Drumoak, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5EY
Drum Castle, Garden & Estate
Castle
Place photograph
7.7
Wildland
Half day
Time
Paid
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.7Given to the Irvine family by Robert the Bruce in 1323, Drum brings together a medieval square tower, later Jacobean rooms and a Victorian library of 4,000 books.
Drum earns its place through the unusual depth of its setting: a medieval tower and layered family home sit beside a historic rose garden and the Old Wood of Drum, whose oak trees date from the 1700s. It offers a genuine change of pace from castle interiors to woodland.
Atmospheric · Grand · Historic
Find your way
Open mapDrumoak, near Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5EY
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The experience
Allow a half day to combine the castle tour, walled garden and a stroll in the Old Wood of Drum. The castle is visited by guided tour; check current admission, opening and garden conditions before setting out.
Things to do
Tour the castle
See the medieval square tower and the later mansion rooms on a guided castle tour. Confirm tour availability and current admission arrangements.
Explore the walled garden
Walk through the garden’s quadrants, which show rose cultivation from the 17th to the 20th century. Garden opening is weather dependent.
Stroll through the Old Wood of Drum
Take a walk in the adjoining old oak woodland, where the National Trust for Scotland says some oaks date from the 1700s.
See Drum’s 16th-century chapel
Look for the castle’s chapel, described by the National Trust for Scotland as dating from the 1500s.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Allow around 1–2 hours; confirm tour availability and garden access before visiting.
Quick Escape: castle and garden
- 01
Check the current opening arrangements and book or join a castle tour if available.
- 02
Explore the medieval tower and the castle’s later rooms on the guided visit.
- 03
If open, finish with a focused circuit of the walled garden and its rose-growing quadrants.
Half day · Half day; confirm current opening and allow time according to the paths and areas open.
Make a half day of it: castle, roses and old oak
- 01
Take a guided tour of the castle; tours run throughout the day according to the planning page, with last entry stated there as 3.15pm.
- 02
Explore the walled garden and its quadrants illustrating rose cultivation from the 17th to the 20th century, if the garden is open.
- 03
Stroll in the Old Wood of Drum and look for oak trees dating from the 1700s.
Verified history
The National Trust for Scotland says the Royal Forest and Tower of Drum were given to the Irvine family by Robert the Bruce in 1323. A Jacobean mansion was later added. In the Victorian era, the lower hall was converted into a library, now containing 4,000 books. The castle’s chapel dates from the 1500s. The walled garden is divided into quadrants illustrating rose cultivation from the 17th to the 20th century.
Folklore & legend
The National Trust for Scotland describes Jacobite tales as whispering through the medieval grand hall. Treat these as tales associated with the castle, not verified events; the supplied material gives no specific legend to recount.
Hidden details
The library in the lower hall — The lower hall became a library in the Victorian era; the National Trust for Scotland says it now contains 4,000 books.
Rose history in the garden layout — The walled garden’s quadrants are presented as a record of rose cultivation from the 17th to the 20th century.
Old Wood oak trees — The National Trust for Scotland notes oak trees dating from the 1700s in the Old Wood of Drum.
When to go
· Check the current visiting hours and tour schedule; no preferred time of day is established by the supplied evidence.
The source identifies the walled garden’s roses as a highlight but supplies no flowering dates. Garden access is weather dependent, so check conditions and opening before travelling.
Garden opening is weather dependent. Check current conditions and access before visiting.
What to look for
- 01
The medieval square tower and battlements
- 02
the 16th-century chapel
- 03
the walled garden’s quadrants, which trace rose cultivation from the 17th to the 20th century
- 04
and the Old Wood’s oak trees dating from the 1700s. Inside, look out for the Victorian library and its reported 4,000 books.
The story
Royalty; medieval and Jacobean history; Clan Irvine
Best time to go
The walled garden is a natural draw when roses are in bloom; the estate and Old Wood offer a different experience through the seasons. Check garden opening and weather-dependent access before travelling.
Choose a day when the castle, garden and grounds you want to see are open. For the walled garden, rose-flowering season is a particularly appealing time; exact timing is not specified in the supplied sources.
How long to spend
Half day
Perfect for
History lovers · Walkers · Families · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 10:30am-4pm
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: 10:30am-4pm
- Friday: 10:30am-4pm
- Saturday: 10:30am-4pm
- Sunday: 10:30am-4pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
A National Trust for Scotland visitor attraction. Entry is subject to admission arrangements; check current opening times, prices and access before visiting.
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Parking
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Toilets
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Food & drink
A tearoom is listed in the source row; check current opening and service details before visiting.
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The source row reports a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance and seating. Check with the venue for current access details and which areas are accessible.
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Cost
Paid
Gallery
Place photographs
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