Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle stands in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on an estate bought by Prince Albert in 1852. It lies near the village of Crathie, about 14 kilometres west of Ballater and 80 kilometres west of Aberdeen. The original house was too small for the royal family, so a new castle was built between 1853 and 1856. William Smith of Aberdeen designed the building, with Prince Albert making changes to its details. The estate covers 21,725 hectares and includes grouse moors, forests, farmland and herds of deer and Highland cattle. The castle is a fine example of Scottish baronial architecture and is listed as a category A building. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited in 1848 and found the surroundings peaceful and freeing. The landscape reminded them of Thuringia, Prince Albert’s homeland in Germany. The royal family used Balmoral as their summer home, and Queen Elizabeth II died there in 2022. The estate has been expanded over time and now supports a working rural economy. Inside, the castle has two main blocks arranged around courtyards. The main rooms are in the southwestern block, while the service wings are in the northeastern block. An 80-foot clock tower with turrets stands at the southeast corner. The building is made of granite quarried on the estate. Outside, visitors find wide views across the hills, managed woodlands and farmland. The estate also includes cottages, bridges and cairns marking special occasions.