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POINT OF INTEREST

Slains Castle

A975, Cruden Bay, Scotland

Windswept, desolate, and teetering on the cliff tops of Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire’s Slains Castle (also known as New Slains Castle) evokes such a forbidding atmosphere it’s easy to believe it provided inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Literary association aside, Slains Castle draws visitors with its historic appeal and coastal walks.

The basics

Although the roofless 16th-century castle is officially a ruin, much of its maze-like interior of interlinking rooms, corridors, and doorways remain. You can wander around and see the castle's architecture, which reflects a long history of renovation with its mix of styles. The castle’s towers, walls, and battlements feature medieval and Victorian features, plus various materials including red brick, sandstone, and granite. Tours of Aberdeenshire and the northeast coast of Scotland often visit Slains Castle.

Things to know before you go

  • Slains Castle is close to the cliffs’ edges. Keep to the paths and stay away from the edges.

  • The castle is free to visit.

  • Uneven surfaces pose difficulties for visitors with limited mobility.

  • Good footwear is essential for walking along the coast.

  • Fans of The Crown might recognize the castle, which stood in for Castle Mey when the Queen Mother goes to Scotland in season one.

How to get there

Slains Castle is in Cruden Bay, 26 miles (42 kilometers) from AberdeenAberdeen. From the center of the little town of Cruden Bay, accessible by bus from Aberdeen or Peterhead, Slains Castle is signposted and around a 15-minute walk. If you’re driving, you can park by the church on Main Street and walk along the coast or drive up to Slains Castle and park outside.

When to get there

You can visit Slains Castle year-round, though visits are most pleasant on clear spring or summer days. While visiting on a stormy winter day may be appealing for fans of Gothic horror, you should take extra care on the cliffs, which can be muddy and slippery due to the turbulent North Sea waves crashing below.

Bullers of Buchan

Visitors can embark on a coastal walk from Slains Castle to the Bullers of Buchan, a dramatically collapsed sea cave. The trail provides stunning coastal scenery of craggy cliffs and tall sea arches, and opportunities to spot seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, puffins, fulmars, and kittiwakes, plus gray seals and dolphins. The 2.75-mile (4.5-kilometer) walk typically takes 1.5-2 hours.

Things To Do Available (2)

View all Things to Do
From $845
THING TO DO

Aberdeen - Private Coastal Tour

Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes

From $78
THING TO DO

North East Coastal Trail Small Group Day Tour from Aberdeen

Duration: 9 hours

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