Highlands, a part of a region known as Aberdeenshire. The largest city near Fyvie Castle is Aberdeen, from which the castle is only a 45-minute drive along the A947 to the town of Fyvie.

If you plan to take public transportation from Aberdeen instead, you can expect it to take longer (around 2 hours of travel time). Scotrail will take you from Aberdeen to Inverurie, from which you can train to Olmedrum and Fyvie.

Attractions at Fyvie Castle

There’s much to look forward to when exploring Fyvie Castle, from ghost stories to lavish Edwardian interiors. Here are the top attractions within Fyvie Castle you should certainly keep on your to-do list.

Take a look at Fyvie Castle’s Portrait Collection

Fyvie has a little something for everyone, although art lovers who come to Fyvie Castle can look forward to an impressive portrait collection. Hidden within the walls of this castle is one of the world’s largest private collections of Raeburns. But besides Raeburns, there’s an equally impressive collection of other portraits, including Batoni, Romney, Gainsborough, Opie, Lawrence and Hoppner.

Besides a rich portrait collection, you can enjoy Fyvie’s fine furniture, tapestries, and armour! If you prefer a different style than lavish oil paintings, there’s something for you. Antique furniture and period pieces are the best ways to immerse yourself in castle life.

Enjoy a walk along Fyvie’s castle grounds

Walking along Fyvie’s landscape is one of the best ways to wind down an afternoon of exploring Fyvie Castle. The manicured greens are ideal for a romantic walk with a partner, especially if you have a light lunch of snacks to take along with you!

The Castle Gardens offer some stunning attractions, including an ice house, bowling alley, racquet court, and restored heart closet. The walled garden is particularly of note, with an American garden that grows Scottish fruits for the tea room.

See the wildlife at Fyvie Loch

Fyvie Loch sits in the southwest corner of the estate, and you should take advantage of this picturesque loch during your visit. There’s a bird hide that lets you survey the blossoming birdlife that stops by here. Ospreys occasionally visit Fyvie Loch, and seeing these beautiful birds as they soar across the skies above the loch is one of the highlights here. Swans, coots, mallards and moorhens are joined in the winter by greylag geese, tufted ducks and goldeneyes.

The picturesque landscape feature more than many know what to do with, and Fyvie Loch is a sure stop that needs to be on everyone’s list of things to do at Fyvie Castle.

Visit the Castle Shop & Tea Room

Grabbing a souvenir for your friends and family is one of the best things to do – and easy to do at Castle Shop! The castle shop has a variety of extraordinary gifts and treats to enjoy, like a refreshing cup of hot chocolate, a dram of whisky, and more!

Many of the foods and ingredients here are sourced directly from local farmers and artisans, so you’ll support the Aberdeenshire local community.

Stay a Night at Fyvie Castle

If you’ve fallen in love with Fyvie Castle like we have, you’ll be happy to know that you can stay a night at Preston Tower! Although tradition claims that when the sun sets below the horizon, Fyvie Castle comes alive with ghosts, legends, and folklore.

The Green Lady is an apparation that is said to haunt Fyvie Castle, so keep an eye out during your stay.

More Scottish Castles to Visit

Graham Grieve

Over the past 25+ years Graham has travelled the length and breadth of the country on camping overnighters, hillwalking adventures, road trips and random getaways. During this time he has accumulated an intimate knowledge of Scotland.

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