Ballindalloch Castle, Moray — historic house

historic house · Moray · Scotland

Ballindalloch Castle

Photo: Ballindalloch Castle by Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

About this place

Ballindalloch Castle stands in Speyside, in the Scottish Highlands, on the banks of the River Avon, a short distance from its junction with the River Spey.

It is one of Scotland's few castles to have been continuously inhabited by the same family since it was built.

The Macpherson-Grant family still live here today, which gives the place a quality that more institutional historic houses rarely have.

Access is covered by Historic Houses membership.

Read more on Wikipedia

History

The castle dates from the sixteenth century, when it was established as the seat of the Grant family in Speyside. Over the centuries the estate passed through inheritance and marriage into the Macpherson-Grant line, who have held it ever since. The family's unbroken connection to the property across roughly five hundred years is unusual even by Scottish Highland standards.

Architecture

The castle incorporates a sixteenth-century tower house at its core, with later additions that reflect the tastes of successive generations of the same family.

Worth knowing

Ballindalloch is surrounded by some of the most celebrated whisky distilleries in Scotland, and the estate itself has produced its own single estate whisky, making it a rare example of a landed family castle with its own distilling operation.

Gardens & grounds

The castle grounds include established gardens along the Spey, which are a draw in their own right during the warmer months.

Plan your visit

Nearest station: Dufftown (Keith and Dufftown Railway) (9.3 miles)

Open during the summer months; check the official website for exact seasonal dates.

Nearby properties

Historic places nearby

Within 10 miles of Ballindalloch Castle there are 1 historic properties, including 1 castle.

1 Historic Environment Scotland
1 Castle
See these 1 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Ballindalloch Castle there are 14 historic properties, including 7 castles, 2 historic sites and 2 historic houses, across Historic Environment Scotland, Historic Houses and National Trust for Scotland sites.

11 Historic Environment Scotland
2 Historic Houses
1 National Trust for Scotland
7 Castle
2 Historic site
2 Historic house
1 Church
1 Tower
1 Museum
See these 14 sites on the heritage map

Facts

A Highland castle still lived in by the family who built it, five centuries on.

Type
historic house
Location
Moray, Scotland
Historic Houses Category A
Official website

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